ZOLEO Streamlines Forestry Operations for Utility Line Projects
Overview
Sierra Forestry Consulting (SFC) helps reduce wildfire risks for major utility providers, government agencies and landowners. Working in remote, rugged terrains, SFC teams identify fire hazards, such as dead trees and vegetation near power lines to plan work orders and prescribe treatments in affected areas. SFC also specializes in sustainable forest management, balancing ecological integrity with economic sustainability through collaboration with landowners, government agencies and environmental groups. With over 155 employees and plans for growth, SFC prioritizes safety in environments where traditional communication tools often fail.
ZOLEO provides the essential features SFC needs — real-time messaging, check-ins, GPS tracking and an SOS function — in a simple, affordable package. It's been a game-changer.
Marti Sowell
IT & Fleet Administrator
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Connect with an ExpertChallenge
SFC’s field teams frequently operate in remote regions with rugged terrain and little to no cellular coverage, significantly complicating communication efforts and compromising worker safety.
Key Challenges:
- Teams traveled extensively to locate cellular coverage, wasting valuable operational time
- Workers operated in isolation within hazardous environments
- Emergency response and safety check-ins were frequently delayed
- Unreliable communication caused significant operational inefficiencies
These difficulties placed field personnel at risk and underscored the urgent need for a reliable communication solution.
Solution
After extensive research, SFC chose ZOLEO for its reliability, simplicity, and cost-effective communication capabilities. Each team member received a compact, easy-to-carry ZOLEO device, allowing consistent check-ins, real-time messaging, and an SOS function for emergencies. Additionally, SFC utilizes ZOLEO Track to effectively monitor team activity, location and hazards.
Key Benefits:
- Reliable messaging and SOS capabilities even without cellular service
- Compact, user-friendly devices compatible with smartphones
- Efficient team monitoring through automated check-ins and tracking
- Cost-effective reporting and enhanced visibility of field operations
Outcome
The adoption of ZOLEO has transformed how SFC operates in high-risk, remote environments. Teams stay connected wherever their work takes them, with real-time hazard reporting and GPS-enabled check-ins that streamline operations. These features have eliminated the need for employees to drive long distances to find cell service, saving valuable time and resources. When cellular contact was lost during a wildfire, employees could communicate via ZOLEO to safely join other team members. "Our field teams are reassured by the reliability of ZOLEO. It brings peace of mind in even the most isolated locations," says Sowell. SFC now owns over 150 devices and plans to scale the capabilities of ZOLEO as the organization pursues multi-state contracts.
ZOLEO is here to stay at SFC. I don’t see any other device that can compete.
Marti Sowell
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