• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Science
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Tech

Effective Fleet Management Through Real-Time GPS Monitoring

April 15, 2021
Versatile Diesel Engines

Versatile Diesel Engines

September 29, 2023
Steinmüller Africa Won 2022 Arnot Company of the Year Award

Steinmüller Africa Won 2022 Arnot Company of the Year Award

September 27, 2023
advertisement
ADVERTISEMENT
Tata Steel and ABB Jointly Explore Technologies to Help Reduce Carbon Footprint of Steel Production

Tata Steel and ABB Jointly Explore Technologies to Help Reduce Carbon Footprint of Steel Production

September 14, 2023
Jet Demolition Safeguards Mines Against Illegal Mining with Shaft Capping

Jet Demolition Safeguards Mines Against Illegal Mining with Shaft Capping

September 14, 2023
Risk and Insurance in a Shifting Energy Market

Risk and Insurance in a Shifting Energy Market

September 11, 2023
Clarifying the Role of Breathalyser Results in Employee Dismissals

Clarifying the Role of Breathalyser Results in Employee Dismissals

September 11, 2023
Pushing Polymers Limits

Pushing Polymers Limits

September 11, 2023
Enabling Finance Boosts Sasolburg Mine

Enabling Finance Boosts Sasolburg Mine

September 11, 2023
WearCheck Expands Its Skilled Workforce  

WearCheck Expands Its Skilled Workforce  

September 11, 2023
Eriez® Empowers Growth in South Africa with Appointment of Morake Hlahane

Eriez® Empowers Growth in South Africa with Appointment of Morake Hlahane

September 11, 2023
Africa’s Mines and Factories Must Brace for AI and ‘Bots’

Africa’s Mines and Factories Must Brace for AI and ‘Bots’

September 8, 2023
Duferco, Vedanta Fund Long-Term Project into Novel Zinc Refining Process

Duferco, Vedanta Fund Long-Term Project into Novel Zinc Refining Process

September 6, 2023
  • African Mining Brief
  • Magazine Archive
  • Contacts
  • Media Kit
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
African Mining Brief
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Home
  • News
  • Events
  • Industry
  • People
  • Projects
  • Press Releases
  • Magazine Archive
MAGAZINE ARCHIVE
ADVERTISE
  • Home
  • News
  • Events
  • Industry
  • People
  • Projects
  • Press Releases
  • Magazine Archive
No Result
View All Result
African Mining Brief
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Events
  • Industry
  • People
  • Projects
  • Press Releases
  • Magazine Archive
Home Rail Equipment monitoring

Effective Fleet Management Through Real-Time GPS Monitoring

by Jimmy Swira
April 15, 2021
in Rail Equipment monitoring, Telematics
0
491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

After installing Tracksmart, DM’s GPS Real-time monitoring system, a rail client’s reporting system has improved and data gathered from monitoring is more accurate and reliable. After this feat, DM is expecting to replicate this success for other clients in Southern Africa.

In the management of rail fleet carrying valuable assets for delivery to clients, time is of the essence and accuracy of data is the currency. Hence, the reporting system has to be efficient at all times. Otherwise, faulty reporting systems can lead to delays which could translate in loss of revenue and the trust of clients.

Adopting reporting systems that have a proven track record of being reliable and predictable in harsh conditions ensures efficient management of rail fleet. This is what the Engineering Team at Tracksmart demonstrated recently when they upgraded a reporting system for a client.

The decision to upgrade or switch from a traditional reporting system to DM’s proprietary GPS Real-Time Tracking solution has proved to be a wise business move, as incredible improvements in reporting have been registered.

Jeremy Williams, the company’s Managing Director, recounts that the client had a unique challenge in reporting and the team had to devise a suitable solution. The objective was to deliver a solution that would fill the persistent gaps in the reporting system, resulting in improved fleet management.

The challenges the client encountered

The client owns their own fleet of tankers but relied on – the national rail carrier for locomotives and management of their fleets outside loading and unloading areas. They used  the service providers reporting system for updates but this was often inaccurate or delayed. To address this challenge, they used manual “spotters” at key junctions / stops but this was also not always reliable nor accurate.

DM’s alternative solution

After a thorough review of the client’s reporting system, DM recommended the use of their GPS solution with the following elements and capabilities prominent:

  • GPS units need to be battery / solar powered and Zone I classified (Intrinsically Safe) for use on petroleum / gas product tankers;
  • Ultra-rugged and able to withstand chemical and corrosive product splashes, in addition to weather proof and durable;
  • Certified for use within the rail network infrastructure (cannot interfere with signalling and must conform to wagon design requirements);
  • Web based monitoring platform with visible display of wagons showing location, speed, run time and distance travelled;
  • Ability to report on full trains / consists (not just single tankers). Tankers added to /removed from consists must generate alerts; and
  • Turnaround time reports (loading time, travel time, stop time at key points, unloading time, return time).

