TIC 4.0
2025.014 Release
1. Introduction
The publication TIC4.0 2025.014 covers the following topics:
General Definitions: A definition for “Actor” has been created. In TIC4.0, an “actor” is a person that carries out an action at some point in time (past, present or future) or is expected to carry out an action.
White Paper "digital twin listens TIC4.0": This paper provides a guide for implementing digital twins in container terminals, focusing on essential data sources, IoT-driven insights, and TIC4.0 standards for integration. It highlights how merging CHE and TOS data enhances efficiency, predictive maintenance, and decision-making. The document also outlines initial data requirements and sets the stage for future developments in digital twin functionalities.
White Paper on Yard Digital Representation: This document presents a structured approach to digitizing container terminal operations, enabling real-time cargo tracking and flow optimization. It highlights the complexity of yard management beyond static records, emphasizing the need for dynamic updates. By leveraging TIC4.0 standards, it aims to enhance data accuracy, streamline operations, and support future advancements.
Reefer definitions: This release creates definitions for the “Ventilation System”, “Humidity System”, “ReeferRack”, “ReeferSlot”, “NoisePressure” and “NoiseFrequency”.
Reefer Use Case Descriptions: On this occasion, to facilitate the understanding of the use of standards related to reefer cargo, this document presents a summary of the work done so far, including the most relevant definitions and the presentation of use cases exemplifying the standard's application.
TF Communication to vessel EDI: This publication marks the completion of COARRI’s translation to TIC4.0, a significant milestone in standardization. It enhances communication between terminals and shipping lines, ensuring accurate, efficient container handling and seamless reporting aligned with SMDG-COARRI213.
White Paper "digital twin listens TIC4.0"
This paper offers critical guidance on the implementation of digital twins in port terminals through the use of TIC4.0 standards, which facilitate the integration of various data sources, such as Cargo Handling Equipment (CHE) and Terminal Operating Systems (TOS), to improve real-time data collection, process optimization, and predictive maintenance. By merging data streams from different sources, the paper demonstrates how digital twins can enhance decision-making, streamline operations, and provide valuable insights into terminal activities, thus driving greater operational efficiency.
TIC4.0’s standardized data elements ensure seamless communication between hardware and software systems, enabling smooth integration and reducing the time and costs typically associated with setting up a digital twin ecosystem. This creates a unified and flexible system where terminal operations can be continuously monitored and optimized, with all relevant data accessible in real-time.
Moreover, the paper introduces the first set of data requirements for specific digital twin functionalities, such as CHE and container position tracking, providing a structured approach for implementing these capabilities. This represents a crucial step forward in the digital twin journey, marking the completion of an essential foundation that will help the industry move towards more advanced, data-driven solutions. The publication is an important milestone, as it simplifies the process of creating Digital Twins and enhances the integration of systems across the terminal, making it a key advancement for the industry.
White Paper on Yard Digital Representation
This document introduces the concept of digital representation in cargo yards, focusing on the importance of real-time tracking and efficient operations. It emphasizes the role of accurate definitions in yard data management, which are essential for developing Digital Twins. These definitions help track the physical positions of containers and their movements, allowing for optimization and minimizing bottlenecks.
The digital model is structured across three main views: cargo-centric, position-centric, and operation-centric. These views provide a comprehensive understanding of the yard’s layout and cargo inventory. The use of TIC4.0 standards ensures a flexible, scalable system for managing both cargo data and yard infrastructure, forming the basis for effective Digital Twins.
Looking ahead, the integration of technologies like automation, AI, and IoT will help create "smart yards," where predictive simulations and Digital Twins drive operational improvements. These advancements will enhance interoperability, streamline communication, and optimize resource management, positioning terminals for more agile, data-driven decision-making in the future.
2. Data Model
For the digital formatting of the semantic and Dataset we need a Data Model to structure the data and a Data Schema to define the details of the content, such as the validity of the format, the type of data (Boolean, entire, real etc.), which data is mandatory or could be omitted etc.
