Going Mobile in South Australia

Publication date: 20 February 2008

The Royal Automobile Association of South Australia Inc. (RA) has launched a new Mobile Data Communication System.

For many years RAA operated an extensive radio frequency Mobile Despatch System to deliver member breakdown information to its fleet of over 140 metropolitan Road Service Patrol and contractor vehicles.

A key issue was the looming need to replace ageing and obsolete patrol in-vehicle radio and data terminal equipment, which had served their purpose for over ten years. After scanning the market RAA settled on a solution from Australian-based company Sigtec.

The solution encompassed the upgrading of RAA's Private Radio Network infrastructure, introduction of a new radio management system, installation of new message gateway infrastructure and software to manage communications across the radio network and public GPRS/CMDA network, replacement of all in-vehicle radio and data terminal equipment and development of tailored in-vehicle software that interacts with RAA's internally developed Computer Aided Despatch (CAD) system.

The ultimate outcome has been the introduction of a modern, windows-based in-vehicle solution that caters for the immediate needs of the road service patrol, improves communication reliability and redundancy (using data or voice despatch, transmitted over the RAA radio network or public telephony network) and provides a platform for future enhancements.

With new remote diagnostic and programming capability, RAA can now remotely maintain and manage the radio sites, saving technical staff a considerable amount of time, requiring fewer visits to remote sites, and offering greater reliability.

Although remote diagnostics for fixed base station equipment has been around for quite some time, this system represents a major leap forward in mobile data communication technology. This is due to its ability to fully programme, configure and diagnose faults not only on the fixed radio base station equipment, but also to any of the 140 individual RAA Road Service vans out on the road.

The in-vehicle mobile units can essentially operate anywhere in Australia (or the world for that matter) and not only receive and transmit jobs details but have the software upgraded or other parameters reconfigured remotely "over-the-air" as required

Similarly when a patrol experiences a problem with the equipment they would normally need to bring the van back to base to carry out some basic diagnostics and testing. The new system allows us to upload valuable information from the unit such as battery voltage, temperature of equipment and the health of the van's aerial system – yet another feature that will save hundreds of hours each year in down time for patrols and technical staff.

The integration of all required invehicle communication and emergency lighting equipment also saves valuable installation time when commissioning and decommissioning the vans.

Although the system is in its early stages of operation and use, it has been readily embraced by patrols because of its intuitive user-friendly interface with colour touchscreen. Everything the patrol needs to receive and complete his next job, contact the member by mobile phone or operate their emergency lights is all accessible in the single unit. It has made the patrol's day-to-day tasks easier, with improved digital information, limited mobile phone functionality and potential for less paper work.

The in-vehicle mobile units have integrated GPS capability which significantly enhances safety in the event of an emergency situation, with the van's precise location and automatic opening of covert microphones occurring instantaneously when either their personal pendant or unit mounted emergency button is activated, thereby allowing control room personnel to take appropriate swift action.

The workflow specifications and screens were designed with direct input from patrols who deliver the on-road service each day, ensuring straight forward layouts and simple interaction with the system, whilst retaining familiar codings and transaction processing.

Having made the technological leap to a modern system with a 16cm colour touch screen running a Windows CE.net Operating System, the system provides a platform for a range of other developments to improve safety, reduce paperwork, increase accessibility to technical information and improve diagnostics and service delivery.

The increased nature and quality of data captured through the messaging gateway and integrated CAD also provides opportunities to better understand and manage shifting demand patterns, despatch practices and cater for other emerging trends.

Some of the immediate priorities for examination and appraisal include:

• Turn-by-turn navigation;
• Automatic duress notification upon activation of vehicle collision sensors;
• Expanded use of barcoding;
• Expanded mobile telephone functionality;
• Mobile EFTPOS; and
• On-screen technical database information.

In addition, RAA is investigating the tailoring of a similar solution, using a PDA styled device for use by more remote contractors to increase data despatch, streamline processes and remove paperwork.

RAA's new mobile communications system has been a great leap forward, taking our communications into the 21st Century and ultimately helping us deliver our product in a better and more timely fashion.