THERMA-TRACK

Frequently Asked Questions

This page is under construction

Please bear with us while we improve your user experience

How do I ?

THERMATRACK MOBILE (Android Application) – is very easy, and intuitive to use. Once you have registered on-line, download the THERMATRACK MOBILE Application to any smart device (Cell phone / Tablet). The Application – has various examples, and user tips to assist you.

How do I get THERMATRACK FAULT REPORTS for my OHTE?

Your OHTE have to (should) be surveyed – at least every 3 months (as a “condition monitoring” function for “preventative maintenance”). THERMATRACK Survey Solution (“scan” / recording) is used under normal train operations (movement) conditions, to record data. (There are various survey service options). The data is processed (off site – to the highest quality control level) and renders 1 integrated THERMATRACK FAULT REPORT with 3 categories information: OHTE-C (components), OHTE-P (panto) OHTE-S (stagger). The THERMATRACK FAULT REPORT is delivered to the depot – in various formats (print / soft, spread sheets, fault pages) and the electronic copy (hard drive) used with your desktop software THERMATRACK REPORTER (report manager / viewer) with many easy to use advanced functions, including Fault Reports to GPS and Android App.

What is the purpose of the THERMATRACK MOBILE Android Application for smart devices – for cell phones and tablets?

The primary function is – “ information mobility”, and the – convenience, efficiency, productivity, to share the information, relay it into the actual workplace / field. Go paperless! - the list and advantageous is endless, (only limited by your initiative). No more printing report pages, hard copy files for field inspections, no more clipboards and pages of notes, digital cameras and weeks of report preparations … It is all done in seconds!

EXPORT - THERMATRACK FAULT REPORTS: The desktop software THERMATRACK REPORTER is used as the “report manager / viewer”, - the easy to use function/method is simply export the Points of Interest (POI) / faults report list for field investigations and validations, - to any Android Smart device. The THERMATRACK MOBILE App has various advanced features, such as to “edit information” at the fault location – and import back to your THERMATRACK REPORTER desktop software. THERMATRACK MOBILE – GPS routing will plot all your POI’s, route you to the positions, includes mast pole locations, section ID’s etc. At the location, with fault investigation / confirmation, with the App advanced photo features you can simply take a digital picture which the system will automatically link to your Fault Report, back at the office upload it to your THERMATRACK REPORTER desktop software. Close the loop – efficiently. IMPORT – “new reports / fault set” (see: Topic on this feature).

Can I use THERMATRACK MOBILE App for smart devices – without THERMATRACK FAULT REPORTS, to create “new fault set” / investigation reports?

Yes. [See: THERMATRACK work “usual flow process”]. “Report a Fault” feature, use THERMATRACK MOBILE App (TMA) on your smart device to create a new Point of Interest (POI) also called a “fault” / fault location / event location / position. Open TMA on your smart device – select the function to “report a new fault” (or –location) – simply take a picture of your interest / event / object, then - add information (makes selections from dropdown menus for “severity”, ad notes, etc), – the system will automatically record and link the location (GPS position and Mast location, section ID’s, etc). This feature is very handy – for example on a trolley inspection, as you do inspection, simply apply TMA as explained, take a picture, add your comments, at the end of the run, at the office simply download to THERMATRACK REPORTER desktop software and creat quick and easy advanced reports – in a matter of sections – available in PDF, WORD, EXCEL, etc. IMPORT – “new fault set” reports – you can use the feature anywhere, though designed for OHTE and related infrastructure.

What is the usual THERMATRACK (solution) work flow ?

Usually, the workflow process is – 1) get a survey “scan” completed (THERMATRACK Survey Solution / usually by a service provider (contractor), 2) THERMATRACK advanced data processing (off-site) to usable information (THERMATRACK Fault Reports), 3) Receive your (at depot) THERMATRACK FAULT REPORT (electronic format/ HD) and review it with THERMATRACK REPORTER desktop software. One of various options / functions – is to export Fault Reports (POI’s / Points of Interest) to your Android Smart Device (Cell phone of Tablet), use the THERMATRACK MOBILE App (TMA) functions to locate position, physically / visually investigate, and “take a picture” with the TMA camera function (which will link – that image to the Fault Image, automatically records the position and mast location, section ID’s, etc), upload to THERMATRACK REPORTER, create advanced reports, videos, etc. Close the loop – efficiently.