The Dataset has been defined based upon the RDF Resource Description Framework using the subject->predicate->object schema.
Following the semantic web standard (subject: object) the model has 3 main components: header, asset description and measurement.
SUBJECT creates the hierarchy tree structure (we have sub-subjects) that helps to identify the boundary of the value. The hierarchy is fixed by TIC4.0 for each kind of subject (CHE, TOS, Terminal) and can mix any type of subjects (e.g. machine.process = che.move). The subjects conform to an array defined by the (concept) metadata so various identical subjects but with different metadata (id or name or location or…) can be sent in the same message. (one message with several CHE's or one CHE with several spreaders).
The CONCEPT's metadata defines ‘what is’ and the CONCEPT ‘what does’. Both are flat (no hierarchy, no arrays) and as many as necessary can be used. Additionally, two concepts can be combined with ‘and’ or ‘or’ creating a new concept which includes the condition that makes both true. For e.g. ‘hoisting_and_trolleying’ that represents the action of hoisting and trolleying at the same time (both statuses must be true).
OBSERVED PROPERTIES define the ‘magnitude’ of the CONCEPT, are flat (no hierarchy) and can be used as many times as necessary with a CONCEPT.
For each OBSERVED PROPERTY, an array created by the combination of the different POINT OF MEASUREMENTs in time (actual, estimated, etc), place (input, iinput, ioutput, output), timestamps and the different Units will give an array (a list) of VALUEs. The array could be if necessary in each message. The length will depend on the relation between the data frequency and the message frequency and also the amount of different POINT OF MEASUREMENTs that need to be represented.
A detailed definition of the Data Model can be found in Data Model.
The Dataset is the content of the Data Model, a flat version without hierarchy or rules. The Dataset is used by humans, but machines need the Data Model and the Data Schema to translate it to a digital format.
3. Generic Documentation
In this release, the following generic documents, definitions and other information are available:
Release | Title | Link | Definition | TIC4.0 Classification |
2025.014 | White Paper "digital twin listens TIC4.0" | This paper guides digital twin implementation in container terminals, focusing on IoT insights, TIC4.0 standards, and data integration for improved efficiency and maintenance. | Publication | |
2025.014 | White Paper on Yard Digital Representation | This document outlines a structured approach to digitalizing terminal operations, focusing on real-time cargo tracking, dynamic updates, and enhanced data accuracy using TIC4.0 standards. | Publication | |
2025.014 | Reefer Use Case Descriptions | This document summarises the work on reefer cargo standards, including key definitions and use cases illustrating their application. | Publication | |
2025.014 | COARRI to TIC4.0 | Translation from COARRI to TIC4.0 | Publication |
4. Definitions
The following definitions have been created or modified in this 2024.013 publication:
4.1 General
Publication | Definition | Link | Definition | TIC4.0 Semantic |
2025.014 | Actor | It is the person responsible for carrying out the tasks assigned in an Order. | SUBJECT | |
2025.014 | NoisePressure | Noise (Sound) pressure is the local pressure deviation from ambient atmospheric pressure caused by a sound wave. | OBSERVED PROPERTY | |
2025.014 | NoiseFrequency | Noise Frequency represents the number of sound waves that pass through a fixed point in a certain period of time. | OBSERVED PROPERTY |
4.1 Cargo Reefer
Publication | Definition | Link | Definition | TIC4.0 Semantic |
2025.014 | Ventilation System | It is the system responsible for controlling the subject ventilation system within the established parameters. | SUBJECT | |
2025.014 | Humidity System | It is the system responsible for controlling the humidity percentage of the subject within the established parameters. | SUBJECT | |
2025.014 | Reefer Rack | Is a structure specifically designed to provide power and access to all levels of stacked refrigerated ( TypeReefer ) Cargo 2023.009 It allows accessibility to operate on reefers. | SUBJECT | |
2025.014 | Reefer Slot | Position on the ReeferRack, designed for one cargo “typereefer”. Allows operational and maintenance, where it can be properly plugged, unplugged, powered, unpower and monitored | SUBJECT |
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