Telematics

The UK Government is required to achieve an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, however the National Atmospheric Emission Inventory recently highlighted that emissions produced from diesel run vehicles increased by 20% in 2016 compared to 1990 levels. The health impacts associated with diesel engines are now well known and London has introduced low emissions zones and Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) plant regulations to try and reduce pollution levels.

The Tideway project relies heavily upon NRMM, mainly powered by diesel. To drive down plant emissions, an approach is being driven across the project to use telemetry data to influence behaviour change, drive down carbon emissions and reduce air pollution, all whilst cutting costs. Telematic data is being used to analyse the current usage trends of the plant and identify inefficiency hotspots, such as prolonged idling times, where behaviour change can be encouraged via the roll out of plant eco-training courses.

A currently underutilised technology, telemetry has a wide range of benefits. Using the data has enabled the identification and targeting of the most fuel intensive categories of plant and activities to ensure maximal carbon and cost reduction are achieved. The insight that telematic data provides has highlighted key individuals who would most benefit from plant eco-training courses, providing both a benefit for the project and individual. This will also provide a longer-term benefit of upskilling operators who will continue to use this knowledge on future projects. The telemetry data findings will also be analysed in conjunction with air quality data in collaboration with King’s College University.