Why is the THERMATRACK REPORTER software required, does it run on my mobile?

THERMATRACK REPORTER (TR) is “desktop software” (to be installed at INFRA OHTE Railway depots, on PS’s / Laptops). The REPORTER Software – with easy to use advanced features specifically for OHTE environment, is the info hub / workstation (for THERMATRACK Fault Report Manager) in the depot. The THERMATRACK FAULT REPORT is delivered to the depot – with various control documents (print / soft, spread sheets, fault pages), but, the electronic copy (hard drive) is the actual report and used with your desktop software THERMATRACK REPORTER (report manager / viewer). Every fault or Point of Interest (POI / flagged fault page) can be individually “live recording” explored, (especially, important for Pantograph / Stagger faults). The THERMATRACK REPORTER Software features are specifically for OHTE, includes (embedded information, such as mast locations, section ID’s) and software functions everything required to view /review /edit and produce single page faults reports (job cards), to advanced inquiry (investigation) reports, video out (with embedded info) to spread sheets and statistics. THERMATRACK REPORTER (TR) is “desktop software” is effectively the depot workstation – from where information is distributed and exported to mobile devices and back unloaded for referencing (closing the maintenance loop). Click on any “fault report page” – and the system provides the live recording position, with all the functions to edit and manage, with several map and satellite maps options. Click - on any spot (any frame in the recording) on the OHTE line – and you can create a fault / enquiry / do analysis (with graphs) /export video (for email) etc, (with all relevant info, mast locations, section ID’s etc) embedded. THERMATRACK REPORTER (TR) is “desktop software” – as a workstation hub, is the minimum software requirement at depot level (for any electronic reports to work, - or App functionality).

How / Where do I get the THERMATRACK REPORTER desktop software, for down load and install?

THERMATRACK REPORTER (TTR) is “desktop software” (to be installed at depots, on PS’s / Laptops) as a workstation hub, is the minimum software requirement at depot level, for an THERMATRACK electronic reports to work, - or App functionality). The “fault report “control documents, such as reports and print format on CD – only requires Microsoft Excel / Adobe PDF. The REPORTER Software – is available FREE of CHARGE to any (South African) Railways Company Depot under contract for THERMATRACK SURVEY SERVICES. It can be obtained from (and installed by) the Licenced TERMATRACK Operator & Service provider (contractor) – OR – where the Railways Company perform their own duties, centrally available from the Railways Company (intranet / IT services).

Can I take digital photo (on the Railway line) – and report it back using THERMATRACK MOBILE App?

Very easy! (also see, topic: “create new fault set”). Be smart … instead of taking a photograph with your cell phone (camera feature) or ordinary digital camera, and taking notes on paper – and then back at the office struggle to get it all together (very inefficient) … Use the THERMATRACK MOBILE App (TMA) on your smart device – select the function to “report a new fault set” (or –location). Simply take a picture of your OHTE interest / - or any - event / object, then - add information (makes selections from dropdown menus for “severity”, ad notes, etc), – the system will automatically display the GPS location, record and link the location (GPS position and Mast location, section ID’s, etc). Use it on line inspections /trolley (visual inspection) – simply apply TMA as explained, take a picture, add your comments, as you go along, when you get to the office simply download the file to THERMATRACK REPORTER desktop software and create quick and easy advanced reports – in a matter of sections – available in PDF, WORD, EXCEL, etc. (Note: You can use this THERMATRACK MOBILE App (TMA) feature anywhere- though it designed for OHTE and related infrastructure, if you are not near a OHTE / railway line the relevant information will just be omitted- from the report you generate with THERMATRACK REPORTER (TTR) is “desktop software”).

What is THERMATRACK?

