A world first in logistics: East-West Gate to fully visualize its operation

Works are under way on the realistic 3D Digital Twin of the East-West Gate (EWG) intermodal terminal in Fényeslitke, designed to follow the processes and operation of the logistics hub, including the movement of trains, trucks, cranes, transport vehicles and goods, in real time.

Developed in cooperation between a Hungarian startup and EWG, MaxWhere is more intricate than any similar solution attempted before. MaxWhere will collect, process, and display real-time information from all subsystems of the logistics centre, helping to plan, optimize and increase efficiency via the terminal's own 5G network, in accordance with the principles of Industry 4.0. The solution was presented at the East European Intermodal Conference organized by the Association of Hungarian Logistics Service Centres.

An investment of East-West Intermodal Logistics Plc., the East-West Gate intermodal railway terminal has been under construction near the Ukrainian-Hungarian border since January. After operation - scheduled for the first quarter of next year - starts, the terminal will be one of the largest and most modern logistics hub on the rail corridor connecting Asia and Europe. At the terminal, all devices will use a 5G network and other solutions for communication and, a world first, for the remote control of giant cranes capable of fully automatic operation and the most delicate movements.




Another world first of the recently announced collaboration is the innovative use of Industry 4.0 solutions and logistics centre operations, with MaxWhere implementing a true Digital Twin of the East-West Gate terminal that simultaneously facilitates efficient functioning, alerts for emergencies, and enables real-time 3D monitoring of the terminal’s operation. Collecting and combining data from several subsystems of the facility, such as the terminal's operating system, the access gates, the crane control units or the cameras, the solution developed by the Hungarian startup channels information to the operators in real time, allowing them to track and immediately correct any irregularities in 3D via remote control.

Thanks to EWG’s own 5G campus network, MaxWhere is able to monitor trains, trucks, containers, people, and transshipment with extreme punctuality and precision – the graphical environment and visualization of the solution scalable on demand. The system tracks the movement and position of cranes with an error margin of just five centimetres, while also being connected to railway access gates, OCR gates used for the identification of containers, barriers, and scales.




Ensuring compliance, detecting anomalies, and initiating alerts
Since every step of the operation of a transshipment terminal is carefully planned and controlled, the system can compare ongoing operations with daily work plans and pre-determined operating rules, thus being able to detect anomalies and predict potential errors. Not only does it send a warning when, for example, a truck leaves its designated area and enters the scope of a crane, but also if the indicated order of containers on a railway train is changed, which may lead to confusion, or if operators fail to store a container at its designated location. In addition, the system indicates if there is an unauthorized attempt to enter the terminal. In this case, operators can use the software to direct security cameras to the scene immediately. Moreover, daily operation plans allow operators to run future simulations, to prepare in advance for the tasks of the shift ahead. The same knowledge can be used for teaching and learning purposes even before the terminal is launched.

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