5G in Transport and Logistics Operations

Singapore and Shanghai have both developed digital twins of their transport networks which can facilitate advanced planning and insights.

Closer to home, Vodafone has worked with Plymouth Sound to deploy a marine mobile private 5G network. This is being used, amongst other things, to create a digital twin of the Inlet which will be available to businesses and academics. With live data from the bay and its network, this will enable ideas to be tested and validated virtually before deploying physical prototypes and IoT instruments beyond the shore’s edge. 

In Italy, Ericsson has worked with the Port of Livorno to deploy a 5G network and has created a digital twin that covers all operational aspects of the port with sensors and AI.

The 5G MK project integrated CAV services with smart parking at locations across the Stadium MK area, improving access and increasing site efficiency. Autonomous vehicles operated around the perimeter of the site transporting guests, while autonomous pods were used for transporting hotel guest luggage and deliveries. Remote technology then guided the vehicles back to their starting position, ready to pick up the next delivery.  These services can free up employee time and increase site efficiency.    

The 5G Ports project based in the Port of Felixstowe used 5G to improve the performance of remote control yard cranes. Increasing efficiency, safety and developing new skills amongst the port’s workforce. In Italy, the Port of Livorno is working with Ericsson to demonstrate automated remote control of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) for loading and unloading operations in the port area. It is expected that the UGVs—remotely controlled by a human operator—will cooperate by working in swarms, exploiting the technology of cloud and distributed computing. Their deployment is anticipated to lower vessel completion time, improve personnel safety and improve overall operational efficiencies. Similarly, Brussels airport is deploying 5G for autonomous ground support equipment. It is hoped this will speed up the time it takes to turn around planes and improve worker safety by removing people from hazardous environments.

Livorno is utlising AR to optimise vessel berthing, which should speed up the time taken to moor each ship and reduce human error. The technology is likewise being used by organisations across the sector to support maintenance activities. At Hamburg International Airport and Haneda Airport in Tokyo, 5G is addressing skill gaps. While conducting maintenance activities, technicians can access remote experts through augmented and virtual reality, giving them full visibility of repairs and problems through real-time sharing of 4k images and 3D reconstructions. 

Through 5G MoNArch, the Port of Hamburg is also using 5G to support their engineering team through augmented and virtual reality applications. Engineers are assisted in their day-to-day work with easy mobile access to construction plans and information on buildings, in addition to other technical installations within the port area; this is made possible by on-demand provisioning of the available data and documentation through AR/VR applications. The equipment is connected to a central application server through the 5G mobile network, using a dedicated network slice. 

Similarly, the Port of Rotterdam is equipping Shell engineers with industrial tablets connected to 5G. These can be used to provide augmented reality information and support maintenance activities, such as temperature or pressure of the process installation. Maintenance personnel will also be equipped with 5G smart helmets. This allows workers to stay in touch via video and audio with experts and immediately decide which repairs are needed, speeding up the time taken for maintenance activities. 

Organisations are looking at how 5G can enable autonomous or remote operation of drones that can be flown beyond the line of sight. This opens up opportunities to speed up inspections and safety checks over large areas, as well as minimise workers’ exposure to hazardous conditions (something Network Rail is exploring). It can also be instrumental in increasing operational efficiencies within last mile deliveries. UPS Flight Forward is exploring this, with the development of a “Workhorse”: a delivery van with a hatch in the roof that can release drones to complete the last 100 yards of deliveries. 5G’s low latency, reliability and location awareness will enable this vision to be realised and scaled. 

Danish shipping giant Maersk is undertaking a transformation that provides a prime example of the power of computing at the edge. Gavin Laybourne, global CIO of Maersk’s APM Terminals business, is embracing cutting-edge technologies to accelerate and fortify the global supply chain, working with technology giants to implement edge computing, private 5G networks, and thousands of IoT devices at its terminals to elevate the efficiency, quality, and visibility of the container ships Maersk uses to transport cargo across the oceans. Laybourne, who is based in The Hague, Netherlands, oversees 67 terminals, which collectively handle roughly 15 million containers shipped from thousands of ports. He joined Maersk three years ago from the oil and gas industry and since then has been overseeing public and private clouds, applying data analytics to all processes, and preparing for what he calls the next-generation “smartport” based on a switch to edge computing in real-time processing. 

