PIRAEUS PORT TAKES ECOLOGICAL EXAMS (Free Translation from “KATHIMERINI” Newspaper, Sunday Edition,19-07-20)

FREE TRANSLATION FROM “KATHIMERINI” NEWSPAPER,  Sunday Edition 19-07-2020

Piraeus port takes Ecological exams

BY TASOULA KARAISKAKI

The port of Piraeus is one of the largest cargo sea ports in Europe, the fourth in freight traffic and the largest port in number of arrivals and departures of ships. It handles more than five million containers and 20 million passengers each year. An emblematic port located in a dense urban fabric, to which dozens of ships and thousands of trucks, buses and cars arrive and depart daily. Elements that translate into multifaceted economic development but also environmental burden of the coastal zone and the city of Piraeus.

But how serious and extensive is this burden? How big is the nuisance from the noises and the air pollution and in which areas of Piraeus? Could it be recorded in real time, and also predicted, so that the necessary measures to be taken by the Authorities? The answer to these questions will be given by a platform for measuring the environmental performance of the port, which will process with artificial intelligence technologies the huge volume of data that will be collected from sensor beams installed in the port, in vehicles, but also in the surrounding urban area.

The platform is being developed as part of the European project Green C Ports, which recently received the International Ports Association (IAPH) award of the “World Port Sustainability 2020”.

Green C Ports is being developed in five European ports: Piraeus, Valencia, Bremen, Venice and Wilhelmshaven.

In fact, the project partners will not only record and forecast air pollution and noise pollution in and around ports, but will also try a series of innovative solutions to decrease traffic congestion, improve air quality and reduce noise levels. Most partners are from Greece: Research University Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (EPISEV) of NTUA, PPA, Municipality of Piraeus, companies Zen Travel Ltd. and Global Maritime Enterprises Ltd.

 “The PPA will install a network of environmental and meteorological sensors, as well as noise level sensors, at strategic points within the port. Similar sensors will be installed in the urban area near the port by the Municipality of Piraeus, while the companies Zen Travel Ltd. and Global Maritime Enterprises Ltd. will install sensors in trucks and tourist buses, which move in and around the port. At the moment we are in the phase of supplying the equipment “ notes Mr. Dimitris Spyrou, project manager on behalf of PPA, to” K “.

“Then we will start pilot measurements, data processing, creation of models for more detailed recording and assessment of the situation, simulations and forecasts so that the competent authorities prevent serious pollution incidents”  adds Mr. Spyrou for the implementation of the pilot applications in Piraeus.

The whole project design is based on real conditions study. “These are procedures and solutions that are immediately applicable. The EU  finances through the Connecting Europe Facility program,  projects for the immediate implementation of research results ” says Dr. Angelos Amditis, head of pilot tests at the Port of Piraeus and director of Research at the NTUA .  “Our goal is to continue the development of the port at the current pace or even higher, but with the smallest possible environmental damage for Piraeus and neighboring municipalities. Through these advanced technologies and digital tools, we are preparing for the transition to an era in which the environmental goals and the development of the port will go hand in hand.”

EPISEV creates the platform where data will be collected and develops all the necessary tools for the installation of scaffolding that will contain the sensor sets. “This is a very important program for the environment and a nice example of cooperation between the municipality ( Piraeus in Greece), port authorities (PPA), large research centers (EPISEY) and Greek and foreign companies, in order to distribute the results and the benefits of the project to all agencies, users and society ” explains Mr. Amditis.