Port of Brisbane partners with TechConnect on sustainability project

The Port of Brisbane has recently partnered with TechConnect to further enhance its sustainability efforts through a state-of-the-art data management platform built on Amazon Web Services (AWS). This collaboration aims to provide the Port, which ranks as Australia's third largest, with unique and actionable insights into environmental asset efficiencies, thereby supporting its sustainability strategy.

TechConnect, a prominent name in global data management based on the Gold Coast, joined forces with senior management and technology teams at the Port to develop this advanced platform. The system forms a critical element of the Port's data ingestion and analysis operations and is instrumental in meeting the criteria set by a USD $500 million sustainability-linked loan facility.

Neil Stephens, the Port of Brisbane's chief executive officer, remarked on the integral role that sustainability plays in the Port’s overall business strategy, emphasising the commitment to incorporating sustainable practices across all operations. He highlighted the benefits of the platform developed by TechConnect, particularly its ability to provide comprehensive and actionable insights into the environmental impacts of various assets. Stephens noted that one early success of the platform is providing crucial information regarding potential water leaks, a significant advantage given the extensive size of the Port’s 1800-hectare area.

Since its initial engagement in early 2022, TechConnect has conducted a thorough, Well-Architected Review of the Port's data environment aimed at creating a centralised green dashboard. This innovative dashboard serves as a reliable source for managers, assisting in decisions aimed at enhancing sustainability. The agile approach adopted ensured a flexible and efficient implementation of the data management and analytics platform, providing real-time data accessible through mobile and other devices for approved staff.

The dashboard is an essential component of the Port’s strategic sustainability initiatives, specifically focusing on environmental management aspects such as energy use, air quality, waste management, and water quality. One notable feature of the platform is its ability to monitor water leaks and consumption through IoT devices attached to the facility's numerous water meters. This makes use of various AWS services, including AWS Lambda, Amazon Dynamo DB, Amazon S3, Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose, AWS DataSync, and AWS IoT Core.

To date, the platform has allowed the Port of Brisbane to consolidate and visualise data that was previously spread across different sources, integrating solar, power, water, and vehicular data, among others. This centralisation aligns the Port’s sustainability and asset management strategies with the commitments made under its USD $500 million loan facility and broader strategic goals. Additionally, the Port now has a comprehensive, secure data repository that stores all sustainability-related information and organisational targets, making it easier to track progress and make informed decisions.

Mike Cunningham, Chief Executive Officer of TechConnect, emphasised the uniqueness of this project, noting that the Port of Brisbane is setting a precedent within the infrastructure industry. By leveraging detailed, dashboard-based insights into the environmental impact of their operations, the Port can make swift, informed decisions that not only drive business objectives but also ensure that environmental and sustainability targets are met, particularly in reducing carbon emissions.