WEAK VOICE COMMUNICATIONS IN REMOTE AREAS

City Forest and their associated subcontractors operate between forty to sixty trucks daily across Otago’s challenging forest terrain. Stable and reliable communication between drivers is therefore crucial for optimising safety. Protocol requires truck drivers to frequently call out their location via radio to alert other drivers within their vicinity. In forests of this scale there are weak spots, especially in remote or mountainous zones. Voice calls can invariably be scratchy and hard to decipher, heightening the likelihood of miscommunication.

UNRELIABLE REPORTING AND TRACKING

With the existing analogue network it was not possible to track or retrieve accurate data across every block and forest. Drivers had to be relied upon to manually report their location and follow important safety protocols such as notifying their foremen whenever they transferred from private to public roads.

INSUFFICIENT SAFETY IN ‘MAN DOWN’ SITUATIONS

Under the former safety protocol, contractors working in remote areas were required to confirm they and their teams were safe by making regular check-ins at timed intervals. As this was carried out via radio, having adequate coverage was vital but not always possible. Being subject to potential network or human error, man down situations could therefore present a high risk for individuals.

TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY IN THE FOREST

City Forests now has access to CRS’ digital network, equipped with Motorola Solutions MOTOTRBO SLR5500 at each of their four sites. The switch over to the digital network and connection into the Orion application core was critical in improving safety, enabling clear and reliable voice and text communication, accurate GPS location tracking, instant reporting and the digitisation of the bush docket system during COVID-19. Using TRBOnet, City Forests was able to gain a true and accurate picture of operations across the entire region. Benefits included:

• GPS Location Tracking: With TRBOnet, City Forest HQ in Dunedin will have full visibility of each truck’s onsite location and movements. Warnings for situations such as adverse weather can be rapidly issued to the fleet, either by voice or text. In man down situations, a dedicated emergency button on the radio can be programmed to instantly flag a precise GPS location to first responders.
• Geofencing: The TRBOnet platform has enabled the setting up of Geo-fencing zones across the entire forest. Safety alerts can now be automatically generated whenever trucks are entering or leaving these zones.
• Digital Dispatch: Implementation of a digital docket system during the COVID-19 pandemic ensured that loading crews were able to issue dockets instantly, safely and without requiring physical contact.
• Automatic Site Roaming: Truck drivers moving between blocks no longer have to stop their vehicles to manually change voice channels. Voice connection stays live without the operator ever having to take their hands off the wheel.
• Voice Connection: With the four new digital repeaters, voice connections are stabilized across the entire forest. Clearer voice communication has dramatically reduced miscommunication between drivers and their base.

UPGRADING TO A DIGITAL NETWORK TO MAXIMISE SAFETY FOR ALL FOREST WORKERS

With a focus on heightening safety protections for truck drivers, load operators, and other contractors working across the Otago region, City Forest tacked their partner CRS and Motorola Solutions with implementing a digital network that could enable GPS tracking, autochannel switching between blocks, rapid alert messaging and a new digitised docket system

“Upgrading our network to digital not only enabled clearer voice communication, but also provided other useful features like text messaging and GPS capability,” said Forest Production Manager Guy Bonner, “Moving to a digital platform also gives us the option to plug in further capabilities to improve safety in the future.”

GREATER EFFICIENCY AND ACCURACY IN REPORTING

Checking and reporting that a truck’s tyres, chains and loads are secure before entering public roads is an essential safety procedure. With TRBOnet, this process takes a fraction of the time thanks to a dedicated button on the driver’s radio. Pressing it instantly logs in TRBOnet that each check has been completed, along with the time and location. This provides a far more reliable audit trail for trucks operating in the region.

FASTER RESPONSE TIME IN MAN DOWN SITUATIONS

Now, with GPS capability and TRBOnet, an operator only has to press a dedicated emergency button on their radio for GPS to provide the precise coordinates of the injured party. The rescue operation can then be carried out with much greater precision and speed.