The intelligent solution

We speak to David Armitage, about helping energy companies increase safety, asset security, and operational efficiency through ‘Realtime Operational Intelligence’.

What does Cartasite mean when it uses the term 'realtime operational intelligence'?
David Armitage. We believe that to prosper today modern enterprises need to be highly responsive and efficient at deploying and monitoring resources, personnel, and assets. The old expression that 'time is money' has never been more true. The convergence of cost efficient wireless transmission of data, affordable and manageable GPS equipment and high-speed online geospatial dashboard technology mean that we really can make operational decisions and adjustments in near realtime.

What aspects of the energy industry can benefit the most from realtime technologies?
DA. Realtime technologies are currently being used everywhere there are remote, valuable assets and where there are serious consequences if those assets are not safe and/or monitored. For example, for tracking personnel in dangerous work environments, for tracking rental or other valuable field equipment like production rigs that move around frequently, for monitoring driving behavior of field personnel to minimise motor vehicle accidents and even for monitoring production related equipment in remote well sites. 

Tell us a little more about Cartasite's unique approach to improving driving safety.
DA. A few years ago, Cartasite conducted a groundbreaking study on 400 city and county vehicles to determine the effect of regularly providing timely driving behaviour data back to drivers. We found that given the opportunity, the vast majority of drivers self-correct and voluntarily improve, and that the improvements are long lasting. Based on this yearlong study, Cartasite developed a very unique telematics solution that provides a driver scorecard to each driver automatically via email every week to help the driver understand his/her habits in the areas of hard braking, rapid acceleration, overspeed, idle time and MPG. This approach that emphasizes safety and self-improvement garners tremendous acceptance in corporations. Cartasite has deployments of this driving safety solution in the US, Canada and the UK.

Are there new enabling technologies which are transforming energy operations?
DA. There is a new class of sensors beginning to appear that does not require expensive, complex radio networks. These sensors broadcast realtime data directly to geostationary satellites and require no external source of power. These sensors can be deployed on a remote location such as a wellsite in a matter of minutes to report critical realtime information related to uptime and production.

What other industries are benefiting from these same realtime technologies?
DA. Virtually any industry that has remote field workers and widely distributed assets will see huge safety, security and operational benefits from remote monitoring. Power utilities, transportation and construction segments are rapidly deploying these technologies with very positive results.

What direction do you see remote monitoring going in the next few years?
DA. As with many consumer technologies like cellphones, realtime technologies will also become more and more cost effective as more companies begin to adopt them, with regard to both the hardware and the transmission services. Devices will become smaller, more covert. The evolution of new technology will accelerate a corporation's ability to cost effectively 'tag' every remote asset, improving operations, optimising inventory and streamlining the procurement process. The hub-and-spoke technology will integrate RFID with devices like Cartasite's asset monitoring globalTAG solution to monitor site inventory. Software systems will interface with supply chain and business intelligence applications to provide ultimate realtime operational intelligence to the enterprise. This is an exciting time for us all and there are many ways today - and in the days to come - that realtime technologies can improve Operational Intelligence in the energy industry.

Visit www.cartasite.com for details.

David Armitage is renowned for introducing game changing technologies to the energy industry. In 1984 Armitage founded GeoGraphix, one of the world's first GIS companies. With realtime remote monitoring systems deployed throughout the world, Cartasite is spearheading a revolution in energy production and field operations.