T H E E V O L U T I O N I N R E M O T E M O N I T O R I N G
Tecnosystem Group was founded in 1988 for operating in the field of Cathodic Protection, standing out, in the time, for professionalism, competence and reliability. During the year 2000, in addition to the CP department, a new one is created named MATRISS the department dedicated to the development of the 'service' philosophy, antithetical to the traditional offer of product and technology, philosophy which, up to day, distinguishes Tecnosystem Group. Today Tecnosystem Group is an established reality worldwide in the field of remote monitoring: its 'service' philosophy applied to different processes has become in Italy a recognised standard and confirms the company as an undiscussed leader, handling over 20.000 remote monitoring units distributed mainly in Italy and Europe. The philosophy of Matriss services has been adopted by the most important companies in the sectors of gas, water, and oil; currently, more than 100 companies, in the world, have chosen Tecnosystem for the management of their remote control processes. 1
CCOL SERVICE CCOL service - Cathodic Control On Line - for the remote monitoring of cathodic protection systems is currently the most technologically advanced instrument in the field of remote controls: adopted by more than 100 gas distribution companies, with more than 20,000 points installed throughout Italy and Europe, CCOL is becoming a real standard. The objective pursued in the creation of CCOL service is providing a unique instrument to manage all the cathodic protection installations spread in the territory. CCOLG3 is the new Internet platform created for data management of Cathodic Protection systems: the website has been conceived with a new, more modern and intuitive, design. CCOLG3 also allows to upload digitalised and satellite maps, for each single system, to guarantee a general view of the same and to better identify the points throughout the territory. CCOLG3 satisfies all the requirements of current regulations (EN 12954 - Cathodic Protection of buried or immersed metal structures General principles and applications for conduits ; EN 13509 Measuring techniques for Cathodic Protection). CCOL (Cathodic Control On line) is a remote monitoring service of cathodic protection systems, consisting of 2 connected elements: the acquisition units and the management service. ACQUISITION UNITS The CCOL service collects data through three specific acquisition units: DRONE, MEGADRONE AND SKYDRONE. These three apparatus differ each other as for the communication system with Data Center. (See Data Sheets for technical details). 2
THE PERFORMANCES INCLUDED IN THE SERVICE MANAGEMENT DATA BASE WWW.CCOL.IT The measurements effected in the field by the acquisition units are made available through the new management data base, CCOLG3, handled on an Internet platform, consultable 24 hours a day, from any PC. The development of CCOLG3 is based on Tecnosystem several years of experience in remote monitoring as well as on the different needs expressed by CCOL users during time; CCOLG3 is rich in instruments and accessories and differs for new characteristics and practical qualities: New technology AJAX, which guarantees website page interaction with no web page reloading. New W3C Compliant layout. New programming language. Multibrowser support (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari). Quicker and easier surfing. Test posts georeferenciation. Possibility of viewing test posts, on a virtual map with direct access to all measures (SMS DATA, FILE LOG, ON-OFF). Possibility of drawing electric system schemes. Management of measures to be carried on on test posts accordingly to current regulations. Communication with Data Center (re-programming, messages, displacements, maintenance) through a unique window. Data download in standard format such as TXT, CSV, XLS, XML. Graphic instruments for data analysis, for the creation of different diagrams for all of the collected data. Daily e-mail alarms in order to highlight possible parameters which may exceed thresholds, which can be modified by the user directly through the website. Data search engine to perform specific selections and print-outs. Creation of virtual test posts for inserting extraordinary registrations manually performed (or using other registration instruments) for a total and homogeneous management of all cathodic data. Possibility of re-program the acquisition parameters directly through the website. Data are stored for 5 years, with 24 months visibility on the website and once a year copy of them is made available, for the download and burning, directly in a special section of the website. 3