THERMATRACK SURVEY SOLUTION (System) – for is a dedicated / OHTE Infrared Condition Monitoring (CM) system for Preventative Maintenance (PM). It is a total comprehensive integrated SYSTEM – for all phases of OHTE IRT (infrared) requirements: (1) Survey (Recording devices / TERMATRACK RECORDER), (2) Pre- & post-processing (report development / TERMATRACK PROCESSOR), (3) At depot level - Report Management (review / implementation / THERMATRACK REPORTER (TTR)) using (A) TTR “desktop software” and various applications example: THERMATRACK MOBILE App (TMA) / … closing the survey to maintenance loop.) (4) IRT / THERMATRACK - Technical specifications, operational protocols (standardization), training (Qualifications), risk management, etc. It provides a convenient and cost effective – dedicated and reliable IRT (Infrared) work platform specific for OHTE / Railway lines. (OHTE is a very challenging IRT environment, with very specific solutions, experience & qualifications requirements. General / universal – IRT knowledge / systems cannot deliver the required fast / reliable / sophisticated result required with OHTE. General IRT software packages is not efficient in integrating required information of hundreds of POI – mast locations, Section /id’s etc).

Does THERMATRACK detect and give “hotspots “reports on OHTE?

There is a difference between a “hotspot” (indicator) and an actual OHTE fault that requires a specific action. THERMATRACK does not produce amateur “IRT hotspot reports” – THERMATRACK generates “OHTE Fault Reports” classified/categorized information in dependable/reliable reports on OHTE-C (components), OHTE-P (panto) OHTE-S (stagger). “Hotspots” are data, whilst the maintenance management and crews require reliable fault information to which a set (standard) reaction can be designed and deployed. Traditional ‘infrared scans” has very elementary (inadequate) procedure / practice / technique of oversimplified classifying (sorting) hotspots in linear temperature ranges (0-5, 6-10, 10-…) in the hope of detecting (spotting) some “faults” / incidence, incidentally. These practices / techniques is - fundamentally flawed, both, (A) technically incorrect – and (B) in practice, produces misleading “hotspot” reports with lager (unacceptable) % of false positives and/or (more importantly) false negatives (missing actual faults). 20%-60% accurate / success are useless – for condition monitoring on OHTE with the risks and costs involved (component failures /hook-ups, etc). THERMATRACT SURVEY SOLUTION / SYSTEM finds every fault – very time. THERMATRACK exceeds 99% accuracy / reliability. With “hotspot classification” – it is easy to find and show (report) a few absolute “critical faults” on any line, but - the real value (and concern) to condition monitoring for preventative maintenance is the ‘assurance / guarantee’ that there are no other faults. (THERMATRACK quality and data integrity control with unique features: Quality Line Index (QLI)).

Is THERMATRACK FAULT REPORTs reliable?

THERMATRACK is absolutely – reliable and dependable Fault Reports, and - Software, Service deliverability, etc. THERMATRACK exceeds 99% “Fault Report” accuracy / reliability - Fault Report Implementation. THERMATRACK is the only solution / services to offer guarantees and warrantees on reports and predictions. THERMATRACK is the only solution that offers OHTE C (Component) maintenance cycle predictions (in the world!), a requirement for sensible planned preventative maintenance. There is a difference between traditional “hotspot” (an indicator) and an actual OHTE fault (perceived and recognized by the maintenance personnel) that requires (provoke) a specific maintenance reaction/response. “Hotspot” classification reports – is not a “Faults Report” information for Maintenance to reliably use for planning /assessment. If maintenance – have to validate faults – they might as well simply go do a visual inspection. (Because absolute critical IRT faults – can be seen with the naked eye). With only a few false faults in a report – maintenance personnel investigate and lose all confidence in the “false report” (because – if you wrongly report “create faults”, how many faults did you miss which is not reported?). Finding and reporting absolute critical faults (components that already broken (waiting to fail mechanically ) – is inclusive with IRT (reactive maintenance / repairs), but - not the primary function IRT which is – identifying predictive and speculative faults (components in marginal stages of deterioration) to make predictions on failure (preventative maintenance!).

How to get THERMATRACK Services ?

Railways Company / OHTE Infrastructure Depot procure a contract for THERMATRACK SURVEY SERVICES. The service can be obtained from the Licenced TERMATRACK Operator & Service provider (contractor) – OR – where the Railways Company perform their own duties (various options – such as “self Scan”, to Beta Scan).