In mining operations, achieving precision and efficiency in logistics is crucial for maintaining productivity and cutting operational costs. A leading vehicle manufacturer faces challenges in managing truck fleets at mining sites, including inaccurate trip reporting and inefficient fleet management. iTriangle tackled these issues by introducing the Aquila Track UX101 – AL model, a robust solution aimed at digitizing mining site operations and boosting fleet productivity.
The Aquila Track UX101 – AL model from iTriangle addresses these challenges through advanced features tailored for mining environments. It enhances trip reporting accuracy and streamlines fleet management processes, ensuring optimal utilization of resources. By digitizing operations, the solution enables real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making, contributing to overall operational efficiency and cost savings. iTriangle’s initiative marks a significant step towards modernizing mining logistics, aligning with industry demands for enhanced precision and effectiveness in managing vehicle fleets within challenging mining environments.
The primary problem encountered was the erroneous reporting of trip counts. Drivers manually submitted trip details to fleet operators via handwritten timesheets. This process was prone to errors and sometimes intentional inflation of trip counts, leading to inaccurate assessments of truck and driver productivity. Additionally, trucks frequently performed back-to-back trips from the same loading points, resulting in increased turnaround times per trip, reduced fuel efficiency, and overall lower productivity. Furthermore, trips to maintenance sites due to harsh driving conditions often went unrecorded, leading to unaccounted productivity losses.
iTriangle introduced the Aquila Track UX101 – AL model to digitize mining site operations comprehensively. The solution involved fitting all assets, including trucks and excavators, with GPS trackers. Points of interest, such as dumping and maintenance sites, were marked on the map, providing a real time update of fleet operations to the fleet operator. This system automated trip counts and provided immediate access to truck-wise, shift-wise, and excavator-wise trip data. The solution also analyzed dumping activities within designated versus undesignated sites using tip sensor information.
The implementation faced initial challenges related to the integration of GPS trackers with existing fleet management systems and ensuring accurate marking of points of interest. Overcoming these challenges involved close collaboration with the client to tailor the solution to their specific needs and conducting thorough testing to ensure system accuracy. Training the drivers and fleet operators on the new system also posed a challenge, which was addressed through comprehensive training sessions and continuous support.
One of the critical challenges was the inconsistent network connectivity at mining sites, which could disrupt real-time tracking and data transmission. To overcome this, iTriangle utilized dual profile eSIMs in their GPS trackers. These eSIMs allowed devices to switch to an alternative network if the primary one was unavailable, ensuring continuous data flow and reliable operation despite network issues. This innovation significantly improved the system’s robustness and reliability, ensuring accurate and timely updates under varying network conditions.
The deployment of the Aquila Track UX101 – AL model led to a significant improvement in the accuracy of trip reporting, with automated trip counts eliminating the errors associated with manual reporting. Real-time data access allowed fleet operators to monitor operations more efficiently, leading to optimized trip schedules and reduced turnaround times. The analysis of dumping activities ensured compliance with designated dumping sites, further improving operational efficiency. Real-time alerts for truck downtime, excessive idling, SOS situations, undesignated dumping, and driver changes enabled prompt responses to issues, minimizing productivity losses. Overall, the implementation of the iTriangle solution resulted in enhanced fleet productivity, reduced operational costs, and improved compliance with operational standards.
