The gateway to quality and security in Barcelona

Vehicle makers using AD Ports’ AutoTerminal at Barcelona in Spain now stand to benefit from more secure tracking of their vehicles, as well as more efficient quality inspection, thanks to an advanced digital platform designed to streamline entry and exit processes.

The eGate system at AutoTerminal Barcelona is built on three main pieces of technology: a barrier and web portal granting access to carriers delivering or picking up finished vehicles, the drive-through vehicle inspection system and an optical fibre network designed to improve communication speeds.

According to AD Ports (which took over Noatum Group, former owner of AutoTerminal Barcelona, in 2023), the eGate is designed to minimise delays and improve the flow of traffic within Barcelona port thereby reducing congestion. The automated access control system reduces the need for manual checks and paperwork, allowing for faster turnaround times. This is important for imports and exports at the port of Barcelona, which together stood at 682,000 finished vehicles in calendar year 2024. Vehicle imports from China account for a sizeable proportion of that annual volume. 

Secure access

The eGate digitises the process of receiving and delivering vehicles by truck. It gives automated access to the carriers delivering or picking up vehicles from AutoTerminal Barcelona. The eGate is supported by an improved double perimeter terminal security system. A 4K camera network provides a high-bandwidth, closed-circuit system to monitor areas and provide visual control information. In the event of a physical or logical failure or breaches of perimeter security, traffic can be automatically diverted to the second node, avoiding interruptions at the production level. 

Using the web portal, carriers enter and reserve a timeslot indicating the day and which vehicles they will pick up at the terminal. Access is through a barrier that opens automatically when it detects the truck licence plate registered on the web portal. Tablet technology that integrates with cloud-based garage management software CarSYS enables communication between field operators, verifiers and equipment managers. The portal also digitises the delivery note. 

Digital quality checks 

In terms of individual finished vehicle quality inspection once inside the terminal, the technology platform includes AI-empowered damage detection to monitor each vehicle being imported or exported via the port. 

The inspection gate is an open-ended container (or arch) through which all vehicles arriving at the port (either import or export) could drive through. Approximately 1,800 vehicles per hour can be processed with the drive-through technology. Using cameras and AI, the container detects if a vehicle is damaged and automates a date and time-stamped report that includes the images captured. Around 120 images are taken per vehicle.

The automated system optimises the inspection process, saving time, boosting traceability and providing security for the customer, while reducing the number of human errors. Overall, the use of AI provides an improved experience for the customer, and gives greater credibility to the terminal and its damage management. 

The third element of the system is the fibre-optic ring network that improves communication speeds, creates aggregate channels when higher bandwidths are required and ensures continuous operation through network redundancy. The technology provides high internet performance with 10GB of bandwidth at all times, allowing for immediate data transfer from damage inspection and control systems.

The eGate at AutoTerminal Barcelona also boasts sustainable credentials by helping to reduce the environmental impact of port operations. The platform's efficient management system helps to lower emissions by reducing non-operational times and optimising vehicle movements. In addition, the use of digital documentation minimises paper waste, which supports green initiatives at AutoTerminal Barcelona. 

The development and installation of the eGate technology follows funding from the European Union and by the Spanish government equal to 35% of the overall cost. The funding is provided through NextGenerationEU, the largest ever stimulus package undertaken in the EU, which is designed to boost Europe’s economy and stimulate growth while also guaranteeing digital and technological sovereignty. 

Vehicle inspections at ports play a critical role in maintaining safety, security and monitoring quality, and the digitalisation of those inspections improves accuracy and speeds up processing, providing instant reporting, paperless workflow and remote access. A centralised database for all inspection data improves tracking and maintenance, and supports a clear audit trail by instantly providing specific times, locations, as well as carrier and personnel information. This is particularly valuable for ensuring that inspections are conducted properly and consistently. 

AD Ports is currently in the process of integrating the various parts of Noatum into its existing five business clusters: Ports, Logistics, Maritime & Shipping, Digital and Economic Cities & Free Zones. The Noatum name will be retained for business under three of those clusters: Noatum Ports, Noatum Logistics and Noatum Maritime.