The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has started installing internet-of-things (IoT) devices on its vehicles used at Indira Gandhi International Airport to save fuel, enhance safety, track their locations and schedule their maintenance. DIAL said it will install IoT devices in a phased manner on all its vehicles by the end of this month.

It further said there has been a reduction in fuel consumption up to 23 percent in its vehicles, with the entire fleet of around 1,000 vehicles to be covered by the end of August.

 In addition to saving fuel, DIAL said IoT devices were used to track locations for vehicles and schedule periodic maintenance of each vehicle. "The IoT devices send alerts to authorities concerned whenever there is any violation of safety rules, like driving above the permitted speed limits, driving in or out of designated areas on the airside, etc," the DIAL said in a press statement.

 “Since the installation of the IoT devices in 1000 airport vehicles, DIAL has witnessed enhanced safety standards on the airside and landside. The IoT devices send alerts to authorities concerned whenever there is any violation of safety rules, like driving above the permitted speed limits, driving in or out of designated areas on the airside, etc,” it read.

“The move will help DIAL in cutting down approximately 8,82,200 kilograms of carbon emissions per year. In five years, these IoT device-fitted vehicles would help in reducing approximately 44,10,922 kilograms of carbon emissions,” it said. These devices help in saving 23 per cent fuel in the utility vehicles used by airport rescue and fire fighting (ARFF), airside operations, security and project and engineering (P&E) teams, it noted.

 Similarly, around 9% of fuel was saved after IoT devices were installed in tractors,” the spokesperson said, stating the device saves information on the movement of a vehicle, the distance travelled, the fuel usage and whether the vehicle was idling or not.

The IoT devices save all data related to the movement of a vehicle, like time, distance, fuel in the vehicle, if the vehicle is idle or moving, etc, it said.

Any unauthorized use of vehicles like running the air conditioning while the vehicle is standing, taking a vehicle out of the permitted area, etc. Could be monitored easily with the help of these devices, it noted.

“The IoT devices are helping DIAL in maintaining these vehicles and keeping them up to date with maintenance. Maintaining fleet health means taking preventive action in addition to reactive action. IoT devices make sure that maintenance is happening when it needs to,” it mentioned.

"These devices also help DIAL maintain a phasing-out schedule of vehicles that needs to be replaced, as some vehicles are too costly to keep repairing. IoT data can inform fleet managers which vehicles should be replaced and when it is financially optimal to do so.," the statement further read.