Database Disruptions – Workshop

In the European research project ReMuNet, one of the consortium’s tasks is to respond to disruptions in intermodal operations in a timely, appropriate and automated manner. This involves evaluating the current and planned transport process in response to the operational disruption and immediately developing proposed solutions for the further transport process. The ReMuNet Platform to be developed manages bookings and transport routes. Using an additional component, the ‘Disruptions Module’, disruptions are assigned to transports in a standardised manner and recommendations for action are made. That is the idea.

The project partners Hanken School of Economics, Helsinki and 4PL Intermodal, Rotenburg held a two-day internal workshop to coordinate the ongoing development of the disruption database with the results from WP1 to date. The aim of the activity was to consolidate the conceptual foundations and provide targeted support for further technical development. A total of four people took part, including three representatives from 4PL and one representative from Hanken; one of the participants was female.

The workshop took place at the premises of 4PL Intermodal in Rotenburg. The focus of the work was on designing the database schema for the fault module and on coordinating the content and technical aspects between the relevant work packages. The fault database is a central component of the ReMuNet platform and forms an essential basis for the planned pilot applications. Close coordination between the partners and across several work packages ensured that the overarching project goals were consistently taken into account during the development phase.

The activity was prepared in the form of several virtual meetings. First, the availability of the partners involved was coordinated, followed by a series of short online meetings to develop and fine-tune the agenda. Contributions were obtained from the project coordinator and the leaders of work packages WP3 and WP5. Rotenburg was chosen as the venue because it is where 4PL Intermodal’s office is located, the majority of 4PL participants came from there, and the development work was to be carried out on site.

This was an internal, non-public event without any external communication or dissemination measures. Participation was by invitation only. The workshop contributed significantly to accelerating work on the fault module by enabling direct, collaborative cooperation. Compared to purely virtual coordination, the quality of communication improved significantly and feedback could be integrated in a timely manner.

A key outcome of the activity was the clear coordination of objectives and further steps in connection with the development of the fault database. In retrospect, carrying out the activity earlier would have created additional scope for further comparable workshops during the reporting period. It was an intensive and extremely harmonious working meeting with satisfactory results.