Automatic Real Time Monitoring

Using

Machine to Machine (M2M)

Technology

by

Dr Tan Guan Hong

SysEng (S) Pte Ltd

Today in all Modern Cities, Public Wire-

less Mobile Networks such as

WiFi/GSM/GPRS and High Speed

Broadband Internet Infrastructures are

widely used for personal and business

applications.

Using these technologies, sensor and

instrumentation readings from any

remote sites can be available to all

users at

Any time, Any place and Any where

The Machine-to-Machine Technologies

are based upon the following :-

1. Wire-less Wide Area Network of

GSM/GPRS (Not GPS !)

2. Internet (www….com.)

3. Web based software platform

4. Smart Data Loggers with sensors

Example of a Real Time Monitoring & Alert

for Mission Critical Case

A Doctor tells the nurse “Please monitor the patient and call me if there is any change in his condition” means check the patient regularly and inform thedoctor when the patient gets worse. The

doctor must also contactable anytime,

anywhere and anywhere for responding !

Process Steps of Monitoring

and Alert systems

Measure

Record

Download/Transfer

Process

Analyze

Inform

Respond

The Challenge to

maintain

Data Quality

Data Reliability

&

Data Timeliness

Real Time Monitoring

Using

Machine to Machine (M2M)

Technology

Applied to

Manual Data Collection

Past Practice

A) Manual Data Collection Challenges

Field

1. Recording error

2. Poor handwriting

3. Record on paper which can be smeared due to

sweat or rain

4. Loosely organized

5. Discipline to monitor on time or skip monitoring

Office

1. Read incorrectly from paper or Typo error

2. Peak load when the data comes in all together

with the clerk at end of day

3. Engineer re-check data accuracies before

submission to client

The Solution for

Manual Data Entry

Manual Instruments such as

Water Stand Pipe, Piezometer,

Tilt, Pressure, etc

Collect Instrument Data on site

Download to Notebook•Collect field data

•Stores field data

•Reduces time to report generation

Pocket PC stored Data on

site can be also be

downloaded via Wire-less

GPRS

Cable / Wire-less

GPRS communications

Real Time Monitoring

Using

Machine to Machine (M2M)

Technology

Applied to

Semi-Automatic Data Collection

Past Practice

B) Manual Inclinometer Data collection with Real

Time Data Transmission , Analysis and Alert

Field

• Travel back to office to download recorded data

Office

• Download data into PC

• Consultant validate results before submission to

client

• If results appear abnormal, the worker has to go

back the next day to re-measure, losing precious

time in hours and days

Manual Inclinometer data

collection with Real Time

Data Transmission from site

back to Main Office for

Analysis and Alert

30 mins

Bore

Hole#1

Timing chart for one walk round site with 10 bore holes

Walk for

20 mins

Inclinometer Timing Chart from taking remote site

readings to the end user in the main office for analysis

Bore

Hole#2

Bore

Hole#3

Walk for

20 mins

Walk for

20 mins

Bore

Hole#n

30 mins 30 mins 30 minsWalk to Site Office to

download and email

A) Walk for

20 mins

Travel back to Main

office to download

and email

B) Drive back

for 120 mins

Case#A: Total Throughput time for Bore Hole#1 data to reach send user is

(30+20) x10+ 20 + 20 mins = 540 mins (9 hrs)

Case#B: Total Throughput time for Bore Hole#1 data to reach send user is

(30+20) x10+ 120 + 20 mins = 640 mins (10.6 hrs)

Practical constraints: Without immediate analysis, if the data seems to be noisy, the

measurement is usually re-do the next day. This loose precious time for the

Geotechnical engineer for analysis

20 mins

20 mins

The Solution for

Manual Inclinometer

Readings

+ GPRS Public

Network

Office PC system

Simple steps for Data retrieval from sites

Process Steps

1. Take Inclinometer readings

2. Switch ON GPRS modem

3. Select file to transfer

4. Press Transfer BUTTON

5. Wait for 2 minutes

6. Get SMS acknowledgment that file is received at office

7. PC automatically generates Reports

30 mins

Bore

Hole#1

Timing chart for one walk round site with 10 bore holes

Walk for

20 mins

Inclinometer Timing Chart from taking remote site readings

to the end user in the main office for analysis

Bore

Hole#2

Bore

Hole#3

Walk for

20 mins

Walk for

20 mins

Bore

Hole#n

30 mins 30 mins 30 mins

GPRS back to Main

Office and

automatically analyze

Case#C: Total Throughput time for Bore Hole#1 data to reach send user is

30+1+1 mins = 32 mins (Minimum of 16.8 times improvements)

Maximum utilization of investments as the Inclinometer and Readout unit is always on

site , rather than idle for travelling back to office and data download. Instead of

carrying the data back to office, the system enjoys the Advanced Wire-less technology

to send it back like a Mobile phone advantage

With immediate analysis, if the data seems to be noisy, the measurement is usually re-

do almost immediately giving Geotechnical engineer instant data for analysis

1 min1 min

Real Time Monitoring

Using

Machine to Machine (M2M)

Technology

Applied to

Fully Automatic Data Collection

Past Practice

C) Automatic Real Time Monitoring & Alert

Systems

Field

• Data recorded on site

Office

• Download data into PC

• Data is only processed into Engineering

information for Alert to be send out

• Consultant validate results before submission to

client

System installed

is NOT a REAL

Time Monitoring

but rather Real

Time Data

Logging with

once a day email

alert !

