Remote - Spring 2016 - (Page 20)

Feature Article Satellite Communications: Extending the Reach of Your Monitoring and Control Footprint Chuck Moseley, Director, Internet of Everywhere, Inmarsat Most businesses have critical high-value assets they track and monitor, but many lack the information they need to manage and protect mobile and remote assets. This article explores how IoT and machine-to-machine (M2M) connectivity makes asset monitoring, management, theft protection and control possible for many industries. Without the connectivity to establish remote monitoring and control functionality, the only way to gather crucial data on the health and operational status of your business' infrastructure is to send a person or team out to check it manually. This approach is fraught with potential risks, especially when sending teams out to survey assets located in the most remote parts of the world. The time it can take to receive the report data could mean that identifying the source of any leaks, malfunctions or damage could take days or weeks, having significant impacts on productivity and revenue, as well as the environmental damage caused by a breach. This is in addition to the expense of dispatching and supplying an inspection team, and the potential hazards to their health and safety. Connectivity itself is hardly new. Wired technologies have long been used to enable automation and efficiencies on physical premises. The real breakthrough has been the use of a proliferation of wireless technologies that enable the analysis, control and management of remote applications and processes. Multiple wireless technologies have been adapted for machine-tomachine (M2M) connectivity and indeed the requirements to extend M2M into more and more areas have driven new requirements for new wireless communications technologies. Each technology has strengths and weaknesses across a range of factors such as cost, size, power consumption, data capacity, reliability, scalability and coverage. Satellite communications can enable complete operational visibility of an organization's fixed and mobile assets, regardless where in the world the asset is located. Its infrastructure doesn't rely on a vulnerable series of cell towers, and the coverage of most satellite networks extends beyond national borders. While it's true that many companies don't need global coverage for their own assets, they do need coverage in all of the places they do business around the world, and satellite communications can help enable that coverage. Cellular and terrestrial networks suffer when compared to satellite networks, relying as they do on ground-based infrastructure, which is vulnerable to disruption through environmental disasters and other acts of nature. Cellular coverage is linked directly to 'cells' or areas where towers provide connectivity. Network operators focus much more on providing service to densely populated areas and remote areas are left as lower priority. Terrestrial networks again are hindered by their dependence on infrastructure, in many cases through fixed copper wires or fibre optic cables. These services are primarily found in urban areas and are not often available throughout the territory pipeline operates need to cover. Radio networks were a popular choice for older automation implementations, however they have become increasingly susceptible to interference issues caused by congestion and the construction, maintenance and liability issues posed by erecting the necessary towers have caused operators to look elsewhere for remote automation connectivity. With the search for operational efficiency paramount, the industry is looking for standardized solutions to widespread challenges. Cellular, terrestrial and radio options will work, but different technologies are necessary for different areas depending on network availability. This creates logistics issues, with more inventory necessary for companies to purchase and train their operations crews to manage effectively. Satellite connectivity can provide secure reliable coverage that can operate wherever assets are located, without dependence on fixed infrastructure. However, it would be incorrect to say that satellite and cellular technologies are incompatible. In fact there is significant demand for dual-mode connectivity, using LCR (least-cost routing) to route data from assets to HQ in the most efficient and cost effective manner. As the market develops and we move further towards remote asset control and automation dual-mode connectivity will become increasingly vital with satellite connectivity's coverage and reliability supporting cellular for constant, real time operational visibility and control of an entire fleet logistics network. While the use of satellite technology can significantly reduce the requirement for physical inspection of assets, maintenance requirements mean that people will still need to operate in these potentially hazardous environments. Satellite phones for voice communications provide global security and potentially life-saving emergency services to those people operating in extreme and remote environments. The phones can also act as a source of GPS location data for monitoring and tracking personnel in 20 www.RemoteMagazine.com http://www.RemoteMagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Remote - Spring 2016

Editor's Choice
Driving Real-Time Insight in the Oil and Gas Industry
One Network to Rule Them All
Rolls-Royce Power Systems Protection Underground Data Center
Going Beyond Compliance: Using NERC CIP v5 as a Catalyst for a Greater Security Strategy
Different Hardware Platforms, Same HMI Software
Satellite Communications: Extending the Reach of Your Monitoring and Control Footprint
Key Elements to Designing an IoT Network for Remote Monitoring
4G LTE Versus Wi-Fi Versus Bluetooth: What Every Aspiring IoT Entrepreneur Needs to Know
SCADA
Networking
Security
Onsite Power
Industry News

Remote - Spring 2016