Prevention and follow-up to build trust in a logistics environment

October’s rainfall highlights the importance of monitoring ZAL Port’s streets, access roads and shared spaces to guide maintenance efforts and improve preparedness for periods of intense rainfall.

Confidence in a logistics environment is also built through prevention, monitoring and the ability to respond. Maintaining the site’s infrastructure is an essential part of this work: streets, roads and access points connect businesses with their surroundings and facilitate both people’s journeys and the transportation of goods.

The rainfall recorded this October has highlighted the value of having information on the condition of these spaces during adverse weather conditions. By analysing data from the ZAL Port Barcelona weather station, together with surveillance footage from ZAL Port Barcelona and ZAL Port Prat, it has been possible to document the rainfall event of 3 and 4 October and establish a basis for assessing how the infrastructure performed.

Rainfall particularly concentrated over a short period

Between 11:00 a.m. on 3 October and 2:59 a.m. on 4 October, the weather station located near the Service Center recorded a total accumulated rainfall of 87.9 litres per square metre.

One of the most significant aspects of the event was the concentration of rainfall within a relatively short period. Between 8:00 p.m. and 9:59 p.m., 49.1 litres per square metre were recorded, representing approximately 56% of the total. Between 9:00 p.m. and 9:59 p.m. alone, rainfall reached 36.7 litres per square metre.

The peak intensity was recorded at 9:20 p.m., reaching 99.6 mm/h. This figure represents the intensity of rainfall at that specific moment, while the 36.7 litres per square metre correspond to the total amount recorded during that hour.

Monitoring roads during periods of peak intensity

The surveillance footage analysed was mostly recorded between 9:16 p.m. and 9:17 p.m., just a few minutes before the peak intensity registered at ZAL Port Barcelona.

This close timing makes it possible to compare meteorological data with the observable condition of different streets, intersections and traffic areas across both sites during one of the most intense phases of the rainfall event.

Having this documentation available facilitates the subsequent assessment of shared spaces and provides valuable information for identifying areas for improvement and guiding maintenance and prevention measures.

Maintaining infrastructure in support of logistics activity

Monitoring streets and access roads is part of the day-to-day management of a logistics environment. Understanding how they perform during periods of heavy rainfall helps inform decision-making and continuously improve preparedness.

This work extends beyond the sites themselves. The movement of people and the transportation of goods are part of supply chains connected to businesses, the economy and the wider region.

For this reason, maintaining roads and shared spaces is also a way of building confidence. Prevention is an investment in trust.