Most Real Time Monitoring System is

Actual Only Real Time Data Logging !

Upload 0000 hrs

SMS Alert

only @

0000 hrs !

next day

Walers buckle More Walers buckle

The Solution for

Real Time Monitoring &

Alert System

Real Time Monitoring System

gives SMS Alerts within 10

minutes,hence earlier reaction

time for crisis management

SMS Alert

SMS Alert

Case History of Real-time Monitoring

and Alert System

• 810 VW Strain gages (+ 1 Temperature) and 44 VW load cells (with 4 VW sensors per load cell + 1 Temperature) are monitored every 10 minutes.

• Monitoring frequency every 10 minutes with 1840 x 6 x 24

(= 264,960) Readings per day !

• The results were sent to secured web-site every 10 minutes.

• SMS alert to contractor and consultants when measured strut force exceeding 70% of design value

• This Real Time Monitoring & Alert Project was supported and funded by the Singapore Infocomm Development Authority in 2003

Real Time Monitoring GIS Screen

VW Load Cell

Case History for Real Time Monitoring System

VW Strain Gauges

Case History for Real Time Monitoring System

Challenges of Real Time

& Alert System

C821 Monitoring data unstable

caused by Electrical Noise

from Power Generator

Power Generator near

sensitive Data Logger

Power cables crossing and

inducing noise into sensor

cables (cross coupling effect)

Alert

Trigger

Level

If the time per monitoring cycle is 60 mins for GSM, then a re-

confirmation will take 120 mins ! For GPRS of 10 mins

monitoring cycle, a re-confirmation is only 20 mins ( x 6 faster)

Level

Is the data really moving

or is it a spike ?

The Past Authority

Requirements for

Monitoring

In the earlier contracts, the Real Time & Alert Monitoring

System has a loose definition of terminologies as different

specialists define Real Time Differently

•Some Real Time System is

defined like in the IT world,

as when the Data arrives

into the central server and

when the information goes

out to the users

•It neglects the importance

physical world as when the

sensor readings reach the

users.

•No definition of Real Time

Information Delivery

Duration in which, when

the Triggered sensor

readings from the site

reaches the end users for

decision making

Reports are rarely available to

users within 24 hours as the

terms of reference are not

clearer defined

The New Authority

Requirements for

Monitoring after Nicoll

Highway

In the new C824/8255 Monitoring Contract awarded after the

Nicoll Highway incident, the Real Time & Alert Monitoring

Standards required by LTA have raised the Quality level.

•Real Time is 10 minutes

•On-Line Central Server

system

•Web Page System

•Automatically sending

out of data

IDA featured

SysEng in

their

Website as a

Recognition

of our

contribution

towards

M2M

In the International Workshop of

ITU, this paper showcased the

Advance Wire-less application

deployments in Singapore.

SysEng M2M Real Time

Monitoring System was

described in this prestigious

workshop

SysEng M2M application in

Construction site Temporary

Strut Force Real Time

Monitoring & Alert System

Automated Real Time

Tunnel Monitoring System

In Business Times

23th March 2003,

SysEng was

featured at the

center page by

IDA as a State of

the Art Wire-less

Technology

System Developer

for Automatic

Tunnel Monitoring

System. This is the

innovative method

of deploying Wire-

less and

Inforcomm

Technologies for

Tunnel Monitoring

• LTA code of practice allows less than 15mm

movements along the segments

• Tunnel distortion allowable is 1/2000

• Continuously monitors the prisms every 8

hours per day for 7 days a week

• Reliable System up time with financial penalty

imposed for delay or loss of data

• Real time measurement and immediate data

transmission of results

• Immediate alerts if the movement exceeds

70% of allowable movement

Instrument setup

inside the MRT tunnel

• Fully Automatic system

• Glass prism as reflectors

• Range 20 to 100m

• Accuracy +/- 1.0mm + 1ppm

• Proven system

• High reliable for continuous

use in Tunnels

Automated Surveying Instrument

Past Practice

The Solution for

Real Time Monitoring &

Alert System

Transmission Time Consistency with Data

Communication Error Recovery Algorithm

Tunnel movements and SMS Alert

Smarter structural geometric

cross checking algorithms will be

introduced to avoid overloading

and False SMS alerts. The

proposed algorithm will deploy

more 3D numerical checks for the

following: -

Within the same segment

Movements in the 4 prisms shifting

in space

Vertical Movements in the Crown

and Track for vertical loading

Horizontal Movements in the Left

and Right for horizontal loading

Cross-segments

Movements in the prisms along the

same axes in the tunnel

Adjacent Prisms

also move

Crown Prisms

Crown Prisms

Thank You