Business profile
Monitoring sites from far away locations is proving a boon to contractors completing schemes within rail.Mission Room has the answer
M
ission Room is an innovative technology company that provides novel ways to improve
operational efficiency and safety by providing a unique way of understanding the problems on existing and future sites. Existing sites are captured using special video cameras and future sites are input using CAD and BIM models. The company provides a unique way of
preparing track workers for site activities by physically immersing them in 360 degree video and stills of real and future sites. Better, faster site understanding and spatial awareness increases efficiency, reduces operational risks and improves safety.
Growing demand in rail First installed on the F2A project in North London early in 2012, the positive response to the technology has led to further installations at Network Rail sites
in Swindon, Peterborough and two sites in both York and Scotland. Improvements in the technology continue as media capture from trains and real time 360 degree monitoring are being developed in conjunction with Network Rail. Mission Room was formed just
over two years ago but the underlying technology has been developed over the last decade or so with its sister company AIMS Solutions and the University of Nottingham. Growth over the last year in particular
has been very strong. This has correlated closely with industry recognition of the technology. ‘In our first year we were shortlisted for a Network Rail Partnership award and in 2013 we actually won the safety category,’ said managing director Dr Bryan Denby. ‘This reflects the collaborative approach the company uses to mould the technology to the specific needs of the rail industry.’
End to end technology Mission Room has developed a full range of technology that can be customised and configured to meet many different situations. This includes a range of 360 degree video cameras to capture real imagery and associated edit systems. These capture systems have been designed for customer usage and most of the installations have included this capability. Users stand inside various sized cubes (around three metres in size) as media is projected around them or for larger groups a variety of wrap-around large screens can be used. The systems are supported by a variety of integrated software systems. Every system is custom designed and built.
Cost-effective A key design philosophy behind the technology is to use off-the-shelf components and clever design to produce relatively low-cost systems with rapid payback. This enables buy-in to Mission Room technology at somewhere around £1,500 per month on a long-term deal. With savings well in excess of this possible, it becomes a realistic option for a wide range of companies. For short-term uses it is possible to rent
systems. The main display cube has been designed to be re-locatable and can be set up in around two hours. This allows the units to be used for one-off events as well as in permananent installations.
Better efficiency and safety There are many uses of the technology from briefings and inductions to design and planning. The systems have been deliberately designed as multi-functional to increase the utilisation of the hardware and re-use of media. Within the rail sector this means the systems can be used at many of the GRIP stages from conceptual design through to construction and eventually operation. Fundamentally the idea is that by
allowing instant ability to stand on site, without the need to travel to site, more people will get a better understanding of the subtle site issues. This improves safety by better communication of hazards and interactions and reduces costly mistakes by better preparation of personnel.
Page 132 October 2013
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