“Edge provides processing of real-time computation — computer vision and real-time computation of algorithms for decision making,” Laybourne says. “I send data back to the cloud where I can afford a 5-10 millisecond delay of processing.”

WM5G has deployed a number of solutions to monitor and optimise traffic throughout the West Midlands, home to some of the UK’s busiest and most congested roads. Firstly, vehicle counting sensors with 5G connectivity were installed on two roads in Solihull with a high variety and density of traffic, for live traffic monitoring. Thanks to 5G and its much faster upload and download speeds, one network can sustain higher-quality processing or process a greater number of feeds—creating more comprehensive datasets than those currently possible with 4G. The data gathered enables the development of state-of-the-art prediction models that can be used to more accurately forecast traffic flow and help to manage congestion.  

Chris Holmes, Transport Programme Director at WM5G, said, “this has shown the value 5G sensors offer to road management. At the moment sources of traffic data are often limited in value and focussed on specific tasks such as speed control or general congestion information. The type of sensors shown in this trial sets a new benchmark. Intelligent sensors like these enable multiple uses including live incident management through to traffic control and even capturing detailed information about lane usage which will inform road designs of the future."

Chris Holmes, Transport Programme Director, WM5G, said:

"5G enabled sensors will provide fast and flexible deployment to assist with long term and temporary goals (of road management) such as events or even road work assistance."

Taking this a step further, the team explored how 5G could help Transport for West Midlands understand the available capacity of their road network in near real-time. Unlike public transport operators, who have access to data on seat availability on trains and buses, there is no such tool for operators across the road network. This makes it impossible to accurately estimate the impact on the capacity of planned roadworks and public events that both disrupt traffic, creating greater demands on the network. The 5G Enabled Dynamic Network Capacity Manager aims to use 5G traffic sensing data for dynamic traffic management. Enabling traffic managers to optimise the road network and mitigate traffic-impacting disruption, for instance by diverting buses or sending instant warnings to drivers.

Smart Junctions 5G used a private 5G network to enhance the Vivacity Labs’ Smart Junction Project—an AI-based traffic signal optimisation system, deployed in Manchester. This has already been shown to cut waiting times at traffic signals significantly, prioritise traffic by class, and respond dynamically in emerging situations. By using a 5G small cell network, the project decreased the infrastructure cost for the connection of the sensors at every junction and demonstrated a 1% improvement in journey time across the 5G-connected junctions. 

Ericsson and Scania are collaborating in Sweden to explore the capabilities of 5G to deliver intelligent transport systems. At a macro level they expect to be able to demonstrate how advanced connectivity can  improve commuting by enabling demand prediction, dynamic trip planning and integrated payment solutions. It is expected that transport and local authorities will be able to continually analyse commuting patterns and use these insights to model and plan for upcoming sports events, concerts or road maintenance projects. At a micro level, they are also exploring the impact of providing bus or truck drivers with real-time contextual information and tailored recommendations to improve efficiency. For instance, dynamic shifts to routes or advice about how long a bus driver should wait at a bus stop. Ericsson has also worked with Veoneer to demonstrate geofencing capabilities whereby vehicles in a certain geographic location can receive contextualised information and dynamic instruction for speed advisories. 

In Detroit, five smart intersections have been deployed across a two-mile stretch. Traffic lights have been connected to video cameras with real-time access, enabling rapid analysis and quick responses to changing conditions: for example, emergency services can be prioritised while green light signals are extended to cyclists who otherwise would not be able to clear the junction in time. The city is also exploring the potential to also prioritise signals for both buses and freight-carrying trucks.

Mark de la Vergne, Detroit's chief of mobility innovation, said:

"The video, it's talking to you. Before, you would just get numbers. Now, we know where they are crossing. We know when they are crossing. We know how many people are driving through a red light. That's going to help us inform a lot of our work in the next few years."

The NordicWay project is delivering cellular intelligent transport demonstrations in multiple Scandinavian countries, from road work and emergency vehicle warnings to green light speed advisories being delivered to vehicles in real-time. They are also exploring the option of dynamically managing traffic: for instance, responding to air quality levels and sending notifications to hybrid cars in the vicinity to switch to electric. 

