Upgrading Utility Culverts Security System Project

Read about the Upgrading Utility Culverts Security System Project executed by Chief Automation and Control Engineer at Desklib. Get insights on the project background, objectives, distinctive activity, identified issues and their solutions, and project review.

CE 1.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Upgrading Utility Culverts Security System
Location of the project: Median, Saudi Arabia
Project Duration: September of 2017 to Till Date
Contractor: SALCO
Role and Designation during the time: Chief Automation and Control Engineer
CE 1.2 Project Background
CE 1.2.1 Characteristics of the project
Culverts are structures that allow water for flowing under railroad, trail, road and any
similar obstacle from one side to the next. Utility culverts are used as cross drains ad help in
passing water under the road. The main scope of this particular project was proper designing
a basic security system for the utility culverts that are being located in middle of Medina city
underground for about 4 km length. This security system is responsible for providing security
to the utility culverts. It includes a control panel, motion sensors and wireless security
cameras. While working on this project, I understood that this security system must monitor
as well as observe the respective statuses of the behaviours of various sensors that is being
distributed within these culverts like temperature sensors, emergency push buttons, humidity
sensors, CO2 level sensors, water detectors, 180 degree and 360 degree presence detectors,
smoke detectors and water detectors. Moreover, I even ensured that my security system can
show the status of other things such as access shaft status, which is the entrance cover to
utility culvert, ventilation chambers’ status or fan status and light status of culvert zones. I
even designed my security system in such a manner that statuses could be monitored and then

signals could be sent to control room. I have used control system of Netx Automation and
KNX in this project. This project was started from September 2017 and is still ongoing.
Therefore, I have to successfully design a security system, which will be responsible for
providing security to the utility culverts by controlling signals.
CE 1.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
While executing this project of up gradation of security system for utility culverts, I
have built a security system for providing better security to the utility culvert. Being the
automation and control engineer of this project, I had the core responsibility to control the
signals. Hence, for completing this project with high efficiency and accuracy, I have
developed few objectives:
 To propose a compact design for the security system of utility culverts in Medina city.
 To build the system in such a manner that it could monitor as well as detect the
statuses of the behaviours of various sensors that are being distributed within culvert.
 To make the statuses being monitored by security system and then send them as
accurate signals to control room.
 To use software like KNX and Netx Automation control system in this project.
 To provide the project documents that indicate layout of the project and electrical
schematic diagrams.
 To effectively supervise the subsequent cable installations through 3 fixes.
 To efficiently program the device application after ensuring their distinctive
functionalities.
 To properly establish a visualization system for interfacing with the utility culverts
security system.

Supervisor of the
Project
Team Member of
the project
Team Member of
the project
Chief Automation
and Control Engineer
(Me)
CE 1.2.3 My area of work
As, during completion of these works for the project, I already had field experiences
in automation and control engineering projects, I was recruited as the chief automation and
control engineer. Due to experience in such works, it was quite easier for me to execute the
work without much complexity. I had to estimate and select the products on the basis of the
required specifications and then made the respective order from supplier (Schneider and
ABB). I even had significant leadership skills as well as problem solving skill, thus I did not
face any issue during work completion.
CE 1.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: People involved in the project
CE 1.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
I have been working with SALCO contractor since September 2017 and the project is
still ongoing. Being an automation and control engineer in this project work, I comprised of
some of the most important and significant responsibilities. My first and the foremost

responsibility was to propose a compact and complete design for the security system in utility
culverts. I had to make a complete layout that comprises of few sensors as well as electric
panels’ locations. I even provided proper schematic diagrams for devices and then arrange
them within project’s electric panels. Moreover, these are required to be distributed within
power line of 220 AC V and even within KNX main or secondary lines. I also supervised the
installation and wiring that was done by contractor and then trouble shooted wiring to the
field and panels. I also ensured safety and security of the work and hence I myself took the
responsibility of configuring and programming the controllers. I even had the responsibility
of testing and commissioning for materials’ selection. I provided instruction to the technician
of project contractor regarding the process of making wiring and then make them understand
about the electric layout for the purpose of accomplishing the project on time.
CE 1.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 1.3.1 Comprehending the Theory of Project
Regarding the theoretical studies, I have used basic automation and control
engineering data. Since, there is a requirement for utility culvert under ground for serving
large numbers of stores, companies, hotels; the respective demand by out contractor required
an accurate security system for observing the conditions of culvert and even for controlling
the access shaft, ventilation centre as well as lighting circuit from control room. I had to make
this specific security system as an up gradation of my previous work of phase 1, 2 and 3. I
have used two processors in this project. For recording the signal, I did in RealTime mode. I
even reviewed the signal in Replay and Modeler modes before adjusting the sensitivity as
required at a time. When sensitivity was satisfactory, I recorded new signal with Netx
software simulation. I adjusted the gain, level of signal and low frequency on Processor 1 for
ensuring that a single alarm is rang.