ACCESS AND SAFETY In accordance with the IEC 17799 standard, access to the website is strictly regulated for data protection from intrusions, loss, theft or inappropriate use. The access is univocal. To enter the service, each User uses his own e-mail address, which also allows him to retrieve and request the password independently. Access data are filed in cryptographic form according to MD5 Hash algorithm. TELEPHONE TRAFFIC CCOL service includes all telephone traffic generated by acquisition units to Data Center, management of all telephone contracts and all relative bureaucratic procedures to guarantee an ongoing service. HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE UPDATES CCOL service includes the hardware and software upgrade, both for acquisition units and of the internet data base, every time a regulation requires it. The updating action also includes all field activities that may be required to guarantee the service highest level of efficiency at all times. TRAINING SESSIONS CCOL service includes and guarantees the supply of regular training, allowing operators to make the utmost use of the management service in order to optimise time, resources and analyses. Furthermore, further update courses are also provided when technological innovations are introduced. THE DATA CENTER The Data Center collects, handles and processes all of the data acquired in the field by the acquisition units and provides a complete daily operative support service, through a call center to support users with technical personnel specialised in Cathodic Protection, with assistance Monday to Friday, business time. Through qualified operators, certified in Cathodic Protection, the Data Center supplies : Telephone assistance during the installation and maintenance phases. Assistance and support for website use. Supply of services upon request etc. Communications to and from the Data Center are coded by specific communication forms, with special attention to high priority requests. Thanks to a structured and tested procedure, it is also possible to visualise and control all of the faulty units on the website as well as all units undergoing maintenance. The relevant files are stored inside CCOLG3 website and can be downloaded by Users. 4
THE PERFORMANCES INCLUDED IN THE SERVICE FRONT END MACHINE TO MACHINE CCOL service includes: Management of the problems related to the front end machine to machine, that is to say control of the correct transmission and receipt of data coming from acquisition units. Management of calls repetition in case of non transmission. Control of the entire gsm network. Management of different types of units faults. Guaranteed internet connection between acquisition units and Data Center. All software and hardware updates. Management of the automated storage systems, electrical continuity systems, motor generators and UPS units, in order to guarantee customers a truly ongoing service. ALL-INCLUSIVE UNIT REPLACEMENT WARRANTY One of the most important characteristics of CCOL service is the warranty of immediate replacement of each single unit, for any reason, such as: Atmospheric discharges. Natural events such as floods, fires, earthquakes etc. Vandalism and tampering of any kind, including removal of any part of the unit. Unit theft. SUPPLY OF CONSUMABLE MATERIAL The service also includes consumable materials, such as batteries replacement. 5
CCOL is a system in constant evolution, developing in time new instruments and accessories in order to provide operators with greater operative efficiency and constant optimisation of times and methods. THE COMPLEMENTARY SYSTEM The instrument recently introduced in order to make CCOL more adherent to real demands is MAIDAS, the integrated complementary system for the management and planning of maintenance and measurement activities. THE IMPLICATIONS OF MAINTENANCE AND MEASURE ACTIVITIES In every cathodic protection system, apart from the typical control activities of the electrical parameters of cathodic protection, typically the measurements, it is important to perform some maintenance activities of plants and of test posts on a regular basis. These activities are included in the current technical norms, they should be performed in respect of typical planning of programmed maintenance with operations and times to be respected according to a predefined schedule. Periodical maintenance must be planned and programmed in order to guarantee the efficiency of the units and of the cathodic protection system. Furthermore, the maintenance operations must also guarantee the safety of the electrical plants accordingly to local regulations. Maidas is a complementary tool, created to allow the operators to perform programmed maintenance planning. Through the use of a whole range of instruments, it allows to plan at various levels the maintenance and additional measuring activities. Access to MAIDAS occurs through the website. 6
