Getting Independent

Manmade mining structures above and below ground geologically change over time and hence need to be monitored for integrity and stability. Even closed mine sites require continuous attention to safely avoid long-term mining-inflicted damage. Ensuring integrity and stability of tunnels, shafts, spoil heaps, tailings dams, slopes etc. requires deformation data from soil and rock beds together with hydrological information. Decentralized sensors gather the raw information, and a central server processes data from all sensors extracting desired insights. But how does the data get there? Technicians still travel to mine sites and stay there for measurement campaigns. They connect sensor interface units and power for the duration of a campaign. Sensor data is stored and uploaded to the server upon return from the mine. The approach only generates snap shots apparently while incurring significant cost though. Continuous monitoring would yield significant better insights. Trends could be detec...

Durch den Bergbau über und unter Tage entstehen Strukturen, die geologischen Veränderungsprozessen unterliegen. Ihre Standsicherheit und Stabilität müssen überwacht werden. Dies gilt selbst für stillgelegte Betriebe, um Bergbaufolgeschäden mit teils unabsehbaren Gefahren und Kosten zu vermeiden. Zur Beurteilung des Zustandes von Stollen, Schächten, Abraumhalden, Absetzteichen, Böschungen usw. werden Daten über Verformungen in Böden und Gesteinsschichten sowie Informationen zum Wasserhaushalt benötigt. Vor Ort positionierte Sensoren sammeln diese Daten. Die Auswertung der dezentral gewonnenen Informationen kann nur zentral auf einem Server erfolgen. Doch wie kommen sie dorthin? Besser wäre eine kontinuierliche Überwachung. Trends wären rechtzeitig erkennbar und Schutzmaßnahmen könnten früher und gezielter eingeleitet werden. Stabile Bergbaustrukturen für einen sicheren und wirtschaftlichen Regelbetrieb und die Vermeidung von Bergbaufolgeschäden ließen sich so effizienter erreichen. Die ...

The Internet of Things (IOT) stands for large amounts of connected sensors. A rather abstract definition! Describing which sensors provide what data how often and deliver it where to achieve what would be more tangible. Let's have a look how infrastructure could be monitored this way - infrastructure for mining, energy generation, water supply and road and rail traffic throughout its life cycle. As it is built, operated, maintained and in some cases decommisioned. Figure 1: IOT driven insights from sensors to data analytics (Courtesy Sensemetrics) Technically the concept (Figure 1) requires sensors monitoring infrastructure, connectivity processing and transporting sensor data and analytics uncovering underlying information. Leveraging this information - also refered to as insights - for decision making is the most important step from a business perspective. Implementation is still fragmented to date. Different vendors contribute hardware and software components which do not necess...

Understanding the power of digital transformation - this was the topic of our previous blog post - we now have a look at how RTLS Go-To-Market (GTM) changes as the company matures.  This blog is all about selling RTLS.  RTLS makes most sense in an IOT context.  It  excels as a  combination of location-awareness with sensors and analytics. Dove-tailed with desired business outcomes. So we say RTLS and mean all of this :-)  GTM maturity progression somehow follows - or should follow - the business life cycle S-curve. In plain English a sales description could sound like this: Getting off the Ground : Pilots and Prove of Concepts (POC). Learn. Proving Relevance : Medium-size paid-for projects - preferably with well-known tier 1 companies. Still one-offs. Scaling the Business : Winning and executing significant paid-for projects. Reaping the benefit of synergies between projects. Step and repeat. Three pha...

Real-time location systems (RTLS) make most sense as part of digital transformation when companies change to a disruptive new business model. But 5 out of 6 digital transformation programs fail! Only 16% are successful. Lack of resources and budgets is the perceived reason, however, this holds true only for 14% of projects. Lack of management support (33%) and resistance from employees (39%) kill the vast majority of digital transformation attempts *). Old industries require Digital Transformation to stay relevant Getting digital transformation right is often the best - if not the only - way of winning and implementing a successful RTLS projects, a fact prominently ignored in RTLS sales circles. RTLS drives  and  depends on Digital Transformation. Technical excellence and a diverse partner eco system is a key ingredient. Together they enable smooth planning, implementation and maintenance in a scalable way. Is this enough for successful roll-outs? No, not on i...