SIZE-R: environmental monitoring of Spoke 4 at the port of La Spezia
On August 26, the testing phase of the SIZE-R project was completed in La Spezia. The initiative, developed within Spoke 4 of RAISE – Robotics and AI for Socio-economic Empowerment, aims to monitor in real time the emissions and environmental impact of heavy vehicles transiting through the port area.
The activity involved partners Tilebytes, from Taranto, and La Spezia Port Service, engaged in the design and implementation of an innovative mobile monitoring system capable of collecting high-resolution environmental data and supporting the sustainable management of port infrastructures.
The experiment included the installation of mobile monitoring units directly on moving vehicles. These devices enabled the measurement of key air quality parameters, such as particulate matter (PM), and the collection of meteorological data, essential for correlating emissions with local weather conditions. Data collection was managed and displayed through a dedicated digital platform, ensuring a constant and up-to-date flow of information throughout the entire testing period. This approach made it possible to gather a significant amount of high-precision data, laying the groundwork for detailed analyses at both urban and port scales.
The core of the project lies in the next phase: processing the data through artificial intelligence algorithms. The use of advanced predictive models will transform the collected data into operational tools to support decision-making, optimizing environmental management strategies and reducing the impacts associated with heavy vehicle traffic. In this perspective, SIZE-R stands as a concrete example of how IoT technologies and artificial intelligence can serve as strategic resources for sustainable innovation.
The initiative is part of the activities promoted by RAISE within Spoke 4, dedicated to testing solutions for the sustainability and resilience of socio-economic systems. SIZE-R aims to serve as a replicable model in other port and logistics contexts, both in Italy and across Europe. The experience in La Spezia highlights the role of the port as a hub of innovation, capable of integrating scientific research, advanced technologies, and practical applications for the benefit of society.
The project also enhanced the multidisciplinary expertise of the partners involved. Tilebytes developed the TileStation system, a platform for mobile environmental monitoring, while La Spezia Port Service provided the operational setting and management expertise of the port. This collaboration enabled real-world testing of technological solutions designed to strengthen the competitiveness of the logistics sector while ensuring greater environmental protection.
The La Spezia experience demonstrates how the adoption of innovative technologies can foster balanced growth in the port sector, combining operational needs with sustainability. Thanks to projects like SIZE-R, digitalization and artificial intelligence emerge as key tools to address today’s environmental challenges and to shape new directions for responsible development.
