The Port of Corpus Christi, Texas, the third-largest U.S. seaport by tonnage and a leading exporter of crude oil, has launched a sophisticated AI-driven management system to enhance port operations. The Overall Port Tactical Information System (OPTICS) is designed to provide real-time logistical support, managing over 200 million tons of shipments recorded in 2024, including 130 million tons of crude oil.
Introduction of OPTICS
Given its scale and volume of shipments, the Port faces significant logistical challenges. In response, port officials have developed the AI-enhanced software OPTICS, built on the Unity 3D engine, capable of creating a virtual real-time model of the Port. Utilizing Esri’s ArcGIS for data management, OPTICS offers up-to-date operational information resembling a highly detailed version of Google Earth.
“In the acronym OPTICS, ‘tactical’ refers to making informed business decisions based on real-time information,” stated Darrell Keach, the Port of Corpus Christi’s business systems manager, in an interview with Business Insider. “So, that’s what we built.”
Enhancements in Vessel Tracking
Commercial vessels have transponders that broadcast information such as identification, course, speed, and destination. However, the system is intermittent, providing updates every few minutes, which can result in gaps in real-time tracking.
Starr Long, executive producer at The Acceleration Agency, developed OPTICS, explained, “When ships are at rest, we get updates every four minutes. When they’re moving, updates can come in every two minutes.” Gaps in data occur especially during transitions between satellite-based and radio-based tracking as vessels enter the Port.
The team has implemented machine learning capabilities within OPTICS to address these issues. This allows the system to predict vessel positions based on historical data, resulting in a more fluid and realistic representation of ship movements within the Port, which is crucial for operational safety.
Keach highlighted the importance of accurate navigation data, particularly as larger vessels present significant hazards. He noted, “The margins are fairly narrow, so having as much data as possible for navigation is important.”
Training for Emergency Response
In addition to enhancing operational efficiency, OPTICS will aid emergency response training. The Port has experienced incidents involving hazardous cargo, including a fatal explosion in 2020 caused by a dredging vessel striking a liquid propane pipeline.
The Port conducts emergency exercises to prepare for similar crises, utilizing the OPTICS system to simulate events based on historical incidents. However, to abide by federal security laws, the Acceleration Agency developed a large language model that generates synthetic emergency scenarios, preventing using sensitive information while diversifying training scenarios.
Long explained, “We trained an LLM to generate synthetic events based on a year’s worth of actual security incidents, like chemical spills and vehicle collisions.” This innovative approach allows for a flexible training environment without compromising security.
Future Developments
Keach emphasized that the deployment of OPTICS is just the beginning. Alongside the AI system, the Port invests in weather sensors, cameras, and a private 5G network to further enhance operations. There are plans to extend the application of OPTICS to assist ship crews, potentially incorporating augmented reality and predictive AI to help navigate adverse weather conditions.
By utilizing existing technologies like Esri’s ArcGIS and Unity, the Port ensures its implementation can adapt and grow without the difficulties associated with proprietary systems. Keach noted, “The future state will drive it more into the field,” indicating a strong commitment to modernizing port operations.
As OPTICS continues to evolve, the Port of Corpus Christi aims to set new maritime logistics standards, enhancing operational efficiency and safety within one of the busiest seaports in the United States.
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