We provide services needed to evaluate the reliability of data communication networks, and damage to networks or equipment caused by events such as flood, wind and fire, or by material incompatibilities and aging. To do this, we use a multi-disciplinary approach bringing together data communication specialists with environmental and material specialists to evaluate damage, and determine the cause of problems.
In our experience, data equipment and networks, as well as computer controlled equipment such as controls and CNC industrial equipment, can suffer not only visible damage from water, smoke, or contaminants during an event, but can also suffer less apparent and more subtle damage such as corrosion of connections, changes in electrical properties of cabling, or physical changes such as whisker growth. While less obvious and harder to diagnose, this more subtle damage can render equipment and/or a data network, unreliable or even inoperable. If a system is no longer operational, we proceed directly to an investigation of causes, and determining the corrective actions needed. When we investigate data communication issues in operating systems, we may be able to get clues to the cause of problems by looking for patterns of mal-operation.
We then proceed to a diagnosis of the causes for the failure or lack of reliability by applying the skills of networking, controls, corrosion, and material specialists as needed. Once the causes have been determined, we develop a program of repair and rehabilitation to restore operation. We have found that repair of data communication and control problems is not always as simple as just replacing the damaged parts. The rapid pace of development in controls and data communication results in equipment quickly becoming obsolete so that replacement parts may no longer be available. In this situation a control system can sometimes be made operable by custom programming to match new components to the existing obsolete, but operable, components. However, this could create a system that is failure prone, difficult to maintain, and maybe even dangerous if it malfunctions. When this occurs we are able to provide a risk assessment for the equipment and a cost benefit analysis for complete, or phased equipment replacement.
Representative Projects:
Here are some examples of past projects that illustrate our approach.