KEYSTONE Moves Forward with Feedback from Transport Operators

Article published in Carreteras Magazine Spanish Road Association (AEC), page 96

Following the official launch of the Keystone project on 21s November 2023, the initiative aims to create intelligent and digitally integrated solutions for the transport sector.

KEYSTONE, which stands for Knowledgable Comprehensive and Fully Integrated Smart Solutions For Resilient, Sustainable and Optimised Transport Operation, brings together 15 organisations from 6 countries (Belgium, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) under the auspices of the European Commission (EC), responsible for the project.

The Spanish Road Association (AEC) is part of this consortium alongside Transyt, the Transport Research Centre of the Polytechnic University of Madrid, representing Spain in the European programme. Additionally, it participates in Keystone through another member, the Smart Transportation Alliance, of which the Association is a founding member.

ACS is currently analysing the degree of compliance with transport standards in Spain and the rest of the European Union. Specific meetings are being arranged with key stakeholders in Spain, such as the Directorate General of Transport of the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, and the Directorate General of Traffic of the Ministry of the Interior.

Furthermore, the AEC plays an active role in other cross-cutting actions, including dissemination efforts. Since 22 June, its leaders have been reviewing the results of a survey launched in September among all operators and agents involved in road transport and logistics. The survey aims to identify stakeholders' obstacles, needs, and expectations, providing valuable information to the Keystone team for creating a secure, effective, and efficient digital tool for data sharing.

Funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme, this project is designed to establish a European standard for secure exchange and transfer of sensitive documentation between logistics operators and control authorities. This is particularly crucial at border crossings, where time constraints and language barriers can lead to delays.

As part of this initiative, a web application will be developed and tested on two transport corridors stretching from northern Italy to the Benelux coast, linking two major economic centres in Europe.