Towering idea
A Queensland software invention which helps manage the problem of radiation caused by telecommunications towers has been sold to Germany with other countries set to follow.
Back in 1999 Mark Leckenby, who is originally from Mackay and studied engineering at Central Queensland University in Rockhampton, was invited by Telstra to look at ways of keeping Telstra workers safe by monitoring radiation from towers.
Five years later, Mark’s invention RadPro took out the prestigious ‘Innovations in Telecommunications’ prize at the Australian Telecommunications Users Group (ATUG) Awards. It is now being used by Deutsch Telekom and is under consideration for use by Vodaphone in the UK and by the Malaysian Government.
RadPro, developed by Mark’s company ICOMMS, gives a visual representation of electro-magnetic radiation from radio communications structures and rooftop buildings so workers, residents and the public can keep outside of the main beams.
Since its inception, ICOMMS, currently a member company of the Queensland Government’s technology incubator i.lab at Toowong, has maintained a strong link with Griffith University, a recognised world leader in radio frequency (RF) radiation theory.
ICOMMS is also working with the Australian Mobile Carriers Forum to help minimise the impact of radiation hazard in the community and to help provide a framework where operators can share infrastructure more efficiently, resulting in less visual pollution caused by structures and antenna devices.
Last reviewed 19 January 2006