The MPA is using artificial intelligence to improve the flow of port trucking and reduce GHG emissions
Montreal, December 10, 2019 — Today, the Montreal Port Authority (MPA) is proud to launch an upgrade of the Trucking PORTal application, which now includes predictive data on processing times at the Port of Montreal’s various container terminals. This new tool helps port truck drivers plan their routes better and improves traffic flow on Port territory, thereby reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The MPA teamed up with Element AI, a global supplier of artificial intelligence (AI) products, to develop, test and deploy this enhanced technological solution, which consists of a predictive model added to the Trucking PORTal app.
The new predictive dashboard shows average processing times at the various terminals for each 30-minute period over the next 24 hours. Quick Views are also available for the next three hours. This data is in addition to the real-time wait times on the terminals, information that has been available on the app since its launch in 2016.
Predictive data is made available by reading access cards using mainly RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. These measures taken at four strategic locations on Port territory make it possible to collect data indicating current transaction times. The use and analysis of the results through AI algorithms then make it possible to model the predictive data. The resulting data then helps truck drivers better plan their trips to the Port.
This new solution will have a positive impact on the drivers, dispatchers, trucking companies and container terminal operators. The neighbouring community will also benefit from the reduction in GHG emissions due to better traffic flow on Port territory. The use of this data by truck drivers will improve fluidity and reduce the number of traffic jams at the entrance to and on Port territory, which will also ease traffic on Notre-Dame Street.
“At the Port of Montreal, we put innovation at the heart of our strategies to ensure a smoother flow of goods and maintain our competitiveness. The new predictive model of the Trucking PORTal app lets us help our Port partners improve operational efficiency and, at the same time, lighten our ecological footprint for a more and more sustainable port,” said Sylvie Vachon, President and CEO of the MPA.
“As one of the first Element AI solutions deployed, our project with the Port of Montreal presented a unique challenge that meets a considerable need in the city that houses our headquarters. We are pleased to have helped solve it using artificial intelligence and machine learning,” said Anand Medepalli, Head of Products at Element AI.
About the Port of Montreal
Operated by the Montreal Port Authority (MPA), the Port of Montreal is the second largest port in Canada and a diversified transshipment centre that handles all types of goods: containerized and non-containerized cargo, liquid bulk and dry bulk. The only container port in Quebec, it is a destination port served by the largest shipping lines in the world. It is also an intermodal hub with a service offering that is unique in North America, featuring its own rail network directly dockside connected to Canada’s two national rail networks. The MPA also operates a Cruise Terminal and a Port Centre.
The MPA factors economic, social and environmental components into its corporate initiatives. This commitment is governed by a sustainable development policy whose guiding principles focus on involvement, cooperation and accountability. Port activity supports 19,000 jobs and generates $2.6 billion in economic benefits annually.
About Element AI
Element AI is a global developer of AI software that helps people work smarter. Founded in 2016 by serial entrepreneurs including JF Gagné and A.M.Turing Award recipient, Yoshua Bengio, PhD, Element AI turns cutting-edge research and industry expertise into software solutions that exponentially learn and improve. Its end-to-end offering, including advisory services, AI enablement tools and products, aims at helping large organizations operationalize AI and create real business impact. Element AI maintains a strong connection to academia through research collaborations and takes a leadership position in policy-making around the impact of technology on society. elementai.com
— 30 —
Source
