Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ReNEW (Resilience-centric Smart, Green, Networked EU Inland Waterways)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2022-09-01 al 2024-02-29
The ReNEW project addresses critical vulnerabilities in transport infrastructure posed by climate change and other disruptions. As Inland Waterways Transport (IWT) faces challenges from extreme weather conditions affecting infrastructure performance and safety, ReNEW aims to provide solutions that enhance the resilience and sustainability of the sector. Spanning three years and involving 24 partners from 11 countries, ReNEW promotes economic growth while minimizing environmental impacts by creating a smart, green, and climate-resilient IWT system by improving infrastructure reliability and performance, ensuring the sector can withstand disruptions, adapting to changing conditions, and maintaining operational efficiency. ReNEW emphasizes reducing the environmental footprint, conserving resources, and protecting biodiversity, aiming to set a new standard for resilient and sustainable transport infrastructure. The project’s key outputs include a decision-support framework for strategic planning and operational optimization, innovative infrastructure solutions for rapid deployment post-disruption, and a Green Resilient IWT Dataspace and Digital Twin (DT) for data sharing and integration to improve interactions between infrastructure management and fleet operations, crucial for leveraging digitalization and automation. For increased navigability, ReNEW produces resilient vessel designs and pontoon solutions, Remote Control Room solutions for (semi) autonomous barges, and resilient remote operations. The impact targets are to (a) achieve IWT navigability and resilience network capacities over 50%, (b) resilience to extreme events with over 80% capacity, (c) support a modal shift to IWT with a 20% increase, (d) ensure passenger and freight network resilience, (e) increase the use of recycled materials by over 30%, and (f) reduce environmental impact.
A decision-support framework supporting the strategic planning and operational optimisation of Green Resilient IWT (GRIWT), to enhance the resilience and sustainability of IWT with a comprehensive hazards and vulnerabilities scenario catalogue identifying large numbers of potential threats, aiding risk evaluation and management. Models and tools for risk analysis, key performance indicators (KPIs) for economic, environmental, and social aspects, and a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) framework for assessing economic viability. The framework integrates multi-objective optimization approaches, including Bayesian Networks, for optimal resilience evaluation and cost-efficiency, and resilience and agility strategies for proactive risk response and enhanced routing and scheduling tools for extreme events. Knowledge graphs analyse IWT system interdependencies, supporting strategic infrastructure renewal and fleet operations. A baseline for environmental impact evaluation is established, and a generic methodology for resilience and sustainability. Resilience and sustainability indicators are mapped for performance evaluation, supported by DT.
Innovative transport infrastructure resilience and sustainability solutions with modular elements for quick deployment after disruptive events to enhance capacity and create new provisional links. An engineering review of an innovative floating modular platform, based on an urban barge hull design, included detailed hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, and structural strength analyses, leading to design optimizations for improved stability, hull form, and structural integrity. Defined the capabilities and interfaces of zero-emission autonomous navigation barges (ANBs) for resilient and sustainable IWT. A taxonomy for ANBs was introduced, classifying their functions, voyage phases, and technical systems, covering navigation, deck operations, safety management, and human interactions and environmental impacts. An in-depth economic, technical, logistical, and environmental analysis for different vessel classes highlighted the advantages of smaller, adaptable barges over traditional road transport For the Floating Modular Platforms (FMPs) at LL1, outlined plans for scaled model testing.
A Green Resilient IWT Dataspace and Digital Twin architecture for data sharing between infrastructure monitoring, RIS and traffic management and emergency systems and climate solutions enhancing resilience and sustainability in inland waterway transport. Designed a suite of data access and connectivity solutions, a connectors library to integrate diverse data sources. Architectural blueprints and operational cores were developed to support platform monitoring, advanced modeling, connect environmental sensors, IoT devices, and external datasets. The integration of simulation models and tools improved the predictive capabilities of the DT to predict vulnerabilities and hazards. The initial deployment focused on data connectors, user interfaces, and architecture refinements.
