During this week’s Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, APM Terminals Barcelona revealed how the latest 5G wireless technology is enabling the use of V2X communication – where information is passed between vehicles and other entities that could affect it.

During his presentation, entitled “5G in a container terminal: V2X applied to Cranes. Improving safety in a dangerous Environment”, Sergi Domínguez Tomas, Head of IT at APM Terminals Barcelona, explained that 5G technology provides an opportunity to develop new solutions to optimise safety within the terminal. “Wireless communications have always been difficult to manage in container terminals, but we are convinced that 5G technology will allow us to use V2X systems in our terminal, to optimise safety in our processes,” he said.

Vehicle-to-Everything Communication Systems (V2X)

Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication involves passing information from a vehicle to any entity that could affect it, and vice-versa. Car manufacturers have been studying such systems for some time to improve road safety and manage traffic flows more effectively. Developments in wireless communication are making it possible for cars to communicate with each other (vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications) and to communicate with roadside units (vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications). These planned V2X car-based wireless communication systems are generically called Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS).

“By using V2X solutions in our cranes we offer our drivers extra support to maintain their safety, while also allowing the mapping of terminals, people and possible dangerous obstacles,” concluded Sergi Domínguez. “We are creating a fully controlled environment”.