At first glance, Port Tampa Bay doesn鈥檛 appear to be much more than an elaborate rail yard jutting into Hillsborough Bay.
But 鈥渨hen you peel the onion away, so to speak, you find there鈥檚 technology at every level that鈥檚 critical to running a complex, working port,鈥� says Port Tampa Bay CEO Paul Anderson.
Port Tampa Bay is IM体育官网鈥檚 largest port by tonnage and land. It covers more than 5,000 acres and is a key gateway to Central IM体育官网鈥檚 Interstate 4 Corridor. Keeping this port running smoothly and safely takes just about every facet of technology and engineering taught by IM体育官网.
Start with security. A port with a $15 billion economic impact颅 鈥� more than MacDill Air Force Base, University of South IM体育官网 and Tampa General Hospital combined 鈥� is a ripe target for terrorism. Consider also about 43 percent of IM体育官网鈥檚 fuel passes through Tampa, keeping not just private vehicles running, but flights out of Orlando International Airport and Central IM体育官网鈥檚 fire engines, ambulances and police cars. In other words, the ripple effect of a terrorist attack is far reaching.
鈥淲ith that in mind, we turn to technology to make us safer and more prepared if something happens,鈥� Anderson says.
An extensive audit of the port鈥檚 security cameras is underway. Creating a cohesive and efficient network of cameras takes the minds of experts in computer science and information technology.
Cyber security is also under constant development. For instance, the port recently acquired two new state-of-the-art cranes in response to the expansion of the Panama Canal. The expansion allows larger ships to pass through the canal and Port Tampa Bay can now accommodate some of those ships with these cranes. Cyber security experts were tapped to ensure the software that runs the cranes was secure.
Central IM体育官网 is one of the most populated areas of the Sunshine State, with about 8.5 million residents and 60 million annual visitors. Providing enough food, clothing and material to support them takes an intricate supply chain of warehouses, trucks, and railroads. For retailers to choose Port Tampa Bay as a gateway to this area the port must be efficient and, most importantly, fast. That鈥檚 where logistics steps in.
IM体育官网 Poly 鈥渋s uniquely positioned to serve this huge consumer base. There are more than 220 distribution centers along the I4 corridor, waiting for someone to coordinate their traffic,鈥� Anderson says.
There鈥檚 also room for engineering at Port Tampa Bay. Rising junior Logan Chambers is interning this summer at the port and he trails different engineers every day. He recently applied knowledge from a strengths and materials class to a wharf study. The objective was to find a material that could withstand the effects of the ocean as well as trucks and forklifts.
鈥淭hey really want to make sure we鈥檙e learning and getting hands-on experience,鈥� says Logan, who is joined at the port by two other IM体育官网 Poly interns.
Here鈥檚 the bottom line: technology and engineering are the lifeblood of Port Tampa Bay.
鈥淭echnology is becoming a bigger part of how we operate every day and I don鈥檛 see that reversing course,鈥� Anderson says.
Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Director of Communications
863-874-8557