Sustainability

Port of Almería: How AI Is Transforming the Future of Green Port Operations

AI-powered smart operations in Port of Almería

Published May 28, 2025 | Category: Sustainability

The Port of Almería is becoming one of Spain’s smartest maritime hubs, thanks to a cutting-edge AI project that optimizes operations and reduces environmental impact.

Smart Port Almería: How AI Is Transforming the Future of Green Port Operations

What is ACOPIAIA – Puertos 4.0?
Sensors, Cameras and AI Infrastructure
Operational and Environmental Outcomes
Collaboration, Scaling and the Future
Conclusion

What is ACOPIAIA – Puertos 4.0?

The ACOPIAIA project, short for “Algoritmia para la Caracterización, Optimización y Predicción del Impacto Ambiental basada en Inteligencia Artificial en Puertos 4.0,” is an ambitious AI-driven initiative launched at the Port of Almería. Developed in collaboration with the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and tech firm Aptica, it aims to make the port smarter, greener, and more resilient.

Funded by Spain’s public innovation agency Red.es, ACOPIAIA forms part of the national ‘Puertos 4.0’ framework—a strategy to digitally transform Spanish ports by implementing artificial intelligence, real-time analytics, and sustainable practices.

Sensors, Cameras and AI Infrastructure

Over an 18-month period, the Port of Almería was equipped with a vast network of digital tools to collect and process real-time environmental data:

7 Environmental Sensors – measuring air quality (CO, NO₂, SO₂, O₃), particulate matter (PM₁, PM₂.₅, PM₁₀), temperature and humidity.
4 Sound Meters – tracking port-related noise pollution and traffic noise from nearby roads.
5 AI-Enabled Cameras – monitoring traffic flow, vehicle activity and material handling in bulk storage zones.

The data gathered is continuously fed into AI models that detect patterns, predict future pollution scenarios, and recommend operational adjustments—often in real time.

Operational and Environmental Outcomes

Meeting Air Quality Standards

Analysis of the collected data revealed that the Port of Almería consistently meets national and EU air quality regulations. Contrary to concerns, the handling of dry bulk cargo was not a significant contributor to airborne particulate pollution, thanks to strict protocols like misting, wind barriers, and wheel washing systems.

Smart Response to Weather and Emissions

The AI engine allows the port to anticipate pollution spikes triggered by specific meteorological conditions—such as thermal inversions or heavy wind events—and adapt operations accordingly. For example, high-polluting activities can be rescheduled, rerouted, or temporarily suspended.

Noise Detection and Mitigation

ACOPIAIA also enabled port authorities to pinpoint unexpected sources of noise pollution and redesign workflows to minimize impact on surrounding residential areas. This includes an intelligent warning system that triggers alerts when sound thresholds are exceeded.

Optimizing Logistics

Operationally, AI-generated insights now help dispatch teams to allocate vehicles and schedule cargo movements more efficiently. This reduces traffic congestion inside the port and cuts down idle emissions from waiting trucks.

Collaboration, Scaling and the Future

One of ACOPIAIA’s core strengths is its collaborative nature. The partnership between public institutions and private tech has created a scalable framework that could be applied to other Mediterranean ports.

Plans are underway to develop:

A real-time emissions dashboard shared with the municipality of Almería.
Urban sound modeling to assess the port’s acoustic footprint in residential neighborhoods.
A public-facing information portal for citizens to track environmental indicators.

The success of ACOPIAIA in Almería showcases how medium-sized ports can become innovation labs for sustainable logistics, even without the massive budgets of larger container terminals like Barcelona or Valencia. ACOPIAIA is one of several digital transformation efforts supported under the national Puertos del Estado strategy to make Spanish ports more sustainable and competitive.

Not just about faster operations

Almería is proving that a smart port is not just about faster operations—it’s about better ones. With AI as a strategic tool, the port is reducing its environmental footprint while improving logistics, safety and transparency.

In a world where ports are under increasing pressure to modernize and decarbonize, the ACOPIAIA project offers a replicable model of smart, scalable and sustainable maritime innovation.

For more insights into regional sustainability innovation, visit our Sustainability catern.

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Sustainability

Sustainable Projects in Almería.

Sustainable projects Almería and green infrastructure

Published May 28, 2025 | Category: Sustainability

Almería is no longer just Spain’s greenhouse capital — it is now a reference point for sustainable projects in Almería and across southern Europe.

