Remote Client Introduction
The Remote Client provides an easy to use GUI interface for data and measurements collected by an IEM WISE installed system. This Remote Client software is a module that runs on a computer that typically is a laptop or desktop tower. The Remote Client interacts with installed WISE systems over the internet to let the user control the presentation and to examine the various data sets stored within WISE.
System Specifications
The Remote Client runs on any computer that hosts Windows XP or Windows 7. Typically, it is a desktop computer in a maintenance office or a remote service desk. An internet connection is needed to move the necessary data between the WISE server, typically located in the WISE computer rack in the trackside bungalow, and the Remote Client.
An advanced setup can be made where one or more WISE sites automatically replicate to an off site data base. The Remote Client then is set up to query from the replicated database. This setup has the advantage of keeping Remote Client queries from having a performance impact on the live database.
There can be multiple simultaneous users of the Remote Client.
The Remote Client is used to access the information stored in the WISE database for any subsystem as well as the site level diagnostics and status. For example, the wheel profile subsystem can be queried to look at all the wheel profiles on a car, examine the several measurement parameters extracted from the profile, visualize the data through 2 d comparison plots.
General features
- Encompasses all WISE features and presents them in a uniform manner. Therefore the data from any WISE subsystem can be accessed from the Remote Client and the data manipulation is consistent.
- Must run on a Windows desktop or laptop.
- Must have an internet connection between Remote Client and database being queried.
- Supports multiple simultaneous users to the same database.
- Multiple user log-ins and passwords can be set up and administered with different levels of permission. The most typical user is someone with read-only capabilities with respect to the WISE data.
- End user units for the measurements are selectable.
- The Remote Client has multi-lingual capacity.
- Can easily pass queried data subsets to external programs, such as Excel.
- Can search for data by session (train number), car number, date range, site, subsystem etc.
- Can sort and refine data returned from search queries.
- Can search for repeat measurements of same wheel for trending purposes.
- Shows graphical displays of such items as wheel profile (with 500 to 750 points). Can overlay multiple profiles on same plot to visualize wear patterns. Produces tables of measurements including standard measurements such as flange height, flange thickness, and rim thickness as well as more specialized measurements such as axial groove, tread taper, etc.
- Can display actual images produced by the subsystem for verification.
- Can identify and track defects (measurements exceeding a user given threshold) for any WISE subsystem.
- All WISE subsystems are supported, including wheel profile, brake pad, thermal imaging, sliding wheel, wheel defect, diameter, axle timing, and wheel flat spot and out of round, and acoustic bearing.
Advanced Features
Each WISE site contains a module of software named the WISE server. This server contains the measurement data WISE extracts from trains and cars passing the site. The WISE server at a given site can be queried by a Remote Client through an internet connection. This setup works well in most circumstances, but replication offers an alternative. During replication, data from a WISE site automatically duplicates to a remote server. This remote server can act as an offsite backup, a buffer so that the trackside site is not supporting large external queries, and optionally a single repository for multiple sites. In the case of multiple sites being replicated to the same database, the Remote Client can take advantage of that arrangement and track individual cars traveling between multiple sites.
Tracking specific cars through multiple sites opens the possibility of extended trend comparisons, cross site validation, and traffic pattern studies. Because the Remote Client is structured as a graphical front end for database queries, it is easy to extend its functionality into advanced analysis of the data. For example, truck alignment issues can be identified by looking for thin flanges on diagonally opposite wheels (1R – 2L or 1L – 2R). A query that identifies those candidates can then be examined in detail with a truck centric look at the actual wheel profiles. This approach can rapidly identify situations where a truck has an angle of attack condition.
Examples of Use
Look up a session or train data for profile and Brake Pad, given a date range and site.
From easily accessed right click menus, look up related measurements, save images, etc.
Measurement of a defective brake is highlighted in red.
Actual images of brake pads can be examined for verification purposes.
Repeated measurements of a wheel profile can be stacked on the same plot for comparison. Note there are four repeated profiles stacked in different colors on this one graph – illustrating measurement repeatability.
Repeated measurements can also be looked at in tabular form for ease of trending or exporting.
You can query multiple sites and request only those measurements that satisfy a minimum number of repeated measurements
An example of a truck that has a thin 3 L flange and experiencing gage side rim rollover on axle 3. Axle 4 appears nominal.
Example of a defect report – flange height and brake pad defects identified over a time period.