Self-driving vehicles in ports and ICDs run on fixed internal routes with no public traffic mixed in. The technical conditions are therefore easier than driverless operation on public roads, but in return the infrastructure must meet a high standard: road surface flat within tolerance, clearly defined one-way routes, charging points with sufficient capacity, and an electrical system able to withstand simultaneous charging loads.
CGD handles the infrastructure and route planning so that a port or ICD can automate in stages, starting from one operating route rather than rebuilding the whole yard.
Scope of work
- Survey of existing internal routes: turning radius, road surface flatness, traffic flow conflicts
- Route planning for autonomous vehicles and separation of flows from manned vehicles during the parallel-running phase
- Electrical infrastructure and charging stations: capacity, location, impact on existing substations
- Cargo flow simulation to verify throughput capacity before and after automation
- Container yard and customs inspection area layout suited to self-propelled equipment
- Construction design documents: pavement, drainage, lighting, fencing and access control gates
- Phasing the investment route by route so that the port owner does not have to place a single bet
Why choose CGD for this work
- CGD advises ICD investors, inland waterway ports and logistics centers from the planning stage, so we understand the internal route before discussing the equipment that runs on it.
- The CF Group ecosystem includes Aubot, which handles warehouse and logistics automation, and Long River, which operates ports — so both the equipment side and the operations side have a point of contact for cross-checking.
- The rollout principle is phasing: pilot on one operating route, collect data, then expand.
Projects delivered
New service, not yet linked to any project in the public portfolio.
Related free tools
Enter TEU/year — get land, berth, yard and gate requirements for a port or ICD.
Container yard: how many ground slots, how much land? →Enter TEU/year and dwell time (days) — get the number of ground slots, area, and number of RTGs/reach stackers.
Port gate: how many lanes? →Trucks arriving at the gate second by second; number of lanes, OCR, appointment scheduling; queues and gate capacity.
Automated terminal dispatching simulation →Quay cranes, AGVs and yard cranes second by second — which stage is the bottleneck under three dispatching rules.
What is a digital twin? (game) →A digital twin of the port: test options before building for real, calibrated with sensor data.
AI renderings for logistics infrastructure →Lay out the site plan on a grid, view 3D massing, and produce a rendering to present to the project owner.
Capital estimate & investment returns →Investment capital, rental cash flow, IRR, NPV, borrowing, taxes and payback period.
Related articles
- How many lanes does a port gate handling 1,500 trucks a day need? From 2 to 11, depending on how processing is done
- Checklist for selecting an ICD (dry port) design consultant
- From TEU/year to land area: how to determine the size of an ICD (dry port)
- Simulating vehicle flows before building an ICD: what 5 questions must a Digital Twin answer?
Frequently asked questions
Can the currently operating port be automated, or must a new one be built?
Yes, and it is best to start from an operating port. Pick the internal route with the most repeated movements, run a pilot on it, collect data, and only then decide whether to expand.
What should a port owner prepare first?
A map of internal routes and monthly throughput. That is enough to build a preliminary option and estimate the infrastructure that must be modified.
Does CGD provide autonomous vehicles?
No. CGD handles the infrastructure and design documents. The equipment is supplied by specialist suppliers.
Submit project constraints, get feedback on scope and timing
Area, location, type and current stage — that's enough to get started.
Submit a consultation request