Port of Trieste – Last mile road cargo management

This Task will further digitalise road traffic flows to and from the Port of Trieste, consolidating the achievements of previous EU-funded initiatives (Ursa Major neo, FENIX, PROMARES, MERIDIAN, ACCESSMILE, MILEPORT). A key focus is the digital management of road project cargo, which – due to its exceptional size and relatively low frequency – is still handled through paper-based procedures. Although limited in number, these transports require manual checks and non-standard documentation at the gates, slowing down operations and causing queues that also affect the trucks waiting behind them.

The Task will introduce digital workflows to replace paper procedures, enabling automated data exchange between the port community system and external operators’ platforms. It will also ensure interoperability with the IT systems of road operators (e.g. ANAS) and with the port’s Authorised Buffer Areas (ABAs). These ABAs are external holding areas functioning as “buffers” that absorb incoming truck flows before they reach the gates, thus preventing congestion at port entrances. By integrating ABAs into the digital traffic management system, the Port will gain real-time visibility and predictive control of vehicle arrivals along the critical last-mile connection.

In parallel, the Task will deploy a new advanced access control system at port gates, based on automated recognition technologies (OCR, RFID, IoT sensors) and secure API connections. This will allow for dynamic gate management, synchronised with terminal operations and external traffic conditions.

KPIs: Three new IT functionalities to manage road traffic flows (automated data exchange, predictive control of vehicle arrivals, automated advanced access control system).

Type of implementation: Upgrade of existing systems.