With the adaption of traffic lights to changing traffic in real-time, on-road movement can be controlled by traffic light timing that adjusts itself by the second. The changing traffic scenario and the timing at intersections can be shared through interoperable communication so that all intersections are prepared to optimise the flow of approaching traffic. A pilot system deployed at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has reportedly reduced travel time by 26 percent, idling time by 41 percent, and emissions by 21 percent. Interestingly, the adaptive traffic light system also reduced total and fatal incidents by 13-36 percent.

Overhead line (pantograph) damage costs the UK rail industry more than £100 million a year and causes delays, as well as safety issues. WM5G’s HPOMS project developed camera systems that provided visual footage of impacts and overhanging foliage, before utilising it to accurately measure pantograph height, wire stagger and carbon wear. This enables potentially safety-impacting issues to be quickly identified and rectified.

WM5G also explored how technology can identify developing faults to tram tracks, a process that typically engineers would assess through manual surveys or deploying specialist machinery to scan the line. POLY TRACK used 5G’s positional accuracy and real-time data transmission to detect rail imperfections on both tram and rail tracks through sensors installed on the Chassis (Bogie) of the vehicle. These sensors help operators identify and ensure maintenance is carried out to the track before imperfections deteriorate and will help optimise safety.

Plymouth Sound has partnered with Vodafone to deploy a private 5G network. Using this connectivity, they plan to implement 5G connected buoys that will be able to convey regular data about sea conditions. Connected buoys can already measure, observe and record a wide range of chemical and physical parameters—but 5G will greatly increase the data that can be collected, supporting safe shipping through and around the Inlet. The network, together with satellites, can also support safety out at sea. Orange has been working to deploy ultra reliable connectivity to ships on the Northern Sea, where speedy exchange of data in large volumes could reduce ship collisions and IoT sensors will help search and rescue missions.  

The full capabilities of Vehicle to Everything (V2X) communications can be unlocked with 5G networks. The technology enables the deployment of intelligent transport systems and plays a critical role in road safety, for both cars and vulnerable road users: connected vehicles could save 11k lives each year, leading to 260k fewer accidents and saving 280 million hours of driving. Wireless connectivity has been successfully deployed to reduce accidents and improve road safety. The Advanced Connected Vehicles Victoria trials in Australia tested capabilities such as emergency braking alerts and right turn assistance over 4G; they also provided a glimpse into how 5G could shape the future of the automotive industry—the Quality of Service link is a precursor to the network slicing that will allow 5G to make a huge impact in many industries. 

On the Sichuan Highway in Shanghai, 5G connected smart motorways have been introduced to identify accidents and hazards, enabling real-time responses. The Colorado Department of Transport is strategically deploying V2X capabilities on a 90 mile stretch of mountain highway, where sharp bends, steep gradients and extreme weather conditions have made it an accident hotspot. Closer to home, a high-tech ‘corridor’ was created on the A2/M2 in Kent to let specially-equipped vehicles interact with roadside infrastructure in a move that promises safer journeys. The project used a 5G wireless network to transmit information about road conditions, road works and time left for traffic lights to change to green, all designed to boost road safety. 

Highways England Head of Intelligent Transport Systems Group, Jo White, said:

"Connecting vehicles to each other and the road around can improve journeys, make them safer and give drivers reliable, real-time personalised information; it could also help us manage traffic and respond to incidents."

Highways England Head of Intelligent Transport Systems Group Jo White, added: “Connecting vehicles to each other and the road around can improve journeys, make them safer and give drivers reliable, real-time personalised information; it could also help us manage traffic and respond to incidents.”

5G-enabled V2X is also being used to improve the safety of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. In collaboration with Ericsson, Piaggio is exploring the safety services that could be enabled when scooters are connected with a 5G ecosystem. Today's scooters can provide manufacturers with real-time information and send alerts when they need servicing. However, to increase these capabilities, there needs to be a super-fast connection between the scooter and the cloud. With lower latency and higher bandwidth than 4G, 5G allows scooters to be connected with their environment like never before. 

The 5GCAR project is a European-funded initiative that is exploring the impact 5G can have on V2X across a number of use cases, including vulnerable road user protection—where motorists are alerted to nearby pedestrians when approaching a zebra crossing. Pedestrians will also receive alerts of potentially dangerous situations. Similar trials have been conducted by SEAT and Telefonica who have tested the ability to detect cyclists, thanks to ultra-wideband beacons placed along the road when turning right.

