Title: Track Mobile Assets of Georgia Power to Facilitate Effective Deployment of Assets and Elimination of
1Track Mobile Assets of Georgia Power to
Facilitate Effective Deployment of Assets and
Elimination of Misplaced or Lost Mobile
Inventories.
- This goal can be accomplished through the
utilization of Utility Associates AVaiLTM and
OnCommTM product and services that provides GPS
positions for all of your mobile assets.
With the introduction of OnCommTM at DistribuTech
2006, Utility Associates (UA) is able to deliver
an innovative mobile RFID asset tracking system.
UA has incorporated the same world class RFID
systems typically used in facilities connected to
the enterprise LAN and made them available in a
vehicle with near real-time information updates
to the AVaiL command and control environment.
- AVaiLTM is your mobile operations command and
control center, delivering a secure, incredibly
high-performance, clutter-free view of
mission-critical activities, almost as they occur
(AVL, GIS, WMS, etc).
- OnCommTM is a mobile broadband wireless hot-spot
Linux computer/router designed to operate in
harsh vehicle-based environments.
2OnCommTM On-Board Computer/Router
- PC Card GuardTM to protect the cellular service
PC Card.
OnComm Booster
Antenna Connector to OnComm Booster, Repeater
Antenna, and External Antenna.
PC Card Slot for Sprint, Verizon or Cingular
Service.
USB Clip holds connector in place.
4 USB Ports (2 in front and 2 in back).
Other I/O Ports Serial, VGA Video, Keyboard
Mouse, RJ11, Flash RAM.
802.11b WiFi Functionality.
- Broadband Wireless Connectivity.
- Mobile Wireless Hotspot.
- Wireless Network Agnostic.
- Managed connectivity.
- Rural Connectivity.
- On-Board Navigation.
- RFID Capabilities.
- Onboard Vehicle Diagnostics.
- Future Proof.
- GPS Location Information.
3Utility Associates Solution
AVaiLTM delivers a near real-time location and
communications link with all vehicles, mobile
assets and human assets. The mobile operations
manager is presented with an automatically
updated view (approximately every 2-minutes) of
the location and activities of the mobile assets
and workforce. With OnComm, the same high
performance AVaiL command and control environment
may be carried into the field.
- Vehicle Tracking. This can be accomplished
through
- OnComm On-Board Computer/Router. See OnComm
PowerPoint slide. - Nextel, Southern Link cellular phones (tracking
manpower within the vehicles). - AVaiL works with a broad range of Utility
Associates tested third-party geo-locating
devices.
4Asset Tracking (RFID Short-Range 25-feet). This
delivers the following functional capability
- Track assets within or around the vehicle. Track
any asset that warrants a 25.00 to 50.00 RFID
tag within the vehicle. With a short-range RFID
reader any asset within 25-feet of the vehicle
will register on the AVaiL network. - Track when an asset departs or moves back into
the vehicle. If an asset moves beyond the range
of the vehicle RFID reader, it is tagged with a
location, time and date stamp. When it moves
back, it shows up as inventory in the vehicle.
- Track when an asset is moved off a trailer being
towed by the vehicle. If an asset is moved off
of a trailer, it is tagged with a location, time
and date stamp. - Track when the vehicle passes by an asset. If an
OnComm/RFID equipped vehicle passes by an asset
within range and at speeds up to 70 mph, it will
record the asset.
Summary Vehicles that are equipped with OnComm
and a short-range RFID reader will be able to
capture every tagged asset with a 25-foot radius
around the vehicle. Every RFID tag provides a
complete description of the asset. The
description is defined by Georgia Power. As an
example, a backhoe may be described as a model
and serial number. If it is a person being
tracked, the description may include name, phone
number and skill-set. Note There are no extra
fees for tracking assets with RFID.
5Asset Tracking (RFID Long-Range 600- to
2000-feet). This delivers the following
functional capability
Overview. Long-Range RFID works the same as
short-range. Tags for short-range and long-range
readers are the same. Some tags provide tamper
proof mountings and motion detection sensors.
The difference between the 600-foot and 2000-foot
range is the antenna. If the required function
is to be able to drive into a worksite and
automatically collect the inventory for all
assets within a 600-foot to 2000-foot range, then
a long-range RFID system needs to be used with
OnComm. Long-range RFID is also used if an asset
needs to be recorded at high-speed.
- Track assets the same as with short-range RFID
- Construction or worksite inventory. A vehicle
may drive into a work area and record all tagged
assets within a 600-foot to 2000-foot range.
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7Third party geo-locating hardware. AVaiL works
with a broad range of third party geo-locating
devices.
- Nextel or Southern Link Cellular Phones. AVaiL
operates on these devices providing location,
messaging, and transactional application
functionality. Camera equipped phones provide
geo-located photographs and geo-located voice
mail. This delivers advanced situational
awareness to your AVaiL command and control
center. - Mutual-Aid. If outsourced field crews run AVaiL
on their cell phones, Georgia Power can monitor
and coordinate their activities. - Third-Party Hardware. AVaiL works with a broad
range of Utility Associates tested and approved
third-party geo-locating devices. Utility
Associates is currently testing a device that can
be used with high-value assets such as cable
pullers and backhoes that may need to be tracked
in a timelier manner than RFID provides. This
device is a small weather-proof battery powered
box that provides wide-area wireless GPS
reporting. It is not made for continuous near
real-time location updates however, it has a
flexible reporting scheme that enables the user
to define when the device reports its location.
These reporting schemes include
- If the asset leaves a specified geo-fenced area.
- If the asset starts to move within a specified
time period. - The device is pinged for a location report.
- At pre-defined intervals (once per day, twice per
day, etc)
8Approximate Cost
- OnComm On-Board Computer/Router. Approximate
cost of products and services
- a. OnComm. With a 2-year AVaiL service
commitment the cost of the OnComm On-Board
Computer/Router is 995.00. - RFID. There are no additional service charges
for monitoring RFID and on-board diagnostics,
through OnComm. - RFID Tags. Tags are the same for long and
short-range readers. The cost varies from
20-50 each. These tags have an active life of
5 to 7 years. - Short Range Reader cost approximately 150.00
each. - Long Range Reader cost approximately 350.00
each. A long-range antenna that extends coverage
from 600- to 2000-feet is approximately 170.00
- AVaiL Service. Approximate cost is 1.00 per day
per geo-locating device. There are no charges
for RFID location services.
9Operational Cost Savings
- Reduce driving miles an average of 7.5.
- Eliminate lost mobile assets.
- Dramatically reduce the time associated with
looking for misplaced mobile assets. - Deploy appropriate mobile assets to specific work
tasks. - Deploy appropriate human skill-sets to specific
work tasks. - Reduce the need for large capital expenditures on
mobile assets by more effectively deploying
existing assets. - Dramatically increase the efficiency of
coordinating with outsourced enterprises through
mutual-aid functionality. - Increase safety and attendant reduction in
insurance cost. - Sarbanes-Oxley requirements.
10Summary
- Vehicles may be GPS-tracked utilizing standard
AVaiL functionality. - At 25 to 50 per RFID tag virtually every asset
from ladders to cable pullers and human assets
may be tracked. - There are no additional service costs associated
with RFID tracking of mobile assets. - With AVaiL, both equipment and human assets may
be deployed more effectively, dramatically
reducing operational costs and increasing safety. - The Utility Associates team has broad experience
with RFID and is available to discuss any
questions that you may have. - Sarbanes-Oxley requirements.
11Experience
- Atlanta Gas Light Resources
- Allegheny Power
- PEPCO
- TVA
- Georgia Power
- Louisiana State Police