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Tracking vans, trucks and field staff around the country can be invaluable, but what about tracking freight containers all the way round the world? If recent developments are anything to go by, such a thing could soon become commonplace.
The initial impetus for this kind of tracking was concern about the security of freight containers, especially in the United Sates. This prompted the emergence of a programme called Smart and Secure Tradelanes, which was launched at the turn of the decade under the aegis of the US-based Strategic Council on Security Technology
Initially the scheme focused strongly on container security – and in particular, on methods of combating the threat of terrorism. Whilst security remains high on the agenda, the second phase also aims to draw more practical logistical benefits form the scheme. As envisaged, its scope will gradually extend into supply chain systems, taking in rail and road as well as maritime operations, and will incorporate new technologies such as sensor-equipped "smart containers".
The scheme already uses a variety of technologies, but focuses particularly on RFID (radio frequency identification) tagging of containers. This enables containers to be interrogated automatically as they pass in and out of ports equipped with appropriate communications infrastructure.
The port operating companies initially spearheading the scheme were Hutchison-Whampoa, PSA Corporation and P&O Ports, who were said to account for 70 per cent of the world’s container port operations. On the technology front, RFID specialist Savi has been a leading light in the initiative, but it works alongside more than 60 other suppliers including names such as EXE, Manugistics, Qualcomm, Intermec and recently also LXE.
In one of the latest phases of the SST initiative, satellite tracking via Inmarsat is being added to the core RFID-based system, along with anti-intrusion sensor technology.
Savi’s ST-654SaviTags, about the size of a chocolate bar, communicate at 433 MHz, and are said to be effective at distances of more than 100 metres; they also use the 123 KHz frequency for more precision, "slot-level" location.
Meanwhile, a parallel development has emerged from a different source. A group of technology companies led by DLR, the German aerospace centre, has been working on a project called Wireless Cabin, which will help smooth out the technology needed to allow air travellers to access the Internet in flight. Other participants include Airbus Deutschland, Ericsson, Siemens, TriaGnoSys, Inmarsat (the communications satellite company) and the University of Bradford.
Now a similar approach is being applied to tracking freight containers on the high seas. The initial result is something called GPRS-SMS Gateway Platform, which is a joint system from TriaGnoSys Wessling, Germany and MobinTeleCom Oy of Helsinki, Finland. This extends the existing SSTL scheme by allowing container door openings and tampering to be sensed even when the containers are in the middle of the ocean. Satellite communications are used to relay the information back to base in real time.
The turnkey solution consists of a tri-band 900-1800-1900 GSM-GPRS-GPS telematics transceiver integrated with a RFID transponder on the container door seal. There is also a telematics "black box" inside the door. Any breach of security, compromise or tampering with the door seal triggers an alarm instantly to the security monitoring station on ground, giving coordinates, date and time of the incident. The system users satellite comms in remote places, but terrestrial GPRS and GSM services where they are available.
The developers are looking for potential users and partners, and say they might expand the concept to offer ordinary business users Internet connectivity that works anywhere in the world on any device, and gives customers a single point of billing.
Clearly such systems seem more likely to interest authorities concerned about theft, piracy and terrorism than commercial businesses, but if the technology were affordable and simple enough to use, it would add a whole new dimension to the concept of global tracking. It is possible to envisage, for instance, systems for monitoring load temperature and other variables in real time while goods are in transit on the world’s oceans.
From a business point of view this kind of technology is only just edging its way from blue-sky thinking into the realms of nice-to-have; but as with many such developments, how long will it be before this one starts to become regarded as essential equipment? Watch this space.