During a live demo event in Turin, the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) showcased ready-to-deploy use cases in the streets of the city and a sneak preview of what the future has in store. It concluded that the network protected vulnerable road users (for instance, by alerting drivers about a pedestrian at a crossing using LTE-connected infrastructure) and prevented incidents at dangerous intersections (as a result of V2X direct-short range communications between vehicles). 

Dr Maxime Flament, 5GAA Chief Technology Officer, said:

"Connected mobility is a market reality. The use cases demonstrated in the streets of Turin are planned for deployment with a huge industry momentum based on teh evolution path to 5G capabilities."

5G was also used to keep travellers safe amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Boingo’s secure wireless network supported Chicago O'Hare airport’s proprietary biometrics system to process touchless passenger boarding. Other measures could include digitalised security checkpoints; in-app ordering and delivery; digital cameras and sensors to monitor the distances between passengers and staff; cleaning and maintenance (by way of ionisation, UV light technology and disinfecting robotic cleaning scrubbers); health check screening (including temperature checks by infrared scanners), and passenger communications (virtual queuing and digital signage). In China, Healthcare Buses have been using 5G-powered facial recognition enabled by AI and infrared thermal imaging cameras to alert the driver when a person with fever boards.

5G networks will also enable analytics to identify potential incidents at rail crossings before they happen. Nokia is already doing this in collaboration with Odakyu Electric Railway in Japan, using Scene Analytics to target obstacles and enhance safety at rail crossings. The use-case applies machine-learning-based AI to available camera images, which allows it to identify potential issues in real-time. 

John Harrington, head of Nokia in Japan, said:

"Network-connected cameras are one of the most prolific sources of internet of things (IOT) data that can provide valuable insights to help promote high safety standards. By running machine learning analytics on camera feeds and sending solely relevant scenes and events to operators, the full benefits of video surveillance can be realised in a wide variety of settings, with rail crossings a particularly relevant use case."

Network Rail has highlighted that 5G could be used to deploy drones to investigate potential obstructions or people on train tracks, to further support passenger and worker safety.

WM5G deployed 5G connected cameras on buses in the West Midlands to allow real-time monitoring of occupancy levels. Video data enables Transport for West Midlands and bus operators to better understand the occupancy of buses to reduce overcrowding. This can be used to facilitate dynamic scheduling (for example, putting on extra services when buses are in high demand). More widely, 5G will support better planning for services and reduce carbon emissions. 

Vodafone’s 5G trials at Birmingham New Street station have successfully adjusted and optimised services in response to passenger activity. This included dynamic manning of ticketing facilities and remote adjustments to HVAC systems in real-time (ensuring, for instance, that trains are not heated unnecessarily). Advanced connectivity could also enable barrierless travel, which could significantly improve the flow of passengers on and off platforms.

WM5G also deployed a number of solutions to monitor and optimise traffic throughout the region, which is home to some of the UK’s busiest and most congested roads. Firstly, vehicle counting sensors with 5G connectivity were installed on two roads in Solihull with a high variety and density of traffic, for live traffic monitoring. Thanks to 5G and its much faster upload and download speeds, one network can sustain higher-quality processing or process a greater number of feeds—creating more comprehensive datasets than those currently possible with 4G. The data gathered enables the development of state-of-the-art prediction models which can be used to more accurately forecast traffic flow and help to manage congestion.  

Chris Holmes, Transport Programme Director at WM5G, said, “this has shown the value 5G sensors offer to road management. At the moment sources of traffic data are often limited in value and focussed on specific tasks such as speed control or general congestion information. The type of sensors shown in this trial sets a new benchmark. Intelligent sensors like these enable multiple uses including live incident management through to traffic control and even capturing detailed information about lane usage which will inform road designs of the future".

Chris Homes, Transport Programme Director, WM5G, said:

"5G enabled sensors will provide fast and flexible deployment to assist with long term and temporary goals (of road management) such as events or even road work assistance."

Taking this a step further, the team have explored how 5G can help Transport for West Midlands understand the available capacity of their road network in near real-time. Unlike public transport operators, who have access to data on seat availability on trains and buses, there is no such tool for operators across the road network​​—making it impossible to accurately estimate the impact on the capacity of planned roadworks and public events that both disrupt traffic. The 5G Enabled Dynamic Network Capacity Manager uses 5G traffic sensing data for dynamic traffic management. Enabling traffic managers to optimise the road network and mitigate traffic-impacting disruption, for instance by diverting buses or sending instant warnings to drivers.

