THE IoT
design transportation routes which include stops and breaks for the driver, distribute vehicles to avoid congestion, manage schedules, and track route performance in real time. For workplace vehicles and transportation in the logistics and supply chain sectors, this has literally been a lifesaver, with drivers’ welfare prioritised above pressing time schedules. For public transport and industrial vehicles,
GPS tracking applications can specifically support other challenges faced by employees such as identifying and monitoring driver fatigue, fleet management, and even preventing vehicle theft. Other forms of technology, which can also
be used to help prevent transport-related accidents include video telematics, machine vision and artificial intelligence. These solutions provide drivers with an extra level of security, either correcting the driving automatically, or sounding a warning alarm when the vehicle comes into close proximity with another or drifts between lanes. Health and safety measures work two ways:
both protecting the immediate driver or operator of the transport, and also those around (e.g., other road users or employees). Because of this, the cost of installing telematics will always be worth the money, with the cost of a workforces’ safety taking precedence over anything else.
Going green: eco initiatives There is no denying that transportation is something we cannot do without. However, the effects of current transportation systems on our planet, and on us, are frequently under the microscope. There’s the emission of greenhouse gases leading to global warming and the degradation of the environment, and major health implications, all associated with the transport sector. Both the UK government’s website, and the US Environmental Protection Agency, highlight the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment. But essentially though, what we see is that the transport sector alone attributes to around 23% of the globe’s greenhouse gas emission resulting from burning of fossil fuels. And out of this total,
road transport contributes around three- quarters of these greenhouse gas emissions. One answer to the issue of transportation
and greenhouse gases has been green transportation: modified transport running on renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind, biofuels, and hydroelectricity. The trouble with this version of green technology though, is it is expensive, and in the case of battery-power, makes vehicles incredibly heavy, which in the long term will contribute to increased wear and tear on the highways. Another tactic for addressing eco-issues, which is a solution that can work side-by- side with modified transport, is through monitoring drivers’ behaviours. For example, by assessing a driver’s performance and evaluating their driving skills, IoT technology can enable companies to monitor speeding, unnecessary acceleration, heavy braking, and acceleration while cornering. Through sensors installed in the vehicle, drivers can be educated on ways to contribute to reducing fuel costs, such as minimising harsh vehicle manoeuvres. This in turn also extends the vehicle’s service life and improves fleet safety for both passengers and cargos. Whilst there needs to be a unanimous effort from everyone in order to truly tackle the scale of environmental impacts when it
comes to transportation, there is no doubt that the increase in awareness combined with innovative, technologies like the IoT are huge steps in the right direction.
Changing gear: using IoT to improve transportation Both of the aforementioned benefits also include a secondary advantage: cost efficiencies. Reducing fuel intake does indeed reduce the impact on the environment, but it also reduces the cost of providing the fuel. Reducing the number of workplace incidents relating to health and safety will not only be beneficial to the workforce but eliminates the need for expensive legal fees and settlement costs, or rehabilitation measures. As a result of companies taking more responsibility, bottom lines are improved – a win-win for all. Some software development companies
offer GPS tracking solutions that enable things likes geo-fencing, data collection and reporting capabilities. It is this sort of technology, combined with sensors which are installed in each vehicle, that enable companies to ensure their employees take sufficient rest breaks, as well as drive eco- initiatives around fuel usage. The safety of drivers and other road users will always be a key priority for transportation companies, but increasingly, so too is the environment and a consciousness around carbon footprints. Through data collection, employees and their employers can improve safety measures for passengers, cargo, and other road users, as well as take responsibility for their impact on the environment. Generally speaking, the IoT has served to improve just about every sector it’s so far been applied to – and transportation is no different. As we’ve looked at, from the way it can be incorporated into pre-existing transport and machinery, through to the valuable benefits users can reap, this is one technology that is driving change for the better.
Gurtam
www.gurtam.com
SEPTEMBER 2021 | ELECTRONICS TODAY 19
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