RFID For Utilities and Fleets
RFID waste management, cell tower monitoring, weapon tracking system: RFID technology is deployed in the field to manage fleets of equipment and capture the data needed for operational efficiency.
Governments learn from businesses and implement best asset tracking practices for their weapon tracking system and Smart City project.
4 Applications of RFID tracking and monitoring for utilities and fleets of equipment
THE CHALLENGES OF TRACKING ASSETS IN THE FIELD
-
Tags qualified by leading industry players and proven in the field
-
Waterproof and weatherproof tags - For optimal outdoor performance
-
Advanced attachment and removal options - Screws, rivets, zip ties, industry-grade adhesives
-
Long-range, high-accuracy RFID - Suited to environments with a high density of metal
-
User memory and unique identifiers
HOW TO ACHIEVE OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE TRACKING ASSETS IN THE FIELD?
-
Outdoor - Durable components that are weatherproof, waterproof, UV-proof, shocks and impact-resistant.
-
Long Range - Tagging solutions that are cost-effective and deliver high-accuracy RFID reads on metal, plastic, and wood, over long distances.
-
Retrofit - Tags and labels in a variety of sizes and profiles, and paired with durable mounting methods such as embedding, epoxy, heat-shrink tubing, adhesives, zip ties, screws, rivets, and magnets.
-
Fleet - Support fleet management for assets in the field: Replacement, new items, direct tempering protection.
-
Unique - Serialized tags encoded with unique numbers will enable item-level tracking and traceability.
-
Customized - Hard tags customized with markings such as text and/or barcode identification, as well as labels printed on-site, facilitate deployment and operations.
-
Software - Utilities tracking projects typically rely on bespoke solutions, developed locally, however, specialist vendors can offer speed, cost, and best practices.
RFID WASTE MANAGEMENT
Fleets of waste management bins equipped with RFID help municipalities and utilities improve the operational efficiency of solid waste collection and recycling.
Because of the high wear and tear involved with everyday operation, rugged RFID components are required to equip the fleets of bins and vehicles in the field while minimizing maintenance in the shop.
RFID tags, also known as transponders, are attached to bins and carts and are available in versions designed for metal and plastic containers. Shock, impact, water, UV, temperature, and chemical resistance are all standard features of rugged RFID tags. Similar tagging solutions
are available to waste bin and container manufacturers looking at enabling contactless identification and tracking for their products.
RFID scanners are installed in every collection vehicle and are strategically placed near the lifting arm. This RFID waste management setup enables data to be automatically gathered each time a bin is handled, allowing waste collection capacity to be managed in real-time and driving quality of service across expanding collection networks.
The RFID waste management software is another key component of the system, with organizations having the choice of developing their own solutions or deploying solutions from specialist system suppliers.
WEAPON TRACKING SYSTEM
Army RFID tags can be used to create real-time visibility in a weapon tracking system.
The same RFID technology is used by police departments and law enforcement agencies to drive safety and accountability in their companies, as well as to simplify inventory management in the field.
By equipping each weapon and piece of equipment with RFID tags, an RFID weapon tracking system can help boost asset availability and situational awareness. The tracking devices are small and battery-free and are designed to accompany each item throughout its lifecycle.
The wireless and contactless technology simplifies tedious data recording, reduces associated human errors, and reinforces accountability by automatically identifying and tracking each item:
-
Check-in and check-out operations are becoming more efficient and go paperless.
-
Increased checkpoints allow for more granular usage tracking.
-
Cycle counts become more accurate.
CELL TOWER TRACKING
Tower monitoring leverages RFID technology to track and control cellular, television, and radio assets in the field, in remote geographic locations.
Telecommunications firms and tower operators depend on equipment in the field to maintain their networks and day-to-day operations. Teams on the groundwork with a plethora of vendors and service providers, each of which operates in its own silo, with its own infrastructure, systems, and processes.
A unified asset identifier or a centralized asset management system is crucial for operational efficiency and competitiveness in a market where tower uptime and service quality are critical differentiators. RFID tags and sensors help enforce unique item-level identifiers to deliver real-time visibility into the health and status of remote tower sites and their connected assets.
INFRASTRUCTURE MONITORING
RFID monitoring helps Smart Cities manage and maintain their infrastructure.
Smart Cities provide wide-ranging examples of applications of RFID monitoring. Developing a Smart Grid, for instance, begins with the integration of intelligence into legacy infrastructure, which Xerafy RFID enables. Field equipment such as switch boxes and thermal switches are frequently regarded as weak points. The use of Xerafy RFID Tags for unified identification and remote monitoring directly benefits substation equipment.
