Need
The Port Authority of Bilbao had the need to create a “System for the real-time quantification of diffuse emissions and, more specifically, PM10 particles, generated in the environment of the port of Bilbao”.
These particles are a consequence of the activities carried out there, mainly derived from the handling and storage of solid bulk. These activities can be associated with the generation of different environmental impacts, such as particle emissions, spillages on the ground, discharges into the dock, or the generation of waste, which can translate into significant environmental impacts on the social, natural, and economic environment.
Solution
Acquisition and installation of a sensor network adjusted and optimized for the port, consisting of 10 Kunak AIR Pro stations with particle sensors and meteorological parameters, which complements the current fixed network and the integration of the data in the current APB (Port Authority of Bilbao) Control Panel together with other operating parameters.
To this end, a preliminary study was carried out to determine the optimum locations based on a series of criteria such as prevailing winds, loading and unloading docks for bulk solids, etc., with which it was considered appropriate to deploy the sensor network distributed throughout the most problematic docks in terms of particle generation.
Results
Obtaining greater spatial resolution from the real-time monitoring of particles, being able to identify situations or operations of greater impact or critical points in the port area and act on them through the application of corrective or preventive measures (e.g. risks, sealing work, etc.).
Control of the environmental impact and, therefore, the associated indirect impacts: occupational health of workers, reduced visibility, increased cleaning costs, deterioration of machinery, cross-contamination of goods, costs associated with complaints/complaints, etc.
Actions carried out:
- Analysis and determination of optimal sensor locations.
- Deployment of a sensor network with embedded wireless communications.
- Data analysis for the implementation of improvement plans.
- Real-time data delivery on diffuse emissions generated in the port area.
- Integration via API of the data collected in Kunak AIR Cloud in the Tecnalia platform and in the APB control panel with the development of its own data visualization and processing tools.
- Data analysis for the implementation of improvement and mitigation plans or actions.
