Proactive network monitoring is extended through Aeris’s web portal, AerPort, and allows customers immediate access to all aspects of their wireless communications devices including development, deployment, device management, real-time network and billing activities, and customer support.
Click here to enlarge image“Most devastating pump problems, such as sewer water backing up in city residents’ basements, result from the municipalities’ inability to proactively monitor their system’s performance,” said Sam Siggins, vice president of engineering with remote monitoring solutions specialist RACO Manufacturing & Engineering, of Emeryville, California, USA.
Pumps also constitute one of the largest municipal expenses. A poorly maintained collection system (as exhibited by infiltration) and energy consumption can add up to high costs for most city governments.
Wireless Expertise Challenge
RACO turned to Aeris Communications to expand its landline based monitoring capabilities. Aeris has developed and deployed a wireless network service delivery platform dedicated to machine-to machine (m2M) and telematics communication, connecting remote devices to back-office applications, and providing access to multiple networks and multiple communication layers within a specified network. The result is a custom solution delivering real-time data anywhere in North America.
Using Aeris’s network and technology, RACO was able to develop a wireless remote maintenance, monitoring, control and alarm notification system called AlarmAgent.com. The service enables field, plant and other personnel to collect, access and easily view data from their monitored equipment 24 hours a day, from any Internet-connected computer or other web-enabled device via a secure website.
“What Aeris was able to bring to the table was an extensive wireless footprint combined with a better way of administering our kind of data through the network coupled with excellent customer service,” said Siggins. “This is in stark contrast to other cellular operators whose main focus is not in delivering our monitoring data. Aeris truly understands our business and their call centers are staffed by network technicians that can help resolve potential problems as they arise.”
Aeris provides a single uniform “tunable” network from Canada to Mexico providing customers consistent performance and capabilities across the entire footprint. They can reduce total cost of ownership for wireless deployments with m2M-centric rate plans, supply chain friendly billing and real-time traffic reports to manage variable usage.
RACO’s solution, deployable in a matter of hours, allows plant operations staff to monitor their pump station flows without need for expensive flow meters. With the on-demand flow information, municipalities are able to see surges in flow at the pump stations that may be experiencing stormwater infiltration. They also can use flow information as a pump diagnostic to determine when pumps aren’t operating efficiently due to wear and tear or clogging with debris.
One differentiating feature of AlarmAgent.com is how much user control the system allows. Rather than relying on the service provider to institute requested changes, the end-user can easily change an alarm point from one location to another. RACO is now approaching 1,000 installations of the monitoring solution.