Project number: MT-14-13

Funding source: Caltrans

Contract number: 65A0533

Funding amount: $74,928

Performance period: 1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

Project description

The twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are two of the busiest ports in the country. The marine terminals at these ports are under tremendous pressure to enhance their performance levels. One major issue in the terminals' productivity and performance is the uncertainty of upcoming truck arrivals. The longer a truck waits the more it reduces companies' shipping capacity and contributes to air pollution. In this work, we developed a mobile application through which truck movements near the ports can be tracked. This can provide terminals with a complete overview of upcoming traffic and enables them to sort the containers more efficiently. We use drivers' sensor-rich smartphones to this end, thus eliminating the additional cost of extra equipment. Our phone application provides the drivers with all information necessary to their operation and helps the terminals to foresee the upcoming traffic. Upon collecting the data, our system analyzes it and provides the stakeholders access to real time information about trucks at the ports.