Another WM5G project explored the ability to use 5G-enabled live high definition video streaming to provide real-time kerbside parking availability. A Getmapping survey vehicle was equipped with a roof-mounted HD camera, GPS and a 5G SIM to allow capture and transfer of data during the test. The test area was then mapped with the survey vehicle to create a model for AI to identify and recognise the route and any available parking bays. During the trial, the same vehicle drove through the test area to capture HD footage and corresponding location data, transmitting it via the 5G network to the cloud. AppyWay’s AI could then confirm availability before the information was relayed back to the user as a vacant parking space in the app in real time.  

This service could be invaluable for last-mile deliveries. Around 520,000 UK van drivers typically spend over 20 minutes looking for a parking space for each delivery they make, with the average delivery driver spending a total of 1 hour and 40 minutes searching for parking every day. The potential impact of this is significant with the lack of parking for commercial vehicles estimated to cost the UK economy £76.2 billion per year, so the ability to dynamically assess kerbside parking availability has huge financial implications for logistics companies. 

5G can play a significant role at airports, too. Most departure delays are related to operational issues and the network will enable punctuality and operational excellence through real-time geolocation and video analytics. Indeed, CapGemini estimates that the cost of delays for airport stakeholders are within the reach of 5G implementation, totalling 60 million Euros per year. 5G makes it possible to accurately geolocate ground support equipment (GSE) to the nearest centimetre, and ultra high-definition video real-time analysis will bring a high level of GSE track and trace for apron managers and airport control centres (ACCs). 

Both ACCs (through real-time flow management dashboard) and apron managers (via the use of tablets) will be able to oversee the on-time provision of necessary GSEs in ramps for an efficient turnaround. This includes, service provider activities (refuelers, water trucks, lavatory service vehicles, catering vehicles, etc.); luggage flows (ULD and belt loaders, tugs and dollies, etc.); and other key operations (pushback trucks, APU, buses, cargo platform transporters, etc.) for accurate target off-block time (TOBT) and potential estimated departure  time. In addition, apron operations can be monitored with ultra high-definition video analytics to provide full visibility of turnaround processes.

What’s more, 5G can play a role in streamlining the airport passenger flow, with China Eastern Airlines using the network and  facial recognition to transform the customer journey. This technology will dramatically shorten queuing for check-in, luggage drop-off and identity checks. The latest IATA survey highlights that cutting waiting time is a major passenger requirement, as 80% of passengers do not want to wait more than three minutes to drop off their luggage—and 70% are willing to share their biometric information to do so. 

SITA vice president of communication and data exchange, Gilles Bloch-Morhange, said:

"Passenger process systems, such as self-service technologies and biometric ID management, connected to 5G and Wi-Fi, will benefit through the faster transmission to data."

Morhange adds, “video feeds underpinning biometric ID management systems will enable face recognition to occur in real-time–5G will allow data to be sent back and forth to the police, border control and airlines instantaneously to give the red or green light.”

Similarly, the 5G connected Beijing Daxing International Airport is delivering a fully digital process from check-in to boarding, with no need for paper or ID. The airport is also using ultra high-definition cameras and RFID tracking for more effective luggage tracking. This should not only streamline the time it takes to process each flight arriving at the airport, but the financial impact could also be significant—lost luggage is estimated to cost US carriers over $160m a year. 

There is a great opportunity to drive operational efficiency through connecting processes and infrastructure in the movement of goods. The Port of Livorno has deployed a digitally connected harbour with cameras, sensors and devices that can connect to a network infrastructure. This is enabling process automation that drives operational efficiencies and greater visibility of goods across their entire journey. The 5G Blueprint project is also exploring how 5G can help transfer data from vessel to vessel and vessel to terminal, across borders.

The Port of Antwerp has connected towing vessels to a 5G network, allowing the ships to stream real-time images as well as radar and sonar data to the control room. Using this real-time information, the Antwerp Port Authority can increase the efficiency and safety of the towing of vessels across the port. This will allow an increase in the number of ships entering and leaving the port each day.

