GPRS remote monitoring solution for construction companies

June 2004 Data Acquisition & Telemetry

Embedded Internet Solutions company, Opto Africa, recently deployed a cellular GPRS (general packet radio service) solution for construction company WBHO.

Commonly referred to as M2M (machine-to-machine), the system provides up-to-date information on what is happening on the construction site. A total of 14 x eBox units were installed on WBHO cranes and concrete batching plants at various construction sites throughout South Africa.

The system, called SiteMon, provides, in realtime, information such as:

* Power up - power down cycles.

* Screw conveyor start/stoppages.

* Crane overloading.

* Concrete pour durations.

By logging onto Opto Africa's secure website, the construction company is enabled to generate amongst others, the following reports:

* Plant efficiency.

* Total plant output.

* Average catching time.

* Total idle time.

* Average production.

The system, moreover, provides a simple mechanism to record plant downtime and response from maintenance personnel: If a breakdown occurs, the plant operator pushes a button instantly transmitting multiple SMS messages to various mechanical and electrical standby personnel. The downtime period is automatically cleared once the plant is back in operation.

As the system has a standard Ethernet interface, a network camera was also installed on the construction site for the new R727 million Sibaya Casino development, north of Durban. From the comfort of their offices, management is further enabled to view progress through daily live images transmitted via GPRS.

To view the latest images, visit: http://optoafrica.dnsalias.com/sm/</a> and logon as 'guest', password 'demo'.

Another successful project recently concluded by Opto Africa is the multimillion rand "Weighbridge automated transaction system" for Scaw Metals, where seven unmanned weighbridges are controlled, monitored, and serviced from a central control room via a Virtual Private Network. Regular suppliers' vehicles are tagged with RFID transponders, and ad-hoc drivers are issued with proximity access cards, thus making operator-driven weighbridges unnecessary.

For more information contact Hennie Visser, Opto Africa, 011 792 4886, [email protected], www.optoafrica.co.za

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