One of the great contemporary challenges for companies is to manage and analyze the enormous amount of data (Big Data) originated by the different systems used in all spheres of the company and the supply chain. However, when well executed, Big Data Analytics is capable of bringing great gains and indicating excellent opportunities.
A proof of the potential that the analysis of this large mass of data can have was revealed last month, when researchers University College London Energy Institute made available to the public an interactive map that shows the movement of international maritime transport in 2012. Designed by kiln digital, the map was created from 250 million positions of ships registered individually, which were crossed with other databases to obtain the characteristics of each type of vessel. The result is impressive and can be experienced below.
The main objective of the project was to show the size of the carbon footprint left by ships. In 2012, it was estimated that more than 796 million tons of CO emissions2 originating from international maritime transport, a topic that became an elephant in the COP21 negotiating room last year.
In addition to checking the emissions count, using the map it is possible to choose which period of the year and region you want to view, which elements you want to leave apparently (ports, routes, ships and continent limits) and filter the ships by type (yellow for container ships, blue for solid cargo, red for oil and fuel tanks, green for the transport of liquefied natural gas and pink for the transport of vehicles).
Through navigation on the map, it is possible to observe interesting situations:
- Even turning off the continent boundary marking option, it is possible to identify them very clearly simply by the route lines;
Figure 1 – Map with ship routes only
Source: shipmap.org
- Due to attacks by Somali pirates that occurred with great frequency between 2005 and 2012, ship routes generally pass farther from the coast of Somalia;
Figure 2 – Routes close to Somalia
Source: shipmap.org
- In canals like the Panama one, there is a small cluster of ships near the entrance, waiting their turn to cross. Due to the limitation of vessels that can sail together, an expansion of the channel is being finalized, which should be inaugurated next month;
Figure 3 – Panama Canal
Source: shipmap.org
- The difficulty of navigation to the North and South Poles results in the almost non-existence of routes to the regions;
Figure 4 – South Pole
Source: shipmap.org
- Close to Rio de Janeiro, it is possible to identify the Campos Basin due to the concentration of oil tankers;
Figure 5 - Campos Basin
Source: shipmap.org
- Even having an entire ocean to navigate, ships tend to stay close to shore or group together on certain routes to shorten their time at sea;
Figure 6 - Common routes
Source: shipmap.org
- The ships are capable of navigating large rivers, such as the Amazon River.
Figure 7 – Routes along the Amazon River
Source: shipmap.org
The project developed by UCL is very interesting, as it manages to make tangible situations that often remain only in the field of imagination. Stay tuned for more initiatives like this to emerge!
References
<https://www.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/energy/news/interactive-shipping-map>
Fernanda Monteiro
More than 11 years of experience in training and consultancy projects, focusing on Logistics and Supply Chain. In consultancy, he carried out projects such as Transformational Logistics Plan, Diagnosis of logistics operations, Strategy and Calendarization of Transport Operations, Measuring the Cost of Serving, Market Study, Mapping of Inventory Reduction Opportunities, Review of the S&OP Process, Management Plan Training and Implementation of Commercial Processes in companies such as Nestlé, Raia Drogasil, Ipiranga, Lojas Americanas, B2W, Coca-Cola, Andina, Embraco, Martins Atacado, Loja do Mecânico, Santo Antônio Energia, Ecoporto and Silimed. She is currently one of the teachers of the Inventory Management Course taught every six months by ILOS. She worked on the development and management of Online Courses in Logistics and Supply Chain, Supply Processes, Demand Planning, Inventory Management and Industrial Management. Still in the training area, she was responsible for applying ILOS business games in companies such as Raia Drogasil, Fibria, NEC, Novartis and Moove.
