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Alert Zone guide: prevent points run throughs

Find out how to plan and deploy the Alert Zone feature to prevent points run throughs

Cat Dulake avatar
Written by Cat Dulake
Updated over 3 months ago

Follow these recommended steps and considerations to plan and deploy Alert Zones on rail sites to mitigate the risk of points run-throughs.

💡 Important information: Currently, the Alert Zone feature provides Dashboard only alerts and does not alert the devices.

For more information on the Alert Zone feature, click here 👈

How can Alert Zones prevent points run throughs?

  • Create warning zones on either side of the set of points to improve ES visibility of RRVs approaching points

  • Create danger zones that cover the set of points to give the ES visibility when RRVs at a point

Process overview

Planning stage

  1. Create safe zones: In your project, create a site containing the site's safe zones.

  2. Create a new site within the project: We recommend creating alert zones in their separate sites, so during deployment, alert zones can be activated/deactivated independently of the safe zones.

  3. Create danger zone(s): Draw a danger zone around the set of points, containing the point from the heel to the toe. Make the points alert zones wider than the width of the track to allow for device placement on the side of an RRV.

  4. Create warning zones: In the same site as the danger zones, or another site, create the warning zones.

    On either side of the danger zone, draw warning zones at 80 metres* in length, or as long as the infrastructure will allow.

  5. Name the alert zones: danger zone(s) and warning zones should be named with the correct points IDs, or unique names. These alert zone names will appear on the RAG view alerts when a device enters them.

  6. Optionally, add notes to the Alert Zones: use the note function to communicate information about the points, such as local track IDs. The ES can then see the notes once deployed.

  7. Project approval: the project will need to be submitted for approval and the safe zones and alert zones checked to ensure they're in line with with safe work pack

*An 80-metre warning zone length is recommended to allow time for the devices to account for their position to update on the Dashboard, as well as the stopping distance of an RRV and the contact time needed to react to a RAG view alert.

Deployment stage

  1. Assign devices to the project: for the Alert Zone feature, devices need to be assigned in Asset mode. Set an asset type and nickname for all devices.

  2. Attach devices to site assets: follow Tended's guidance to secure devices to their correct assets. Devices should be turned on and connected at this stage.

  3. Start sites: Once access is granted, start the sites. The site containing safe zones will need to be started before the alert zones.

  4. Monitor alerts and movements from the Dashboard: Monitor the RAG view, which will display when a device has entered warning or danger zones. Also, access the Live Map view to follow site asset movements.

  5. Manage alerts: RAG tiles will alert when an asset enters a warning zone, allowing the ES to ensure the MC has made a call ahead of making the points movement and prompting additional contact if needed.

Step-by-step guide

  1. Log in to the Tended Dashboard and head to the correct site planning page

    1. Add Alert zones to an existing site

    2. Or, create a new site to keep Alert zones separate*

  2. Search for your site location in the search bar at the top left of the screen

  3. Click the alert zone icon on the left side of the screen. This is a box with a "!" inside

Considerations and FAQS

Recommended length of warning zones

We recommend a minimum of 80 metres for the warning zones, which will be drawn either side of the set of points. This is due to:

  • RRV stopping distance: according to standard RIS-1530-PLT an RRV travelling at 5 MPH will have a stopping distance of 6 metres. Not considering environmental conditions.

  • Device location reporting: the device will report it's location accurately to the Dashboard every 6-12 seconds

  • Time for ES communications: we need to allow time for the ES to see the alert and call the MC.

You may want to extend the 80 metre warning zone distance if you are working on high speed lines.

Any questions or issues?

We're here to help! Simply pop us an email at support@tended.co.uk, WhatsApp us on +44 (0) 7713682625 or chat with us via the help button at the corner of this page or within the Dashboard 😊

Related Articles
A guide to getting started with the Dashboard
About the RAG view
Process guide: how to use geofencing technology to prevent objects being left on the line
About Alert Zones
Alert Zone guide: Exclusion zones
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