EGBC Innovation Jan-Feb 2023

FUTURE POSSIBILITIES Shetty said while this LTE technology isn’t new, they now know what works and what doesn’t in the remote forest. “Now telecom companies can piggy back on it,” he said. “One of our goals was to get them on board. Now that it’s viable and we have mobile stations, they can expand their reach by partnering with forest companies. Shetty noted, “This LTE network will impact the forestry industry, First Nations communities, wildfire workers, remote camp workers and any others who require mobile LTE technology. An added plus is that it can also be used in case of natural disaster and times when emergency response is needed.” With this connectivity, the industry can use real-time kinematic (RTK) systems for high-precision machine locations. RTK is used in surveying to correct errors now found in today’s satellite navigation (GNSS) systems. This technology will help with road surveys and building new roads. Looking further ahead, Shetty added, “There is a labour shortage right now. Having this internet in place will help attract new workers, retain existing workers and improve communication between crew members and office staff. It also improves communication with first responders. "We’ll have improved connectivity and, in the future, could have more automation. These internet connections enable future technology expansion. “Our initial part was to make sure forestry workers were connected and safe," Shetty said. "It’s a proud moment for BC being the first adopter of this technology and for Tolko’s leadership in this endeavour. Soon this technology will be ready to be scaled up for the rest of Canada to bring digital transformation to the forest sector.”

An LTE system demo was conducted early in 2021 near Williams Lake. P hoto : M ithun S hetty , FPI nnovations

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