The revolution of Digital Twins in ports

In an increasingly digitalized world, Digital Twins are becoming a recurring tool in more and more sectors. Its constant evolution and improvement is transforming this technology into a pillar for the digitalization of different environments. And, among them, the port sector hasn’t lagged behind in adopting it, transforming its management and operations. If you don`t know what are we talking about, don’t worry, in today’s article we are going to talk about Digital Twins and how their characteristics are leveraged in the port sector

What are digital twins

Let's start from the beginning,  what is a digital twin? This concept, which sounds like sci-fi, is a virtual representation of a physical environment that can replicate the real world behavior and is constantly updated thanks to the data it receives.

Thanks to this technology, experiments and simulations of complex or risky situations can be made without affecting the real physical environment, receiving valuable information. This makes it possible to predict how a certain process, product, or service would work in an environment without posing any danger.

In addition, digital twins allow for tracking past, present, and future events, since thanks to the data and information they compile and store, they have the ability to predict and make informed decisions.

All of this is possible thanks to the use of cutting-edge technologies such as the Internet of Things, 5G, data analytics, and artificial intelligence.

Digital Twins in ports

As is evident, the advantages offered by this technology are numerous, and although it was initially conceived for the aerospace sector, many industries are now applying it and benefiting from it, including the port environment.

If we stop to think about the opportunities for improvement that a technology like digital twins can offer in the port environment, we discover a wide range of functionalities that greatly improve its effectiveness. In fact, it has been the incorporation of this technology, among others, that is leading to the creation of the smart port. First of all, let's look at the main features that make this technology one of the most promising in recent years:

• Data visualization. One of the main features of this technology is its ability to visualize, organize and present data, allowing for continuously updated, real-time information.
• Simulation through the data that they collect, we can recreate both what is happening in the present and predict what may occur in the future by creating different simulated scenerios.
• Automation. Digital twins allow for the automation of manual actions, improving efficiency.
• Decision making.  Another important point is that, thanks to the data that this  technology stores and analyzes decision making is easier.
• Prediction. Using digital twins provides a strategic advantage thanks to their predictive capability, which enables continuous improvement.
• Safety Management. Their ability to test actions in a secure virtual environment minimizes risks in the real world.

With all these features and uses, the applications that digital twins have in the port sector are not few. Let's look at some examples:

• Bottleneck detection. Digital twins allow, for example, analyzing the movement of maritime containers in a port, detecting possible bottlenecks that minimize efficiency and being able to simulate new designs that improve it. This allows optimizing port operations through simulations of, for example, the docking of ships or the assignment of storage space.

• Sustainability and energy saving. They also allow energy saving, as they help reduce unnecessary and redundant movements.
• Improves safety. As we have already seen, their ability to conduct experiments in a virtual environment of procedures and actions improves safety in ports.
• Component maintenance. Replicas of ship components can be kept, allowing for predictive maintenance through the analysis of data provided by sensors, which helps to anticipate failures and schedule repairs.
• Supply chain. They can provide real-time visibility into inventory, transport routes, and delivery times, improving the responsiveness of a port's supply chain.

In short, digital twins are redefining the future of ports and accelerating their transformation towards digital ports.