Innovation and transformation through ICT
John Burke, Head of Information and Communications Technology
Almost ten years in the Service and nearly a decade into the 21st century I feel it is time for an article to provide an insight into the role of information and communication technology (ICT) in Irish Lights.
Changing Times
Since 1867 Irish Lights has gathered, processed and communicated information in many different ways as an integral part of its business operation. The manner by which this is done has changed dramatically over time and the rate of change continues to accelerate through the development and adoption of new technologies. In the past, correspondence was written by quill and ink and ship to shore messages were sent using semaphore flags. Today, modern business and society demands instant access to data and almost immediate processing of information. High speed communications and various information technologies are in place to ensure we deliver a cost effective and efficient service to the mariner and other stakeholders. Although not unique, Irish Lights is a very distinctive organisation comprising of varied business units each with their own discrete requirements and challenges from an ICT perspective. Over 100 locations around the island of Ireland communicate with Irish Lights in Dun Laoghaire, many of which are located in remote headland or off-shore locations where adequate and reliable signal strength is a constant challenge. Various communication links and solutions are therefore required including, fixed line, GSM wireless, ADSL broadband, 3G wireless and satellite technologies. The ICT Department is divided into four technical areas, namely, communications and infrastructure, corporate systems, systems development, and support. The department provides the technical and communications infrastructure for the Engineering Operations and Administration buildings in Dun Laoghaire and the Service vessel, ILV Granuaile. Technologies and services are provided to the Corporate Services, Engineering and Marine departments enabling them to carry out their business operations and statutory obligations.
Irish Lights, Dun Laoghaire
The relocation of the Pembroke Street office and consolidation of operations in Dun Laoghaire provided the department with many technical challenges but most importantly an opportunity to restructure and modernise the underlying hardware, communications and services infrastructure. Irish Lights Dun Laoghaire is equipped with two data centres (primary and backup) providing for disaster recovery and/or business continuity arrangements given the 24/7 nature of the service provided. The communications infrastructure consists of both wired and wireless solutions and a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) system provides employees with a modern and cost effective communications network. The data storage and backup architecture was upgraded to reflect the increasing volumes of data captured and the need to consolidate the various sources of data. A modern audio and visual infrastructure is also provided to complement internal and external communications.
Employee Hardware
Irish Lights employees are equipped with hardware appropriate to their job function or role. Deskbound employees are provided with thin client devices providing a very cost effective and low maintenance solution without compromising end user experience. Mobile employees are equipped with portable computers, Blackberry handheld devices and 3G connections. Developments in remote connectivity and application deployment enables these employees to work from any location to upload/download data via a secure and encrypted virtual private network (VPN) to the data centres in Dun Laoghaire.
Cost Savings Through Technology
Video-conferencing hardware and related software systems are provided to reduce the requirement for costly and time consuming overseas travel, realising savings and efficiency gains to the General Lighthouse Fund. A satellite broadband link connects ILV Granuaile to Dun Laoghaire and the outside world therefore ensuring that employees onboard have identical access and privileges to corporate information and systems. Many business process efficiencies have ensued as data can now be inputted or downloaded in real time leading to more timely information processing and a more informed decision making process.Investments in virtualisation technologies have paid dividends through significant savings in capital expenditure on server hardware. Traditionally major applications or systems required dedicated hardware but virtualisation technologies enable a number of virtual servers to operate on a single physical server box which result in reduced maintenance and support costs.
Systems Development & GLA Cooperation
The department continues to introduce innovation into the organisation to ensure value for money and business process efficiencies to be achieved. The systems development team, in conjunction with the Marine Department, recently led the development of two major systems which are used by our sister General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) in the UK, the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) and Trinity House (TH). The local aids to navigation (laton) system is used to manage and administer aids to navigation maintained by both Local Lighthouse Authorities and the GLAs. A tender utilisation database system (TUDs) records and manages tasks undertaken by the GLA fleet. The Irish Lights Corporate intranet portal (a private internet site) provides employees with a structured system to share and disseminate information and share or collaborate on documents and projects. ICT personnel continue to work closely with their counterparts in NLB and TH to ensure common strategies are agreed and revised where appropriate. An agreed approach to the technical architecture and infrastructure in the area of automatic identification systems (AIS) illustrates the synergies that exist between the GLAs.
The ICT Department continues to change and evolve to meet the challenges facing the Service. ICT enables change and the Service is well positioned to adapt and transform to meet the many challenges arising from the current economic downturn.
I wish to thank everybody in the ICT Department for their work during the past year.