By evaluating the available data streams in combination with the practical experience of the specialists on site, an intelligent lock management and information system is being created for the Kiel Canal. Enak Ferlemann, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure: "This project is a prime example of how digitalization can advance shipping: lock operations will become even more transparent, efficient and customer-friendly. This will not only keep the canal attractive for shipping, but will also indirectly improve the logistics industry in the downstream ports." The project is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) with more than 1.5 million euros as part of the mFUND (Modernity Fund) research initiative.

A project for improved freight logistics on the Kiel Canal
As a strategic link between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, the canal is already one of the busiest waterways in the world and contributes to resource-saving and sustainable logistics. At the same time, however, the area has been affected by many construction sites in recent years, which has repeatedly presented the lock masters responsible with the challenge of safe and structured lock operation.

In order to ensure improved processes on the Kiel Canal despite the extensive construction measures and increased traffic volume, digitalization is a crucial basis for supporting lock management. A ship data-based system is still lacking. The LocksNOK40 project aims to significantly simplify inlet management in order to make it more transparent, efficient and customer-friendly.

On the basis of comprehensive databases, precise forecasts on the utilization of the locks are created to support the lock personnel in their decisions. At the same time, feedback to the Electronic Waterway Information Service provides reliable information about the traffic situation on the canal and offers users of the waterway the most comprehensive information possible. This is particularly important for the economic planning of supply chains in order to reduce waiting and handling times and effectively cut costs.

Digitalization and experience as the basis for a future-proof system
When developing the system, the project partners rely on the consolidation of comprehensive data sets, such as weather and climate data, navigation and geodata. Forecasts are generated from this data and with the help of machine learning and stochastic analysis methods. At the same time, problem modelling, solution and optimization approaches from the field of artificial intelligence, among others, are used. The aim is to make the forecasts increasingly accurate so that the times with the highest capacity utilization can be specified reliably and transparently.

In addition, a knowledge-based planning tool for optimized lock occupancy is to be developed that incorporates the experience of lock personnel and supports them in lock operation. However, the planned system will remain open and continuously expandable in order to adapt to developments in canal management and to provide a structured basis for further developments.

The start of a successful project
The foundation stone for the SchleusenNOK40 project was laid at the kick-off on 06.04.2020. The project is to be completed by 31.03.2023 in order to simplify inflow management on the canal. In the requirements analysis, it is planned to hold workshops with as many users involved as possible. In this way, all requirements can be recorded in order to make using the system as simple and needs-based as possible. Another important aspect in the first phase is the analysis of existing data sources with regard to usability, so that technical and other requirements can be checked and a secure implementation in practice is made possible.

Thanks to the involvement of the partners dbh, Fraunhofer FOKUS and TTS TRIMODE, a strong and experienced team is involved in order to implement the SchleusenNOK40 research project in a functional and secure manner, both technically and in terms of personnel, within the existing time frame. In this way, as the project progresses, it will be possible to support the lock personnel in all active decisions and fundamentally increase transparency. In this way, digitalization leads to a reliable and structured approach at the lock in order to simplify planning and information flow and to benefit from a modern and enriching system after completion of the research project.