Erwin Verstraelen, chief digital and innovation officer of the Antwerp Port Authority commented:

"At the Port of Antwerp, we are looking at a number of concrete 5G applications, such as smart cameras, drones and autonomous ships and trucks. It's important to learn now about this technology as a company and gradually prepare for the arrival of it, because the potential lies in B2B applications."

The 5G-LOGGINOV project is deploying 5G across the Piraeus port in Greece, Port of Hamburg in Germany and the Port of Koper in Slovenia. In Piraeus, 5G telematics devices are connected to various ontruck sensors to their fleet of trucks, with aggregated telemetry data used to optimise the assignment of container jobs. IoT devices are also being deployed at quayside cranes, and in Koper, to detect the presence or absence of container seals or structure damage at the unloading and unloading process of vessels. This enables problems to be identified more promptly—and rectified as appropriate.

In 2020, Zeebrugge, one of the world’s busiest ports—it moves almost one million tonnes of goods annually through its docks— completed the first phase of a 5G-ready private wireless network for the port. The network provides connectivity to more than 100 endpoints across the entire port operations including tugboats, air pollution detectors, security cameras and quay sensors. Zeebrugge is working to deliver a range of new and enhanced 5G use cases to improve the port’s overall operational performance.

With fuel accounting for 50-60% of shipping costs, smart monitoring can have a huge impact on the bottom line for logistics firms. 5G connected fleets can be deployed with much more functionality: smart sensors and onboard computers are able to monitor and transmit position, idle time, speed, fuel consumption, truck wear and component failure. Operational efficiency will, of course, improve and data can be captured, analysed and viewed from any location.

But it’s not just road transport where fuel consumption can be monitored. Orange worked with Dobrofolot to deliver fresh fish from the Far East to Arkhangelsk, and piloted smart fuel monitoring for its fishing fleet, which is designed to optimise consumption on vessels and help stop fuel theft. The system leverages highly-accurate Coriolis flow metre technology to measure mass flowing through a pipe. Sensors feed measurements directly to the IoT solution, which sends data back to shore via an on-board VSAT terminal. 

Worker safety is a priority for the Port of Seattle, who have worked with Nokia to deploy a 5G private network to support cable-free port and terminal operations. The connectivity should make people more aware of their surroundings, reducing accidents.

The 5G-LOGGINOV project is using 5G connectivity at the Piraeus port in Greece to detect human presence in restricted areas, such as at railways or areas with increased crane manoeuvres. The network is able to trigger respective alerts of potential safety risks. 

The full capabilities of Vehicle to Everything (V2X) communications can be unlocked with 5G networks, connecting freight lorry drivers to other vehicles, traffic control centres and surrounding infrastructure. The network helps to notify the vehicles of potentially hazardous situations, incidents and even animals on the motorway. Connected vehicles could save 11k lives each year, leading to 260k fewer accidents and saving 280 million hours of driving.  

Wireless connectivity is being successfully deployed to reduce accidents and improve road safety across the world. The Advanced Connected Vehicles Victoria trials in Australia tested capabilities such as emergency braking alerts and right turn assistance over 4G; they also provided a glimpse into how 5G could shape the future of the automotive industry—the Quality of Service link is a precursor to the network slicing that will allow 5G to make a huge impact in many industries. 

On the Sichuan Highway in Shanghai, 5G connected smart motorways have been introduced to identify accidents and hazards, enabling real-time responses, delivering help more quickly to those who need it and minimising the potential for knock-on accidents. The Colorado Department of Transport is strategically deploying V2X capabilities on a 90 mile stretch of mountain highway, where sharp bends, steep gradients and extreme weather conditions have made it an accident hotspot. 

Closer to home, a high-tech ‘corridor’ was created on the A2/M2 in Kent to let specially-equipped vehicles interact with roadside infrastructure in a move that promises safer journeys. The project used a 5G wireless network to transmit information about road conditions, road works and time left for traffic lights to change to green, all designed to boost road safety. 

Highways England Head of Intelligent Transport Systems Group, Jo White, said:

"Connecting vehicles to each other and the road can improve journeys, make them safer and give drivers reliable, real-time personalised information; it could also help us manage traffic and respond to incidents."