Meticulousness to deliver a suitable solution

It is one thing to recommend a solution and entirely another to ensure that it performs as expected. Thus, team had to take a number of steps to deliver a solution suitable to the client’s requirements, which included:

  • Modified an existing unit to comply with EX certification requirements. A local certification agency was engaged to ensure this was achieved;
  • Developed a customised middleware layer (called RAIL) to consolidate all wagon data into a view that displayed and reported the Consist information as required;
  • Designed a tool that enabled integration between client’s backend systems and TStelematics / RAIL; and
  • Dedicated technical and operations support team to ensure systems are fully supported and the client’s requirements are met.

 

The switch translates into massive gains

The client has gained massively from the decision to switch from a ‘conventional’ reporting system to DM GPS solution, as mainly evident in the following areas:

  • Complete real time visibility of their entire fleet;
  • Daily status reports (available tankers, tankers in maintenance, current location and standing time of all tankers);
  • System alerts – entering / leaving key locations, tankers exceeding standing times, speeding alerts, tankers removed / added to Consists;
  • Improved service from Transnet due to more accurate loading / tanker information;
  • Developed Train Trip time and ETA reports for improved load planning; and
  • Integrates into the backend systems.

 

A contented client endorses DM’s GPS system

 

Visibly contented by the GPS System’s performance, the client could not resist recommending DM’s solution to other owners of rail fleet in South Africa and beyond. “Please accept a word of appreciation from us for your efforts in deploying a very successful project to have the best rail GPS tracking solution with awesome telematics superiority and reporting functionality plugging directly into our value chain planning systems. It is the opinion of many that the rail GPS system changed TFR’s behavior and led to new performance levels never seen before….. improving our company’s reputation in the market as being a reliable business partner able to deliver consistent volumes on time,” said the business owner.

 

DM is hoping to replicate this success with other clients in South Africa and beyond. “We have the skills and are well-resourced to handle a project of any magnitude in which real-time GPS tracking is required.” 

The scope of DM’s Rail Equipment specific GPS Solutions

Cognisant of the rapid changes in client requirements in the rail industry, DM Telematics strives to keep abreast and supply relevant solutions at all times. Basically, its scope of solutions includes:

  • Following the success of the solution deployed for the client above DM has made significant investment in both hardware and application improvements designing and building a solution customised specifically for Rail tracking environments
  • A new ultra-rugged GPS tracking device. Unrivalled battery life. Covers all rail wagon types and product types (including EX-classified products). IP68 / IK08 rated. This unit has been specifically designed from a blank sheet for Rail Wagons / Tankers.
  • Roaming agreements with international service providers to ensure seamless cross border monitoring
  • Custom designed RAIL monitoring platform modified easily and cost effectively for each customer’s unique requirements.
  • Dedicated software engineers supporting and enhancing RAIL and TStelematics management platforms

 

In general, DM has built an end-to-end Rail solution developed specifically to service the African continent. The company has partnered with leading Telecoms companies to ensure that it has the following: the best regional and cross border GSM coverage; have dedicated teams in most countries able to assist with installation and commissioning of new rollouts; have a long-term R&D strategy to continuously improve hardware components and software applications; and are able to work with both end users and Rail Network Service providers to ensure complete visibility of their rail fleets.

 

Tags: DM TelematicsGPS Real-time monitoring systemGPS Real-Time Tracking solutionTracksmart
Share196Tweet123
Jimmy Swira

Jimmy Swira

Jan - March 2023 Magazine

Versatile Diesel Engines

Versatile Diesel Engines

September 29, 2023
Steinmüller Africa Won 2022 Arnot Company of the Year Award

Steinmüller Africa Won 2022 Arnot Company of the Year Award

September 27, 2023
Tata Steel and ABB Jointly Explore Technologies to Help Reduce Carbon Footprint of Steel Production

Tata Steel and ABB Jointly Explore Technologies to Help Reduce Carbon Footprint of Steel Production

September 14, 2023

Trending News

  • Business Maverick Zunaid Moti Announces Departure from Moti Group

    Business Maverick Zunaid Moti Announces Departure from Moti Group

    1062 shares
    Share 425 Tweet 266
  • Scraper Winch

    736 shares
    Share 294 Tweet 184
  • Thyssenkrupp Uhde Expertise Extends the Life of Ammonia Tanks

    641 shares
    Share 256 Tweet 160
  • Slope Stability

    634 shares
    Share 254 Tweet 159
  • Underground Support Systems

    630 shares
    Share 252 Tweet 158
  • Another successful turnkey modular construction and transit solution from thyssenkrupp Uhde delivered to a key customer

    600 shares
    Share 240 Tweet 150
  • African Mining Brief
  • Magazine Archive
  • Contacts
  • Media Kit

© 2023 African Mining Brief I All Rights Reserved Powered by Clivo.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Events
  • Industry
  • People
  • Projects
  • Press Releases
  • Magazine Archive

© 2023 African Mining Brief I All Rights Reserved Powered by Clivo.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In