Smart Port City uses data to benefit people and the environment

What would make the Port of Turku and the Linnanniemi district cosy, and such that they would promote the smooth flow of everyday life for the inhabitants of the city, tourists and businesses, strengthen participation, and take the environment into account? How could data and digital solutions be used in the development?

Jointly implemented by Åbo Akademi University and the University of Turku, the Smart Port City project set out to find answers to these questions among others. The two-year project recently submitted its final report.

Project Manager Irina Wahlström from the Laboratory of Industrial Management in Åbo Akademi University and Research Manager Kristel Edelman from the Centre for Collaborative Research (CCR) in the University of Turku say that the research project emerged at an interesting time.

“Like many other old port cities, Turku is growing towards the sea and it takes place closer to the Port. The Port needs to be able to operate efficiently in a smaller area. In addition, with the new joint terminal, the passengers and goods flows will be more concentrated than before”, Ms Wahlström describes.

Digital services are useful for many purposes

According to the researchers, digital services offer many opportunities in a new situation.

“Digital solutions can help, among other things, in traffic management. If it is known, for example, that there will be exceptionally high volume of traffic from the ships, the information can be used to optimise driving routes and programme the traffic lights. As traffic flows without unnecessary stops, the emissions also decrease”, Ms Wahlström says as an example.

She adds that digital solutions could also provide trucks with up-to-date information on the flow of traffic, which would help reduce their queueing time to the ships. Digital travel guide services would inform passengers about different ways to get to and from the port, help with creating travel chains and, for example, finding a parking spot.

“Moreover, it would be important that those arriving in Turku would be told by digital means already in the passenger terminal, using info screens and e.g. a mobile app, what can be found in Linnanniemi alone, where they can find cafés or restaurants that are open. Or where the Museum of History and the Future is, and what kinds of changes will be implemented in the area in the near future”, Ms Edelman contemplates.

Compiling data for useful purposes

The researchers say that there already exists plenty of data needed for creating new digital services. The problem is that it is scattered in different locations.

“The data should be compiled in one place for utilisation. One option is that the data would be open and available to all. It is also important that different new solutions would work together and not be separate”, Ms Wahlström contemplates.

She adds that there might be need, for example, for a digital twin of the Port and Linnanniemi i.e. a digitally created model in which solutions can be tested and developed further. The rapidly developing artificial intelligence may also soon present us with completely new kinds of opportunities.

“It is important, however, that technology is not developed for the sake of technology but by listening to people. The essential thing is that the development process would start by involving people”, Kristel Edelman stresses.

The Smart Port City project gathered widely the views of different experts, stakeholders and also inhabitants of the city on what a smart port city could mean and what kinds of services are needed.

Text: Matti Välimäki
Photos: Markku Koivumäki