With a view to growing optimisation of the resources and pursuit of total quality, in order to make the execution of maintenance activities even easier, MAIDAS may be integrated with three complementary instruments in order to achieve a homogeneous system that integrates planning and operativeness. D-PAD D-PAD is a palm top through which the operators can execute and register all maintenance activities directly on the field. Once the activities are completed, at a later stage, when they return to the office, they can transfer the information from D-PAD to CCOLG3 database. D-PAD is a PSION palm top. It is light, small and has a clear display that allows for reading even in the sun: it guarantees the utmost reliability in terms of performance even in burdensome environments thanks to the IP54 level of protection and the possibility of resisting to falls at a height of 1.2 metres. It is fitted with a serial outlet and an RF transmitter. KEYPOINT KEYPOINT is a small RFID memory that can store up to 1 Kbyte of information. Installed with a simple adhesive, on the different test posts, it communicates via radio with the D-PAD as long as it is close to the point itself There are two advantages in using the KEYPOINT: Certification of the physical presence of the operator close to the test posts. Operation storage, guaranteeing execution of the same, for any further controls. DATABOX DATABOX is the portable data logger that satisfies the demand of integrating the remote monitoring measurements with manual measuring campaigns. A typical application of extraordinary measures is the analysis of the electrical field: through a very easy-to-use applicative, DATABOX allows the production of graphs, to perform relevant analysis. 7
LAYOUT OF INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF CCOL - MAIDAS 8
ADVANTAGES OF CCOL: INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF THE CATHODIC PROTECTION SYSTEMS CCOL is a complete management system that allows cathodic protection operators to carry out the entire process in an efficient, complete and automated way. Furthermore, CCOL is periodically updated in real time on problems and modifications related to norms while, on the other hand, the costs are predictable, fixed and sure: as of today CCOL is the most diffused management applicative available on the market and has now become a real standard in the field of cathodic protection. THE ADVANTAGES : Predictable, sure and invariable costs compared with manual costs or even with the costs of traditional remote control, which inevitably verge to increase in time. Extremely higher maintenance system efficiency level. Error proof reports: valorisation and optimisation of human resources. Simplification of the internal procedures compared with ISO 9000 quality systems, and consequent increase in the safety level. Immediately evidency of problems on the cathodic system that may generate economic damages to the network. Uniformity of behaviour and company vision extended to the management of one of the most important processes in the distribution network. Total management homogeneity: with just one single instrument all activities related to cathodic protection (those related to measurements, execution and periodical maintenance) are handled, planned and filed. Modularity: it is possible to start to use the CCOL, taking advantage of the immediate availability of the MAIDAS integrated system and, subsequently, perform implementation of the complementary instruments at a later stage (D-PAD, KEYPOINT and DATA BOX ). Certification of the execution of operations performed manually: transmission via radio from KEYPOINT to D-PAD, that only occurs if one is close to the other, it certifies the real presence of the operator close to the measuring point. Historical storage of activities related to remote surveillance and with regards to the manual measurements, thanks to the KEYPOINT, that checks the activities performed in the past. 9 CCOL IN THE WORLD Thanks to a strong sales network, the CCOL is currently distributed throughout 42 countries.
CCOLG3 MAIN NEWS SATELLITE MAPS CUSTOM NAVIGATION ELECTRICAL SCHEME NEW GRAPHS MULTI-BROWSER AC / DC In addition to CCOL for the remote control of cathodic protection systems, other three similar services, based on the same type of approach, an all-inclusive service, available through an internet platform, are already operative and available in order to satisfy demands related to the control of parameters such as pressure, levels and large gas counters: Liquid Level On Line A remote control system of liquid and fluid levels (LPG, water or other kinds of fluids) in storage tanks or other containers. Remote Reading On Line a Remote reading service of large users gas meters. Pressure Point On Line The remote control service of pressure measurement in critical points of the distribution network. 10
DISCOVER ALSO Tecnosystem Group Srl Via Vigentina, 2 27010 - San Genesio ed Uniti (PV) Tel. : 0039 0382 580289 Fax : 0039 0382 580622 Email : info@tecnosystemgroup.com Web site : www.tecnosystemgroup.com UNI EN ISO 9001 : 2008 CESI 4 ATEX 034 Q CESI 4 ATEX 005