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CaseStudy: CSX Transportation

Customer:CSX Corporation, through its subsidiaries, offers a wide range of transportation
services utilizing train, intermodal and terminal services throughout the world.
CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT) operates the largest rail network in the eastern
United States, with over 23,000 miles of railroad track in over 23 states and the
District of Columbia.
Business Issue:
CSXT needed to improve a manually intensive, paper-fax based process used to
record rail transportation events (i.e. spotting, delivering and receiving cars). This
system required train conductors to carry paper documents and hand notate events.
At the end of their shifts, train conductors would fax documents into a central
facility, where the information would be manually entered into the host computer
systems. This business process led to issues with data accuracy, timeliness and
completeness.
Solution:
CSX Technology Inc. the technology subsidiary of CSX Corporation sought an
innovative technological solution that would reduce steps in the business process,
while significantly reducing the data entry latency and improving the data quality.
Using input from the end-users, the team developed the Wireless Work Order
application. Designed for use by local and yard job conductors who deliver and
pull railcars during the course of their shifts, the Wireless Work Order application
enables approximately 950 train conductors to report their work progress in
real-time.
Upon reviewing project requirements, the Broadbeam ExpressQ® Wireless Platform
was chosen as the communication middleware solution. ExpressQ neatly handled
the requirement for the Wireless Work Order application to seamlessly and
intelligently switch from CSX’ local area network (LAN) to 1xRTT or GPRS wide area
networks (WANs). At the start of each shift, CSX conductors simply log on to their
devices to download their work orders, via an Ethernet-enabled docking station.
When removed from the docking station, connectivity will seamlessly switch to the
wireless 1xRTT or GPRS network (dependent upon the cellular coverage at the field
site). Throughout the day, conductors report their scheduled work progress on the
work order, as well as any additional tasks performed. When the shift is complete,
the conductor simply replaces the unit in the docking station for recharging.
Market:
Transportation
Application:
Rail Network Field Service
Network:
Public CDMA and
GPRS Wireless,
private WLANs
Device:
Atigo M (Xybernaut)
Number of Users:
950
Broadbeam Product:
ExpressQ® Wireless Platform
Smooth integration and rapid turnaround provide near
real-time capabilities for leading US rail network operator.
ExpressQ also delivers the capability to store and forward messages based on coverage.
For example, when a conductor is out of coverage, data is stored locally on the device
(Xybernaut’s Atigo®) and automatically forwarded when coverage is re-established. This
maintains efficient communication between conductors and railroad offices, as further
explained by Rod Barber, Superintendent, Field Event Reporting, CSX Transportation.
“The result of this new work order reporting system will be communication of more
accurate and timely car movement events, which will benefit our customers as well as
CSX.”
To ensure smooth integration with the existing backend IT infrastructure, and within a
very aggressive timeline, Broadbeam Professional Services performed platform
evaluation and certification to establish the best solution for CSXT. Working in a
load-balanced, fault-tolerant environment, Broadbeam analyzed peak performance and
platform reliability BEFORE deployment. This included the integration of a production
monitor to capture key activity and statistics for quick responsiveness. A fully monitored
environment now provides the ability to respond to problems in the field prior to
hearing from conductors.
Results:
The improvements on data timeliness, accuracy and completeness have led to many
positive downstream results. CSX is experiencing more efficient railcar inventory
management, which has led to improved customer-centric information. The company
plans to continue expanding functionality of its Wireless Work Order to allow for even
greater railyard efficiencies and enhanced customer service.
2540 Route 130, Suite 116 • Cranbury, NJ 08512-3519 • tel: [phone] fax: [phone] • www.broadbeam.com • ©2004 Broadbeam Corporation. All rights reserved.
All trademarks and servicemarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
Recently, CSX
was recognized
at Qualcomm’s
Inaugural 3G
cdmA-List Awards,
earning “Best of
Show” honors for
their Innovative
Wireless Data
Deployment.
In addition,
Broadbeam was
recognized as a
supporting partner
to CSX.