Four LLs addressing IWT operational resilience and sustainability. Defined a comprehensive framework using an agile methodology, to integrate innovations and engage stakeholders, ensuring responsive adaptation to project needs, guiding and aligning LLs in setting objectives, integrating technologies, and establishing KPIs. (a) LL1 develops a multifunctional hub in Ghent, integrating synchromodal logistics solutions, smart terminals, floating modular platforms, environmental alert systems, and a floating battery system. (b) LL2 for the Douro River leverages DT and blockchain technology for efficient management and compliance monitoring, improving navigability and resilience against extreme weather and illegal activities. (c) LL3 utilized the Blue Wave platform with a Planning and Mitigation Module to reinforce Netherlands' IWT with real-time data integration, scenario planning, and mitigation strategies for disruptions. (d) LL4 creates the X-Barge, an autonomous, zero-emission barge operating between Ghent and Duisburg, to evaluate the resilience of autonomous shipping technology through extensive simulations and real-world testing various environmental and operational scenarios.
Innovative transport infrastructure resilience and sustainability solutions with modular elements for quick deployment after disruptive events to enhance capacity and create new provisional links. An engineering review of an innovative floating modular platform, based on an urban barge hull design, included detailed hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, and structural strength analyses, leading to design optimizations for improved stability, hull form, and structural integrity. Defined the capabilities and interfaces of zero-emission autonomous navigation barges (ANBs) for resilient and sustainable IWT. A taxonomy for ANBs was introduced, classifying their functions, voyage phases, and technical systems, covering navigation, deck operations, safety management, and human interactions and environmental impacts. An in-depth economic, technical, logistical, and environmental analysis for different vessel classes highlighted the advantages of smaller, adaptable barges over traditional road transport For the Floating Modular Platforms (FMPs) at LL1, outlined plans for scaled model testing.
A Green Resilient IWT Dataspace and Digital Twin architecture for data sharing between infrastructure monitoring, RIS and traffic management and emergency systems and climate solutions enhancing resilience and sustainability in inland waterway transport. Designed a suite of data access and connectivity solutions, a connectors library to integrate diverse data sources. Architectural blueprints and operational cores were developed to support platform monitoring, advanced modeling, connect environmental sensors, IoT devices, and external datasets. The integration of simulation models and tools improved the predictive capabilities of the DT to predict vulnerabilities and hazards. The initial deployment focused on data connectors, user interfaces, and architecture refinements.
Four LLs addressing IWT operational resilience and sustainability. Defined a comprehensive framework using an agile methodology, to integrate innovations and engage stakeholders, ensuring responsive adaptation to project needs, guiding and aligning LLs in setting objectives, integrating technologies, and establishing KPIs. (a) LL1 develops a multifunctional hub in Ghent, integrating synchromodal logistics solutions, smart terminals, floating modular platforms, environmental alert systems, and a floating battery system. (b) LL2 for the Douro River leverages DT and blockchain technology for efficient management and compliance monitoring, improving navigability and resilience against extreme weather and illegal activities. (c) LL3 utilized the Blue Wave platform with a Planning and Mitigation Module to reinforce Netherlands' IWT with real-time data integration, scenario planning, and mitigation strategies for disruptions. (d) LL4 creates the X-Barge, an autonomous, zero-emission barge operating between Ghent and Duisburg, to evaluate the resilience of autonomous shipping technology through extensive simulations and real-world testing various environmental and operational scenarios.
ReNEW is advancing IWT towards a smart, green, sustainable, and climate-resilient sector. The project develops a multidimensional decision-support framework for strategic planning, incorporating innovative models for IWT infrastructure interdependencies, probabilistic risk analyses, and resilience quantification, identifying vulnerabilities and informing capacity development strategies. ReNEW has produced designs and develops automated multipurpose vessels with green energy propulsion, promoting resilient autonomous barge navigation using Remote control centres, also including smaller ANB fleets and automated mooring. In creating a Green Resilient IWT Dataspace and DT with data access, platform monitoring, advanced modeling, and environmental sensors integration, ReNEW ensures interoperability, data security in effective decision-making. DT simulation models enhance predictive capabilities, aggregating data to predict vulnerabilities. ReNEW establishes an innovation ecosystem through the LLs, for co-creation and innovation based on real-life scenarios.