During a live demo event in Turin, the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) showcased ready-to-deploy use cases in the streets of the city and a sneak preview of what the future has in store. It concluded that the network could prevent incidents at dangerous intersections (as a result of V2X direct-short range communications between vehicles). 

Automation enabled by 5G also helps to improve the safety of workers, by minimising their presence and involvement in hazardous environments and tasks. For instance, Network Rail has highlighted that 5G could be used to deploy drones to investigate potential obstructions or people on train tracks. This eliminates the need for workers on tracks, an activity which poses significant risk to safety. Network Rail’s TSIP (train and station innovation for performance) collaboration project is addressing these use-cases with technology trials.  

Similarly, ports and airports the world over are exploring how 5G can facilitate automation.  The 5G Ports project in the Port of Felixstowe used advanced connectivity to enable remote-controlled cranes while the Port of Livorno has deployed a fleet of automated guided vehicles and Brussels airport, autonomous ground support equipment. These deployments deliver operational efficiencies but also reduce the presence of workers in high-risk environments, delivering a strong boost to worker safety.

At Haneda Airport in Tokyo, 5G is bringing value to airlines by addressing skill gaps. Technicians can access remote experts through augmented and virtual reality, providing them with full visibility of repairs and problems through real-time sharing of ultra high-definition images and 3D reconstructions. Lufthansa Technik has meanwhile deployed a private standalone 5G network that enables collaborative virtual engine inspections between technicians on the aircraft and engineers in Hamburg.

Through 5G MoNArch, the Port of Hamburg is also using 5G to support their engineering team through augmented and virtual reality applications. Engineers are assisted in their day-to-day work with easy mobile access to construction plans and information on buildings, in addition to other technical installations within the port area; this is made possible by on-demand provisioning of the available data and documentation through AR/VR applications. The equipment is connected to a central application server through the 5G mobile network, using a dedicated network slice.

Similarly, the Port of Rotterdam is equipping Shell engineers with industrial tablets connected to 5G. These can be used to provide augmented reality information to support their maintenance activities (for example, temperature or pressure of the process installation). The network also allows staff to stay in touch via video and audio with experts, speeding up time taken for maintenance activities. 

A WM5G project, Predikt, has explored the ability to use 5G-enabled live high definition video streaming to provide real-time kerbside parking availability. A Getmapping survey vehicle was equipped with a roof-mounted HD camera, GPS and a 5G SIM to allow capture and transfer of data during the test. The test area was then mapped with the survey vehicle to create a model for AI to identify and recognise the route and any available parking bays. During the trial, the same vehicle drove through the test area to capture HD footage and corresponding location data, transmitting it via the 5G network to the cloud. AppyWay’s AI could then confirm availability before the information was relayed back to the user as a vacant parking space in the app in real time.  

This service could be invaluable for last-mile deliveries. Around 520,000 UK van drivers typically spend over 20 minutes looking for a parking space for each delivery they make, with the average delivery driver spending a total of 1 hour and 40 minutes searching for parking every day. The potential impact of this is significant with the lack of parking for commercial vehicles estimated to cost the UK economy £76.2 billion per year, so the ability to dynamically assess kerbside parking availability has huge financial implications for logistics companies. 

A number of projects and commercial deployments are exploring how 5G’s high bandwidth can be utilised to provide continuous monitoring of emissions. The Port of Zeebrugge has successfully deployed air pollution detectors across the port, while the 5G MoNArch project is using mobile sensors on barges at the Port of Hamburg for emissions measurements. Environmental measurement sensors have been installed on three Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) ships to provide real-time data on the current air quality in the port area. Prototype environmental sensors and control units, which generate a data stream of raw measurement data, are connected to the HPA data centre through the 5G mobile network with a dedicated network slice. 

The 5G-LOGGINOV project is demonstrating the potential of 5G for traffic management, hoping to leverage a positive environmental impact in the port and surrounding area. Traffic light signals have been connected to the port’s central road traffic control management via a 5G dedicated network slice. This will enable the development and implementation of a methodology to capture the effect of the traffic infrastructure on regional emissions. The project will capture truck emission data, and use traffic light signals to allow optimised trajectory planning for automated vehicle manoeuvring across junctions. Identifying the most appropriate vehicle to take on a container job should enable fewer and shorter journeys across the port area, reducing emissions. Emissions data can also be used to trigger traffic management strategies.