PIANC Smart Rivers 2022

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Abstract : *(250~1000 words)

Remote control: from technical story to society opportunities

Abstract:

Introduction
De Vlaamse Waterweg has a long history developing remote control systems for bridges, locks and weirs. As with most inland waterway authorities, these systems were implemented using a project-based approach, clustering the operation of infrastructure per waterway or section of a waterway. The control rooms and their respective waterway were functioning as islands.
We have come to a point that we have outgrown this stage.

From now on, remote control is the default operation mode. As of 2019, a new vision was approved to remotely control all our movable structures by 2032 from 3 remote control centres.  The innovative aspect is that they will function as a fully interconnected network and can be used as a back-up for each other.

What started as a purely technical story, has evolved into a future full of opportunities. We found that by formulating such a progressive vision and actually getting to work with it, it opened up a lot of new sometimes unexpected challenges but most of all, a lot of unexpected new opportunities. Opportunities for our organisation, for our employees, but above all for society, the logistics sector and shipping in general.

This paper is aimed at sharing our experiences and as a call-to action for other waterway authorities, academic institutions and private companies to help envision and built the future waterway-systems.

Scope
The relevant operating area for “De Vlaamse Waterweg” is Flanders, the northern region of Belgium. Flanders has approximately 1,000 kilometers of navigable waterways within an area of 13,625 km². The organization of shipping and water management requires approx 330 bridges, locks, weirs, pumping stations, etc. all of which are in scope to be operated remotely by 2032.

Approach
 	Current state
The new vision from 2019 (to serve 330 infrastructure works from 3 control centres) introduced technical, organisational, communicative, … issues within De Vlaamse Waterweg. Between 2019 and 2022, this new vision was translated into a new approach in various areas: ensuring redundancy across the 3 control centres, building stable network connections, agreeing to extensive standardization, improving cybersecurity, drawing organizational charts and ways of working, developing a central approach to water management, providing professional training to operators, drafting an implementation plan with a view upto 2032, …
       	
    Change-management
Dedicated focus groups were established where operators and their managers worked in a system of co-creation on the organizational chart within a  control centre, on the manuals with the operational guidelines, on solving personnel related bottlenecks, etc. This unique concept of collaboration across different functions ensured support and acceptance of the entire transition among staff members.

Training
The AWATAR (Automation Waterways Training and Reference) training facility has been developed to provide training for our employees. This simulator can be used to practice the remote operation of bridges and locks and working as team in a control centre, to facilitate smooth traffic.

Technical innovations
The changing functional needs of the organization require an specific approach from both the technology and the technical organization. A different balance is sought between decentralization and centralization of the infrastructure, between standardization and customization. Demands on availability are increasing, but can be partly mitigated by the network synergies when compared to classic redundancy solutions. The scalability and multi-deployability of the systems are a critical point of attention. Technical systems evolve towards an almost completely network-driven operation. New functionalities are requested to support the operation of and between the remote control centres. The technical realization evolves towards a continuous-life-cycle-approach with a more centrally coordinated organizational unit.

Integrating with RIS, Smart Shipping, Smart Logistics
By moving from a fragmented approach to an overarching integrated strategy and state-of-the-art overall remote control system, full integration with RIS, Smart Shipping and Smart Logistics, and the physical internet becomes possible.

The opportunities for the logistics sector and shipping on the one hand and watermanagement on the other are created by embracing innovative technologies and integrating them within the day-to-day operations.  We provide the necessary tools to shipping to plan their journey as effective as possible and the systems in the remote control centres support the operators in offering an optimal locking process.  We will built a decision-support system for watermanagement to mitigate the impact of climate (drought – flooding).

Conclusion
The strategy towards all-out remote-control makes a digital evolution possible. 
As such, this originally technical story will contribute to prosperity and well-being in Flanders. Organizations must dare to dream and dare to seize technical evolutions as a basis for the many opportunities to improve the future for the shipping and logistics sector, while at the same time responding efficiently and effectively to the impact of climate change.

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