In this article we will explain how we have solved the problem of alarm communications with VerticalMan® in extremely remote areas without GSM service.
There are some categories of workers who, due to the nature of their job, do not have a colleague and work in isolated areas, so much that in some cases they do not even have GSM coverage.
Aldea has received such requests from companies that needed to secure the following types of lone workers:
Maintenance of wind/solar farms
Wind/solar farms or gas pipelines are installed in places far from built-up areas and often in remote locations where the GSM signal is not available.
Inspectors of hydropower reservoirs
Hydropower reservoirs are located in very inaccessible positions and not always reached by mobile phone operators
GSM network antenna installers
Installers and maintainers of the GSM antennas work in areas where they still have to bring a new signal or correct a fault that does not allow the correct coverage
In these cases, a request for help to the rescue team can follow one of the following paths.
Extend the existing WiFi signal
If there is a company branch, even if it is only a technical box, with a fixed connection to Internet, you can install or extend the Wi-Fi coverage in order to bring connectivity even in the area where the lone worker is operating.
Satellite solution – fixed installation
There are now several operators offering Internet service connectivity via satellite. Each country has its own satellite operators, for example in Europe there are Eolo and StarLink.
You can install a fixed satellite communication system in a technical box and then offer Wi-Fi connectivity in the area not covered by the GSM signal, thus having the ability to communicate with a control room in the headquarters.
Satellite solution – mobile
The simplest solution is to equip the worker with a satellite smartphone, but this is expensive.
An alternative is to use portable routers that allow you to serve an area with a Wi-Fi network in order to bring the signal to Internet via satellite connection.
Two examples are Iridium Go! and Thuraya Satsleeve Hotspot, both create a local Wi-Fi network and with reasonable costs pay-per-use, they allow connectivity via satellite.
The Thuraya has also an adapter, SatSleeve+, for common GSM smartphones, thus you can use your own phone when you are in areas under GSM coverage and upgrade it with SatSleeve+ in order to communicate with satellite signals when you are in remote areas.
These devices can be easily carried by the worker (for example they do not need special positioning to “see” the satellites).
Obviously, these are hypothetical scenarios; the best solution to follow could be selected only after an analysis of the situation.
If you want to learn more about our solutions in renewable energy plants, check this article too
How to keep lone workers safe in the Renewable Energy Industry?
The renewable energy industry includes several types of work, such as research, production, installation and maintenance of renewable energy plants and many of those people
