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ICT FOCUS
WorldCargo
news
ARINC takes tracking mesh
scured - in the hold of a ship for example.
Cargo owners have a wide variety of
management options including setting “geo
zones” or routing parameters for a journey
Maryland-based ARINC has commer- to meet different mounting requirements. tracking systems, ARINC’s Jim Potter said and receiving notification if the container
cialised a container tracking system ini- An alternative option, particularly suit- whereas RFID-based tracking requires deviates or is static at one point for too
tially developed for military applications able for railcars, is the Remote Sensor reader coverage to send information, As- long. Different monitoring levels can be
that provides continuous container track- Unit (RSU), which has sensors but just a set Assure is a true real-time system. Cargo set for aspects of a journey through par-
ing through a global mesh network using 802.15.4 system for communications. This is tracked along the entire journey, rather ticular geographical areas and status and
satellite, cellular and wireless systems to means it needs to communicate back to than just “checked“ at points where it temperature alerts generated as soon as
maintain constant coverage. DMC through a wireless network or a passes a reader in an RFID system, so its there is a problem, giving a much greater
The system, called Asset Assure, uses a GSU, but as they mesh, multiple RSUs status can be checked at any point. chance of preventing cargo spoilage.
“Device Management Centre” (DMC) to can communicate through each other to Using the Iridium network of low ARINC has chosen an open architec-
relay information from sensors mounted a single GSU. For example, all the rail cars earth-orbiting satellites gives Asset Assure ture for the DMC, which means custom-
on a container to a web portal or directly on a train can be fitted with RSUs and good coverage above and below the 70
th
ers can get information from a secure DMC
A GSU on the container connects to the DMC
to a customer’s back office systems. tracked/monitored through a single GSU parallels where other systems have lim- web portal and/or data can be sent to back
via a secure global 2-way system using a satellite,
With Asset Assure, a Global Sentinel on the locomotive, significantly lowering ited coverage. The devices use each other office systems via a virtual private network
cellular or wireless LAN network
Unit (GSU) capable of “providing real- the infrastructure cost. to form an ad hoc network in cases where or in XML format. Cargo events can be
time monitoring, tracking and event no- Commenting on the difference be- some containers are visible to the com- notified via the web, email or SMS. ARINC containers and has begun discussions with
tification on a continuous basis from any tween Asset Assure and RFID-based munication system but others are ob- is targeting high value cargo such as reefer shipping lines. a74
point on earth” is attached to the con-
tainer. The GSU is manufactured by
Sanmina SCI and can be fitted with a se-
lection of sensors to monitor security sta-
tus (door contact, multi-spectral light, e-
seal and chemicals/radiation) and cargo
condition (temperature, humidity, tilt and
motion) as required.
The GSU connects to the DMC via a
secure global 2-way system using a satel-
lite, cellular or wireless LAN network.
Gateway selection is based on the lowest
cost option. GSUs are available in different
configurations for dry/reefer containers and
New Houston
OCR tender
The Port of Houston Authority has issued
an RFP for optical character recognition
systems (OCR) for its Barbours Cut and
Bayport container terminals. Currently gate
details, including container and chassis
numbers, are obtained through an LA King
camera and voice system and manually
entered by gate clerks into Navis Express.
Houston plans to implement OCR sys-
tems to automatically read container and
chassis numbers and truck license plates and
export the data to the LA King system,
which would then populate Express.
The combined average daily gate vol-
ume at both terminals is in the region of
4000 transitions a day and implementing
OCR would reduce the number of gate
staff required and improve trucker turn
times, while eliminating mistakes with
manual data entry.
Houston estimates a system for its two
terminals will cost in the region of $2.2M,
which does not include OCR at a yet to
be constructed gate at Bayport Phase III.
a71 In the December 2008 issue of
WorldCargo News (p13) we reported that
the crane OCR system Trapac has at its
Los Angeles terminal uses cameras from
Hi-Tech Solutions . In fact all the OCR
cameras for this system were supplied by
APS Technology, which is now installing
an identical system for Trapac at
Jacksonville.
Optrack adds
Severe Environments
• Flexibility in temperature extremes
containers
and rigorous applications
UK-based routing and scheduling system
Highly Engineered
specialist Optrack Distribution Software
has enhanced its Optrack software for
• Cables for festoon and reeling systems,
container transport.
cable track and flexing applications
Optrack software plans vehicle rout-
ing, load planning and scheduling to gen-
Unique Technology
erate the most efficient vehicle routes. In
the container environment, efficient plan-
• New generation designs for
ning can minimise container movements,
decrease empty truck travel and reduce
today's crane cable systems
fuel and carbon emissions.
“Traditional vehicle routing systems Global
do not cope well with the challenges
thrown up by the need to return or resti-
Organization
tute an empty container to a dock or port,
or some other location as determined by
• Worldwide wire and
the haulier or container owner,” said man-
cable companies
Draka Cableteq USA Draka Industrial Cable GmbH
aging director Tim Pigden. “Optrak has, featuring BIW
22 Joseph E. Warner Boulevard Dickestr.23 42369 Wuppertal
therefore, addressed new planning re-
and Draka
North Dighton, MA 02764 USA Germany
quirements with specific functionality to
Industrial T: (800)333 4248 T: +49(202) 296 0
allow the unique container movement
patterns to be accurately incorporated in
Cables
Fax: (888)201 8280 Fax: +49(202) 296 2000
www.drakausa.com www.draka.de
the normal planning and optimisation
process.”
Optrack says its software typically cuts
transport costs by 5-15%. a74
February 2009 27
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