Titulo Estágio
Digital twins for commercial ports
Áreas de especialidade
Sistemas de Informação
Sistemas Inteligentes
Local do Estágio
DEI
Enquadramento
The transportation and logistics sector is seeking solutions for a digital transition. There is a need for more digital operations, particularly on the automation of processes and operations, in order to reduce the need for human interaction. This will contribute to reducing significantly existing inefficiencies. On the other hand, sustainability is also key and has been a trend in the last few years. The sector is being pressed for a green transition, since it is the second-largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the EU, with traffic expected to increase around 40% by 2050, according to the European Commission.
As a vital part of the transportation and logistics sector, Ports are no exception. They face several challenges regarding this double transition (i.e., digital and green transition), which represent great opportunities for research and innovation.
Among these challenges, there is a need for simulation and visualization tools. This master thesis is intended to research solutions to simulate and visualize operations happening in commercial ports, particularly those using the concepts related to digital twins.
Objetivo
The main objectives of this thesis are as follows:
1) Research and development of digital twin models to simulate and visualize operations in commercial ports
2) Develop simulation or visualization use cases over the developed digital twin prototype of a commercial port as a proof-of-concept
Plano de Trabalhos - Semestre 1
The main phases for the first semester are presented as follows (may overlap):
1) Research the state-of-the-art using a systematic literature review [1,2] on digital twin models to support simulation and visualization processes
Start: September 2022
Duration: 2 months
2) Identify existing digital twin models, including the variety of architectures and standards, that can be adapted to commercial ports’ use cases, and test one of the most suitable
Start: November 2022
Duration: 1 month
3) Design the digital twin system taking into account the requirements identified in the previous steps
Start: November 2022
Duration: 2 months
Results of the 1st semester:
1) Literature review on digital twin models to support simulation and visualization processes
2) Architecture for the digital twin system
3) Intermediate report
References:
[1] Webster, J., Watson, R.T.: (2011). Analyzing the Past To Prepare for the Future : Writing a Review. MIS Quartely. 26 (2), 12.
[2] Kitchenham, B., Charters, S.: (2007). Procedures for Performing Systematic Literature Reviews in Software Engineering. Keele Univ. Durham Univ. UK.
Plano de Trabalhos - Semestre 2
The main phases for the second semester are presented as follows:
4) Develop and test a digital twin prototype to showcase a simulation or visualization process in a commercial port, according to the system designed in the previous step
Start: January 2022
Duration: 4 months
5) Write the scientific paper and the master thesis
Start: May 2023
Duration: 2 months
Results of the 2nd semester:
1) Digital twin prototype
2) Final report
3) Scientific paper: Digital twins as simulation/visualization tools for commercial ports
Condições
The student will be integrated in the Information Systems Group of CISUC, Department of Informatics Engineering, University of Coimbra. A workplace and the required resources will be provided.
The supervisors of the thesis will be:
- Prof. Jacinto Estima
- Prof. Alberto Cardoso
Orientador
Jacinto Estima; Alberto Cardoso
estima@dei.uc.pt 📩