21 Aug Case Study: Utilising Technology to Improve Sustainability

The Client: Tassal Operations 

Tassal are Australia’s largest producer of Tasmanian grown Atlantic salmon, their focus on quality and sustainability has underpinned their reputation as a global pioneer and leader.

“Understanding our environmental impacts is a key focus for Tassal. Maintaining and improving environmentally responsible business practices is a high priority for us and is a fundamental platform of our sustainability strategy.“

The Challenge

Tassal wanted to reduce their environmental footprint and increase the sustainability of their operations, whilst improving the growth of the salmon in the pens at the same time. A centralised feed centre was to be established in the Hobart headquarters, where staff could visually monitor the pens, and control the amount of feed delivered to optimise growth rates whilst reducing waste feed entering the environment.

To achieve this Intuit Technologies were asked to assist in getting high definition video feeds from remote parts of Tasmania back to the central office in Hobart. Due to the water borne location of the pens, and an absence of infrastructure Intuit Technologies would need to build infrastructure from the ground up.

The Goal

In partnership, Intuit Technologies would build a data network capable of transmitting approx. 10Gb of high definition video data from approx. 300 remote pan and zoom cameras back to the feeding centre in Hobart, allowing for the use of the network on water borne structures with sometimes unpredictable and extreme weather conditions.

In addition, Tassal needed to house 60 computers and 110 screens in the centralised feed centre whilst keeping the environment cool and quiet for staff to operate efficiently.

How?

Intuit Technologies worked with their partners to build a high-speed wireless network capable of the throughput required. The pens have a wireless connection to the shore which then utilises microwave technology to transmit the data back to the feeding centre.

In the feeding centre all video data is stored and processed on Dell EMC servers, housed in Vertiv racks to keep the equipment cool, operating efficiently and quietly. The feed technicians can monitor the conditions in the pens in real time utilising high-quality Dell EMC monitors.

The Outcome

Working with our key technology partners Dell EMC and Vertiv, Intuit Technologies was able to complete the centralised feed centre in Hobart, providing feed technicians the ability to work in a cool quiet environment.

“The technology allows the feed technicians to deliver feed in a sustainable manner and reduce our environmental footprint as well as maximising the growth on the fish”

Tim Shepard, Fish Performance Manager – Tassal