The integration revolution in quarrying and mining

Dots on a map? There’s a lot more to GPS fleet management on quarrying and mining sites than just knowing where your vehicles are. The big leap forward is the integration of GPS fleet management systems with other business systems. Workflow integrations can greatly increase efficiency by aligning other business systems with data generated by GPS tracking to automate processes and push the data you’re collecting to where you need it. Data can be passed between systems automatically without manually collating or comparing data. Workflow integrations help with day-to-day tasks like payroll, scheduling and allocation, measuring utilisation, and plant and asset costs for projects, significantly reducing manual input. This frees up staff to work on more meaningful tasks. Let’s look at some examples.

Safety integration

Driver behaviour reporting is an important safety tool in the quarrying and mining industries, and is referred to in the industry as IVMS (In Vehicle Monitoring System).

IVMS systems capture and combine data from GPS speed and location, then augment this with sensor data measuring harsh acceleration, braking, cornering, accident and rollover, and over revs. Sensor data may even include monitoring for seatbelts, use of 4WD and cruise control. And all done at a second-by-second level. This allows you to isolate poor driving and other problems, and gives you an accurate and objective tool for analysing and reporting on driver behaviour as well as monitoring and training drivers on ways to improve their safety.

Next, the IVMS can be integrated with other technology partners. An example is the integration between Teletrac Navman and Thirty4 Interactive’s Fleet Ninja platform, whose software measures driving performance. The software creates an IVMS demerit point system that tracks and ranks drivers according to their performance.

Workflow integration

Another example is the integration between Teletrac Navman and concrete and aggregate dispatch and supply solutions provider Command Alkon. One part of the Teletrac Navman/Command Alkon integration is auto statusing of concrete mixing and delivery. The Command Alkon software automatically triggers and transmits ready-mix delivery statuses from the Teletrac Navman tracking unit connected to sensors mounted in the trucks. Using the GPS tracking systems in the agitator trucks allows operators to manage the timing of concrete mixing and delivery very accurately.

Despatch integration

A quarry producing large amounts of aggregate needs an accurate and efficient way of measuring quantities of aggregate so they can be dispatched. Load cells measure by weight how much aggregate is in the back of a truck. This is also useful for ensuring the trucks meet weight limits on public roads. The information from the load cells and the GPS tracking system can be integrated into the scheduling and allocation system, and then into the billing system which allows a seamless process from quarry face to customer.

Project management integration

Teletrac Navman integrates with Viewpoint, a civil construction ERP solution which provides a set of tools for end to end project and budget management. Teletrac Navman provides real-time engine hours and odometer readings for programed maintenance and to measure utilisation of assets for projects or geographic locations. By providing financial cost data in real-time, Teletrac Navman assists project managers in understanding the true costs of projects and allowing them the flexibility of reallocation.
Integration can be transformative

Integrating your business systems with your telematics system allows you to streamline your business by providing accurate, actionable data, and reducing the time and effort you spend on manual processes. The biggest benefits are seen in:

• improved accuracy through removing manual processes
• improved timeliness through instant access to the data
• automation of processes allowing reallocation of staff to more meaningful work.

And that’s got to be good for business.