Network infrastructure consultation
The Brief
A government body charged with overseeing national smart meter roll-out needed to consider fresh technical approaches to offer better value for money to the public purse by reducing implementation costs.
The roll-out was to be deployed in multiple phases, with later phases presenting more significant installation challenges, especially in the RF domain. These challenges were causing increasing concern as the roll-out progressed, and costs were escalating rapidly. A quick solution was required, which could be presented to high-level decision-makers in a clear and effective manner, so that they could make informed choices.
The Solution
There were a number of phases to our work on this project.
Initially, we reviewed the existing housing stock, as well as RF studies, and examined the current meter requirements and specifications. This allowed us to re-examine and verify some of the fundamental premises upon which roll-out decisions were based.
Based on this initial phase, we produced a second phase of work that provided a wide range of recommendations to consider. These recommendations ranged from simple and low-cost software and/or hardware changes to more complex topological revisions and new product introductions. This allowed the client to consider different approaches while sharing the costs across multiple stakeholders.
Once the client identified preferred solutions from the second phase report, we undertook a more in-depth analysis of these choices. We presented detailed results to ensure the client was clear and duly diligent in their final choice. The in-depth study involved both theoretical analysis and laboratory RF testing to provide experimental data to underwrite and verify the preliminary findings.
Skills required here included in-depth research, analysis of results, postulation of solutions and methods, and verification of findings.
All of this needed to be captured and presented in a report format that allowed high-level decision makers, not necessarily familiar with the technical detail, to make clear and well-informed decisions that would have far-reaching impacts.
Although we utilised the great breadth and depth of our technical knowledge and product design experience in the initial investigative phases, we needed to be able to underwrite our claims with solid evidence.
We used our extensive test experience and RF domain knowledge to specify and execute a comprehensive test suite to validate its findings from the study phase.