Asia Airfreight Terminal Co LTDRFID-based Truck Management SystemAutomated real-time monitoring enables efficient operation by RFID-based truck management system. Security has been improved while staff numbers have been reduced.

Background

To cope with the increasing volume of airfreight, a new system was introduced at the same time as the new terminal commissioned.

AAT, who operates an airfreight termin based in Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). , is the second largest freight handler by volume in Hong Kong. With freight volumes growing year by year, a RFID-based Truck Control System has been installed to coincide with construction of the new terminal in order to ensure the most efficient handling. Furthermore, both the freight and Truck Control System are linked, enabling the provision of a comprehensive service, including physical freight control and the handling of customs-related freight documents, to airlines operating at Hong Kong International Airport.

The new terminal that opened in 2007 is a four-story building through which over 1.5 million tons a year - some 30% of all freight passing through Hong Kong International Airport - can be handled.

The busiest time logistically speaking tends to be during the evening, and the entry and exit of freight vehicles needs to be especially quick and efficient during this period. For airfreight, in particular, timely and accurate delivery is indispensable, so it is important to minimize the time goods are retained at the airport. In order to achieve this, the system efficiently directs vehicles to the optimal truck dock in accordance with the consignment.

Sending accurate and timely tracking reports to clients on the current position and progress, etc. of their freight consignment had also become a critical issue to enhance customer satisfaction in response to ever-tougher competition. Accordingly, the vehicle position and work progress status needed to be understood in real time.

A further complication is that the vehicles that use the terminal come in all manner of types and sizes, so efficient use of the parking space was another requirement that was addressed by monitoring and alerting vehicles that park inefficiently, such as if they parked on an angle. At the same time, in order to prevent the illicit concealment of dangerous goods and unauthorized intruders, a reliable security system needed to be established by identifying drivers and vehicles.

Although various measures were taken, the use of a conventional smart card-based terminal operation system offered a limited spectrum of solutions, such as automated gate systems for entry and exit. In the final analysis, employee-controlled real-time monitoring proved to be too complex and costly for the staff involved in other monitoring and control work. Accordingly, it was decided to introduce a RFID-based system that had the flexibility to cope in real time with changing conditions, as well as improving the efficiency of vehicle assignment management.

Installation Process

The main factor was its comprehensive and flexible support for advanced technologies.

In order to introduce a RFID-based real-time Truck Control System, as well as being easy-to-use and offering efficient operation, the system required a reliable security function to be built-in for international freight transport. After assessing proposals from several companies, it was decided to cooperate in the development of a new system with NEC, based on their worldwide experience.

Mr. Nelson Lee commented, "There is quite a risk involved when you change the system architecture so significantly, so certainly we had our concerns. Therefore, we asked several RFID solution providers to submit their proposals. The reason for selecting NEC as our partner in establishing this system is that we felt reassured about their ability to react flexibly to our demands, backed up by our high evaluation of their extensive experience and results with advanced technologies. We were also satisfied with their organizational strengths, that afforded not only individual parts and tools, but also a totally integrated system, and a high degree of technological expertise that was able to act in response to our complex demands."

System Overview

Shift from smart card to RFID architecture

The operational flow of the new Truck Control System is as follows. Information about which vehicles and drivers are permitted to enter the terminal is pre-recorded, and RFID tags on which that information is stored are attached to the vehicle's windscreen. When goods are loaded onto a vehicle, the vehicle ID information, as confirmed by the Truck Control System and information acquired by the freight management system, are crosschecked and sent to head office. Vehicles are automatically identified by the RFID reader installed at the terminal gate, and the optimal parking position for loading and unloading goods is automatically detected by the system and shown on the monitor. An alarm is raised if a vehicle is deemed to have parked inefficiently, for example when it is not parked appropriately within the designated space, or the driver is called on his or her mobile phone (the number of which has been registered in advance) and instructed to reposition the vehicle.

In terms of system development, NEC Hong Kong Ltd. has been tasked with the programming, Alien Technology (USA) handles the RFID readers, writers and tags (UHF band standard specification), while the KIOSK (information terminal) uses products made by NEC Hong Kong's local affiliate in China.

Installation Results and Future Benefits

Over and above the improved efficiency of vehicle assignment management, the system has afforded labor savings, enhanced security and improved customer services.

Vehicles must be registered in advance before they are permitted to enter the terminal, so matching up the vehicle ID and freight information when goods are loaded has enabled improved efficiency in terms of vehicle assignment management, and the effective use and optimal allocation of parking spaces.

The period spent at the terminal gate for entry and exit has been significantly reduced through this automated identification. In terms of the length of time spent waiting to enter, this has been reduced by 7~8 minutes compared to the average waiting time under the previous system, so this has considerably enhanced customer satisfaction as well.

The adoption of this real-time automated monitoring system has led to a further strengthening of security as well as enabling automated tracking of vehicle positions and more efficient operation. Labor costs have also been trimmed by eight million Hong Kong dollars, as security guards who used to be posted on the entry/exit gates are no longer needed.

Mr. Nelson Lee said, "This is a technological milestone in terms of RFID-based Truck Control System. Its success has garnered us many awards, including "Best ubiquitous network" (bronze medal) and "Best business application results award" from amongst the 2007 Hong Kong ICT awards, and we believe our approach has done much to promote the benefits of introducing RFID. We would like to actively introduce our operational experience with regard to its development to other freight terminals."

Opinions of NEC Staff

Awards

AAT's RFID Truck Control System has won the below 2 awards in the first-ever Hong Kong RFID Awards 2008.

• The Best EPC/RFID Implementation Gold Award
• Most Innovative Use of EPC/RFID Bronze Award

Customer profile

Asia Airfreight Terminal Co., Ltd. (AAT)

Outline

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