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SpatialNews Press Release
Nexterna's Wireless Data Solution Improves Locomotive Productivity
for Belt Railway Company of Chicago
OMAHA, Neb., Dec. 13, 2000--
Integrated software, hardware, ASP services keep locomotives on the right track, on the right time
Nexterna has announced installation of a complete wireless data solution, including hardware, middleware, software and
application hosting services for Belt Railway Company of Chicago (BRC), which operates a key switching terminal railroad
in Chicago, North America's railroad hub.
The Nexterna solution enables real-time data communications between BRC's central dispatch personnel and its fleet of
industry locomotives, which services 60 industries over 35 miles of mainline of track. A standard Communications
Management Unit (CMU) - a ruggedized on-board computer, called an ARC - is mounted in each locomotive and used to
capture real-time GPS tracking information, which documents locomotive utilization and location. This data is then
transmitted back to the Nexterna host data center, where it can be easily accessed via the Internet, providing BRC a
management tool for more informed decision-making. BRC supervision is thus able to carefully monitor each locomotive to
proactively manage and optimize locomotive assignments.
"The average utilization time of a locomotive in North America is only about 60 percent," said Sean Slattery, Nexterna's
vice president of sales. "With these valuable locomotive assets, it's essential for BRC to minimize their idle time as much as
possible. That's where Nexterna can really provide assistance."
"We have been pleased with Nexterna's expertise in helping us transition to mobile data communications," said Tom
Shurstad, president of BRC. "We anticipate enhanced productivity from this technology."
The integrated system elements includes the following:
OptiPath(TM) is mobile data communications software that manages the wireless applications and networks to provide a
seamless data communication link between an organization's host business application server and its geographically dispersed
mobile network force. The data communication link can use a single wireless network or multiple wireless networks. In
environments where the coverage of a single wireless network is insufficient, the middleware evaluates the immediate
conditions affecting a message transmission and selects the most desirable network "least cost" path available using a set of
configurable messaging rules.
OptiTrac(TM) is an advanced mobile resource management tool, which allows BRC to gather detailed information about
a singular locomotive's idle-time and/or utilization statistics about a fleet of locomotives. It integrates Global Positioning
System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies with wireless data communication technology to
automatically collect locomotive tracking data, which is captured and transmitted via Nexterna's equipment. This tracking
system also provides rail line maps for the locomotives.
ASP Services. Rather than manage an in-house network operations center, BRC relies on Nexterna to host and monitor
the applications, ensure uptime and provide support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The turnkey application service provider
(ASP) model lowers upfront capital investment and IT staffing needs by offering integration of software, wireless messaging
and computer hardware, consolidated airtime and financing. Applications are hosted from Nexterna's 24 x 7 wireless data
center in Omaha.
These software solutions are deployed via Nexterna's ruggedized mobile communications platform, a Pentium-based
computer mounted in the vehicle featuring Microsoft's NT Embedded (NTE) operating system, built-in wireless modems and
a GPS receiver.
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