Satellite system maps fleet action
Page 11
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Econ Engineering, which builds winter highway maintenance equipment, has developed an on-board data collection system which produces a digital map showing where its salt spreaders have been working.
It uses the Global Positioning System satellite network to record each vehicle's speed, location, mileage and stops, producing a 1:250,030 digital map.
Information is stored on a smart card which is swiped through the on-board system at the beginning and end of each shift. This avoids the need for individual depots to have downloading equipment as the card can be sent in the post.
The system is an adaptation of a product from Minorplanet. The Econ installation costs £2,000 per vehicle plus £80 a month for the software with a minimum contract of 36 months.
Econ is using the technology on its Zero C spreaders in conjunction with existing Road Salt Record and Spreader Computer Aided Management systems which keep a record of how much salt has been used.