PERMANENT WAY
Jon Francis, Transportation and Contract Services Business manager for Panasonic UK, explains the rise of ruggedized technology in the rail industry – and why a lone worker is no longer alone.
T
he rail industry is largely dependent on its skilled fi eld workers, acting alone or in small groups, in order to carry out inspections, audits, and maintenance of a sprawling rail network. In the UK alone, there are several thousand kilometres of track that need to be maintained. With ris- ing passenger numbers, there is growing pressure on companies to keep as much of the network in use for as long as possible, increasing the demand on railway work- ers to fi nd more effi cient ways to complete their work.
There are a number of obstacles that cur- rently restrict how much a fi eld worker can achieve in this respect. Often they’re held back by the inability to complete multiple jobs in the same trip; workers are forced to return regularly to the depot in order to hand in and collect the relevant documen- tation, diagrams, and schematics that are necessary for each different task.
This problem is particularly exacerbated if a fi eld worker is unable to complete the job on their own and has to leave their post to provide supervisors and experts with the information they need for a more detailed analysis of the fault. While this continues to be the case, there is very little that can be done in terms of reducing a fi eld worker’s stem journey and lowering overall down- time on rail networks.
Mobile IT is the obvious solution to the problem. By providing each fi eld worker
76 | rail technology magazine Aug/Sep 11
with a portable computing device, from which they can access digital technical manuals, schematics, CAD drawings, and other documentation that they require, in- terruption between jobs is vastly reduced.
What’s more, by using wireless technology, a lone worker can notify the depot of the exact start and end time of each job, mean- ing that as soon as a task is completed, the line can be made available for use again immediately, rather than waiting for a fi eld worker’s arrival to confi rm this.
This is a great solution, in theory, though in reality most mobile computer solutions are unsuitable for the needs of a rail fi eld worker. With a need to access key information at any time, in any location and in all kinds of weather, mobile IT packages must withstand stress and deliver performance, no matter what the environment. This is where ruggedized computers come into play.
Many ruggedized PCs allow for video and photographic imagery to be captured using built-in, durable cameras, which can then be sent electronically to the depot, enabling immediate analysis of a diffi cult problem by offi ce-based experts. Not only this, but the ability of a ruggedized computer to use GPS to direct workers directly to the site of the problem means that less time is wasted locating and analysing a fault.
Ruggedized computing has evolved around
the needs of a user who demands reliabil- ity. Wireless-transmission failure rates are generally about a third of those experi- enced on a non-ruggedized PC, with most leading providers of ruggedized technology providing wireless LAN and 3G capabilities that mean the user is connected wherever they work.
There are also fewer issues with using rug- gedized laptops in dangerous locations than standard laptops due to the nature of the design. Resistance to water, heavy vi- bration, and the ability to withstand falls are all key benefi ts of using a ruggedized PC. Likewise, longer battery life means that such devices can be used for longer periods out in the fi eld.
More and more, ruggedized technology is being adopted throughout the UK rail net- work. With the ability to place more infor- mation at workers’ fi ngertips and instant communication with relevant experts, each railway worker can achieve more.
Guaranteeing constant contact means that a lone worker need ever actually be alone. Such a level of in-fi eld support has a sig- nifi cant impact both on the effi cient opera- tion of a rail network and, furthermore, the profi tability of its parent company.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
T: 07766 424 523 E:
jon.francis@
eu.panasonic.com W:
toughbook.eu
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