Portbase was commissioned by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to develop an upgraded environment for DEFLog (Data Exchange Facility Logistics). It went live at the end of April. DEFLog provides a marketplace for data services for the logistics sector, particularly road transport.
The first two applications actually available on the upgraded infrastructure are for data on roadworks and data for logistics, such as information on window times, preferred routes, environmental zones, zero-emission zones and loading and unloading areas. All of this data is available to the transportation industry for free and can be used in their own applications as required.
Direct from the source
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management wants DEFLog to continue to grow. External parties can develop tracking services for DEFLog and make them available via the marketplace. Unlike the old DEFLog, in the updated version the data stays with the source and sharing takes place directly with the interested public or private party or parties. This is faster, more efficient and more secure, as well as cheaper. Providers also retain even greater control over the use of their data. Through an authorisation register, DEFLog records who is allowed to use what data for which purposes. The ministry provides the management of DEFLog itself.
“DEFLog provides a marketplace for data services for
the logistics sector, particularly in road transport”
Valuable practical case for Portbase
For Portbase, delivering the upgraded DEFLog was a valuable practical case for the future facilitation of data-sharing solutions, on top of the generic platform solutions of the Port Community System. Portbase is now using the knowledge and experience gained in developing the new DEFLog environment for its onward development and in order to define the right conditions for the relevant services. From 2023 onwards, Portbase wants to facilitate tracking processes for port and other companies that want to establish their own communities for exchanging specific data.
“For Portbase, delivering the upgraded DEFLog
was a valuable practical case”
Secure and easy access via IAMconnected
Parties obtain access to DEFLog via IAMconnected, the Portbase service for secure and easy access to digital services in port and logistics. DEFLog therefore does not require its own access infrastructure. Road hauliers and software providers who already work with Portbase, for example, can also use their IAMconnected accounts for DEFLog. Once logged in, they can purchase data services or offer them themselves.
“Access to DEFLog can be obtained via IAMconnected,
the Portbase service for secure and easy access to
digital services in port and logistics”
Input for Digital Infrastructure Logistics programme
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is an important stakeholder for Portbase in several ways. Together with five other parties, Portbase and the ministry are currently working together in the new Digital Infrastructure Logistics programme (see article) funded from the National Growth Fund. DEFLog provided interesting practical insights on decentralised data sharing for the development of a Basic Data Infrastructure which is part of this programme. DEFLog will also be involved in the living labs to be conducted under the programme.
DEFLog is an initiative by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, SmartwayZ.NL and Portbase with the cooperation of the National Road Traffic Data Portal, the Dutch Association for Transport and Logistics (TLN), evofenedex, the Uniform Transport Code Foundation and the Dutch Association of Logistics and Transport IT suppliers.
