TransCore's GlobalWave Satellite Communications Used to Meet California's Air Resources Board Requirements for Monitoring Emissions of Portable Engines

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The California Air Resources Board (CARB) received additional funding for enforcement of regulations associated with portable engines. CARB requires that portable engines of 50 brake horsepower (bhp) or greater have a permit or registration, and owners of these portable engines report the run-time hours in each of the 35 local air districts. This can be a very labor intensive task – especially for companies with equipment that is mobile and dispersed in several districts.

“Using satellite technology to automate environmental reporting requirements can ensure greater compliance, ease the administrative burden, and avoid the risk of expensive fines”

American Millennium Corporation (AMCi) of Golden, Colorado has developed a solution using TransCore’s GlobalWave satellite communications network that automates the reporting to CARB, and Southern California Edison (SCE) is reaping the benefits by complying with CARB requirements with ease.

The type of portable engines subject to these requirements include generators, compressors, concrete pumps, wood chippers, water pumps, drill rigs, pile drivers, rock drills, abrasive blasters, aggregate screening and crushing plants, concrete batch plants, and welding machines. Rental companies are also subject to the same registration/permitting requirements, and for those companies with a large quantity of engines to track, the workload and logistics for this record keeping and reporting can be burdensome to manage.

AMCi has developed a solution for SCE’s engine reporting needs by installing GlobalWave mobile satellite terminals on the equipment, with engine operating hours and locations automatically reported via satellite. All SCE engine data required for CARB’s Portable Engine Registration Program (PERP) reporting is gathered and formatted by AMCi’s SatAlarm-Server Web application. As an added operational benefit, SCE knows where their equipment is at any time. SCE can also use the engine runtime hours and location information to improve their equipment utilization and to better manage maintenance intervals.

Satellite communications provides complete blanket coverage of all districts, which is important because equipment is often operating in remote locations not served by conventional terrestrial wireless systems. AMCi uses GlobalWave’s MT3550 satellite communications terminal with integrated GPS receiver. In addition to providing real-time locations and engine hours, the solution can also provide geofences for asset security and logistics management.

“By using this system the required PERP reporting is made simple and easy with the added benefit of knowing the location and status of the equipment in real-time from anywhere using only a Web browser,” notes Bruce Bacon, AMCi’s president and CEO.

“Using satellite technology to automate environmental reporting requirements can ensure greater compliance, ease the administrative burden, and avoid the risk of expensive fines,” explains Dave Sward, TransCore’s GlobalWave general manager.

Southern California Edison (SCE) is the second largest utility in California and serves a population of more than 13 million in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.

About AMCi

AMCi has been providing remote monitoring and tracking solutions to commercial and industrial customers for over a decade with thousands of units in operation in North America. AMCi is a licensed value-added reseller for TransCore’s GlobalWave products and services. AMCi is based in Golden, Colorado. www.amc-wireless.com

About TransCore

With more than 100 patents worldwide and pioneering applications of RFID, satellite communications, and internet-based logistics technologies, TransCore's expertise is unparalleled in the transportation markets it serves. TransCore’s GlobalWave network includes three ground control stations that provide service to five continents and support customers worldwide including more than 660 commercial fleets throughout North America, the U.S. Department of Defense, and powers TransCore’s 3sixty fleet management services.

For more information visit: www.3sixty.transcore.com or www.transcore.com.