Sustainable Projects in Almería: 6 Bold Plans Shaping a Greener Future

1. New €20.5M Recycling Facility
2. Toblerone Silo Urban Park
3. Mina de la Solana Restoration
4. Sustainable Greenhouse Agriculture
5. University of Almería Carbon Plan
6. Smart City & ICC Program

1. New €20.5M Recycling Facility: Circular Economy in Action

Set to open in 2025, Almería’s new recycling facility represents a €20.5 million investment in circular economy infrastructure. The plant will use cutting-edge sorting and processing technologies to transform waste into reusable materials, cutting landfill dependency and lowering the province’s carbon output. It’s expected to serve as a regional model of high-capacity, low-impact waste management.

More details (Spanish): Junta de Andalucía

2. Toblerone Silo Urban Park: Green Space from Industrial Ruin

The abandoned Toblerone Silo, once used for iron ore storage, is undergoing a remarkable transformation. Almería is turning this iconic structure and its surrounding zone into a sprawling green urban park. This project enhances biodiversity, provides valuable leisure space, and preserves an important piece of local history—an example of sustainable urban regeneration at its best.

3. Mina de la Solana Restoration: Healing the Sierra de Gádor

In Almócita, the historic Mina de la Solana mining site is receiving €1.7 million in funding for ecological rehabilitation. The Andalusian regional government is leading efforts to stabilize the terrain, replant native flora, and reduce the visual and environmental impact of former mining operations. The site is also expected to host nature trails and serve as a pilot for landscape restoration throughout the Sierra de Gádor.

4. Sustainable Agriculture in Almería’s Greenhouses

Known as the “Garden of Europe”, Almería’s massive sea of greenhouses is going green. Farmers are adopting sustainable practices such as:

Precision irrigation and rainwater reuse
Biodegradable mulching materials
Solar-powered operations
Integrated pest management

These sustainable projects in Almería are reducing environmental impact while keeping the region at the forefront of Europe’s fruit and vegetable production. The greenhouse sector is also experimenting with reflective materials that reduce land temperature and fight local climate warming.

5. University of Almería: Leading by Example

The University of Almería has committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 30% in coming years. Its campus-wide sustainability plan includes building retrofits, solar installations, e-bike infrastructure, and educational programs on climate action. The university is positioning itself as a knowledge hub for green transformation and community involvement in sustainable policy.

6. Smart City Innovation: Almería in the ICC Program

Almería is one of the Spanish cities selected for the European Commission’s Intelligent Cities Challenge (ICC). Under this initiative, the city is advancing its digital infrastructure to support:

Smart mobility and public transport
Energy-efficient street lighting and buildings
Citizen engagement through open data dashboards

The ICC program places Almería in an elite group of cities building sustainable futures through integrated urban planning, digital services, and environmental tech.

Almería’s Sustainability Map: A Connected Future

These six projects don’t stand alone. They’re part of a broader regional transformation where environmental goals, public innovation, and smart governance intersect. The synergy between port digitization (Smart Port Almería), green urban renewal, and eco-agriculture is positioning Almería as a testbed for Mediterranean sustainability.

Conclusion

From mountains to greenhouses, from the port to the university, Almería is redefining what a sustainable province looks like. These projects show that with the right vision and investment, even historically industrial or agricultural regions can lead the green transition.

For more on the sustainable transformation in Almería, visit our Sustainability section.

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Almería News

Huércal-Overa’s Greenway ( Vía Verde ) Renews SICTED Quality Certification

Published May 21, 2025 | Category: News
The Huércal-Overa Greenway has renewed its SICTED quality certification, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable tourism and visitor satisfaction.

Huércal-Overa’s Greenway Renews SICTED Quality Certification

The Vía Verde of Huércal-Overa has once again received the SICTED quality seal, a certification granted by Spain’s State Secretariat for Tourism and the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces. This distinction recognises the town’s efforts to offer excellent tourism services and maintain high sustainability standards.

Mayor Domingo Fernández accepted the award at a ceremony in Pulpí, stating that the SICTED seal “rewards the effort and dedication of our municipality.” The Greenway follows the historic Lorca-Baza-Águilas railway line and features rest areas, information panels, and over 4 kilometres of new lighting to enhance visitor experience.

This recognition also highlights Huércal-Overa’s broader commitment to sustainability in rural tourism, aligning with Almería’s long-term efforts to promote responsible travel and environmental stewardship.

Official source: Ayuntamiento de Huércal-Overa – Turismo

For more updates from across the province, visit our News section.