Table 1: Experimental Data from Processor 1 and Processor 2
CE 1.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
To execute this project work, I had successfully applied each and every core skill and
knowledge for automation and control engineering. I have used my knowledge of simulation
laboratory and industrial automation for the work. Moreover, with my skills of digital
electronics and system designing, I proposed a compact design to the security system. I had
to use Kirchhoff's circuit law for calculating the consumption of power in every devices
within the communication line of KNX i-bus. I even measured the respective power drop in
voltage for the longer distance cabling. I have used three distinct electric laws that are given
below:
P (Power) =V (Voltage) × i (Current)

∑ i (sum) = i1+i2+i3…i
Volts = LengthxCurrentx0.017/ Area
With the help of sensors and signal conditioning, I was able to control the signal.
Finally, my acquaintance with Netx software helped to simulate the entire project work.
CE 1.3.3 Accomplishment and Task Performed
I had successfully utilized each material for accomplishing the work of this project. I
have designed a security system for the utility culverts by completing several phases. I have
used AutoCAD software for designing the electric panels with the electric devices.
I have utilized the software of ETS5 that is completely compatible with the KNX
control systems for setting the addresses to controllers or sensors and then arranging them for
being programmed or configured. Finally, I have utilized the software of Netx Automation
for visualization and making connections to the server with OPC DA 2.0 for signal
transferring.
CE 1.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
1.3.4.1 Issues
The first technical difficulty, which I have faced within this project was while
checking the interference from the systems. It caused major degradation in the signal since
the current system did not have the ability of determining specified frequency within several
signals of similar bandwidth. The next technical difficulty that I had confronted in this project
was during signal attenuation by passive devices. This was due to the complex systems and it
caused major delays in my project. Speed of communication between all devices was the
third technical difficulty. As this project area is quite big and it comprises of several devices,
the response as well as communications within these addresses became extremely slow.

1.3.4.2 Solutions
I had the ability in finding out relevant solutions for each of these two issues within
the project. For this first technical difficulty of interference, I gave the solution to make the
system completely wireless. I finally resolved the issue and allowed to come closer than 3 to
4.5 m within the wireless receiving antennas. It overloaded the receivers and hence increased
the interference chances. Regarding the second technical difficulty, I extended the dynamic
range to measure equipment only after adjustment of signal levels and hence providing
impedance matching of the amplifiers or oscillators for the core purpose of reducing
improper input and output termination effects. For the third issue, I understood that one way
is simply by editing these parameters of each control with ETS5 software. This particular
controller is termed as Line Coupler ad it distributes maximum 64 devices in every line. This
line coupler could be either be of filter or forward in nature and for solving this issue, the
respective type requires to be edited for filtering out a response and hence making the entire
period of communication lesser.
CE 1.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
I had to make a plan for my team and team members so that innovative work is being
executed in the project. This type of planning was quite helpful for us to complete the project.
Moreover, errors was also being identified in this process. I even ensured that I provide
creative ideas for resolving the issues faced here.
CE 1.3.6 Collaborative work
I have worked with one of the tope graded contractors who gave me an extremely
hardworking team for working in the project and completing it within given deadline.

CE 1.4 Project Review
CE 1.4.1 Project Overview
I completed the work after successfully programming the project devices for every
panel and culvert. I downloaded the functionalities and parameters and designed the
visualisation for upgrading my previous work and hence making it compatible with old
system. Netx software was used for simulation purpose.
CE 1.4.2 My Contribution to work
I was selected as the chief automation and control engineer within the project. I had
completed my task by developing a proper and effective security system for utility culvers in
Medina city. Moreover, I even eradicated the faults in the project and provided subsequent
solutions to them.