Australia’s OEM Technology Solutions is offering cloud based web monitoring to streamline rail asset use and incident management, potentially offering huge savings to rail operators worldwide.

OEM’s equipment powers more than 20,000 rail car systems in more than 20 countries. It says the introduction of real time monitoring will have far reaching ramifications.

OEM managing director Richard Gobee said: "By providing remote, real time, at-a-glance access to all critical train data such as location, speed, equipment status and other information, we have enabled operators to improve their operations, safety, efficiency and their bottom line."

The system is based on OEM’s proven PC3 Series Controller into which has been integrated the company’s new IO3640 Communications module which has GPS and 3G capability, enabling information to be transmitted via an Etherios Device Connector.

Using Device Cloud by Etherios, a platform-as-a-service that provides two-way communication between any device and the cloud, the various OEM connected train systems constantly stream their status via the Web without human intervention.

Mr Gobee said that the new OEM product would allow these customers to implement a connected rail solution to decrease downtime by pre-emptive maintenance.

Mr Gobee said: "The customers who have seen the system are very excited."

The cloud solution is a generational development of an OEM Technology Solutions system that has for some time enabled OEM products wirelessly so rail operators could gather information remotely by querying on-board systems on trains.

But the operators had to query individual systems. With the web-based solution the systems are reporting automatically and an operator only has to look at the screen to see which are working within their operational parameters and any that are flagged as being outside those parameters, indicating they will need attention when next the unit is in for scheduled maintenance.

OEM Technology Solutions’ offerings include wireless monitoring and control systems for essential subsystems such as video surveillance, passenger information, driver advice, speed measurement, air conditioning, fire detection, door control and lighting. Etherios is a division of Minnesota based, Digi International, with whom OEM has had a 20-year relationship.