OnTrac
Logging of the draining of sludge tanks with RFID tags and mobile telephony
OnTrac is our system for sludge trucks. Logging of the draining of sludge
tanks and cesspools with RFID tags and mobile telephony.
Our system is built on the Nokia 5140, a rugged mobile telephone that has an RFID shell on the underside of the keyboard. The RFID readers read the Mifare tags. Mifare chips work on a frequency of 13.56 MHz.
Each sludge tank or cesspool bears a tag on its drain cover (or elsewhere, depending on its construction).
Subscribers can be divided into different customers groups – monthly draining, draining on demand and yearly draining.
Every RFID tag is connected to a subscriber with a customer number, facility number, personal ID, name and address.
If desired, our program has a function where a subscriber can purchase a certain number of drainings in advance. Each draining is deducted when it is completed and the remaining number can be been in the computer database. The number of drainings can be set at 12 times per year, for instance. If more drainings are desired, it is possible to purchase additional drainings for a fee.
If a customer calls because an emptying has not occurred, it is easy to look up since the registration occurs instantaneously via GPRS from the mobile phone. The person responsible can see on his or her computer screen with Windows Explorer whether or not the emptying has occurred with exact time when it was done or if there are comments.
Sludge truck assignments and registration of assignments carried out…
…with Nokia 5140 and mounted laptop computers.
The day’s assignments are planned according to vehicles in the customer system with addresses and names, coordinated by the dispatcher.
The customer’s system sends the assignments through an internal network to the TracTechnology server, which sends them on to the trucks via a GPRS modem.
The OnTrac software is delivered by TracTechnology. The list can either be optimized for different pickups or the route can be planned. Option: A route planning system in the customer system or in OnTrac.
Functions on each sludge truck
When starting his rounds, the driver takes his Nokia mobile phone to the truck and reads his personal tag, which starts the Java midlets automatically. This is a program in the phone that takes care of communication and sends the tag code to the OnTrac server.
- The first driving assignment is sent to the driver’s mobile phone.
- At the site, the driver climbs out of the truck, empties the sludge container, and reads the RFID label affixed to the lid of the container or some other convenient place.
- Once back in the truck, the driver reports how many cubic meters he picked up. This is done over the mobile telephone.
- If the pick-up does not occur due to obstacles the driver can take a picture with the mobile phone where 10 text options are available as comments (more comments can be added).
- The driver chooses one of the texts or writes a message and registers the assignment. Pictures can also be taken.
- When pick-ups occur normally, they are registered by reading the sludge basin label and the number of cubic meters. The code in the label is sent via GPRS to the OnTrac server, which responds by sending the next address to the Nokia mobile phone.
- If a driver skips an address an alarm goes off and the driver receives the forgotten address on the mobile. If the driver has forgotten to make a comment he can make it as a receipt. Every label has a unique number and the number is connected to the subscriber in the OnTrac program.
As a complement
to, or instead of the mobile phone, we can offer a mounted laptop computer
with GPS and GPRS with guiding functions in the vehicle. The list of assignments
and coordinates is sent to the laptop and map navigation is provided.
Comments can be enter with optional text, such as:
1 - Damage
2 – Door locked
3 – Not empty
4 – Vehicle in the way
5 – Not shoveled
6 – Snow obstruction
7 - Covered by earth
8 – Could not reach it
9 – Picture taken
10- Angry dog
Example assignment:
| Order number: | 20235 |
| Date issued: | 2004-02-04 |
| Note: | 1:dec slb 3A |
| Factory number: | 8500119102 |
| Subscriber number: | 1 |
| Annual consumption: | 0 |
| Address: | 157 Crestwell |
| Description of real estate: | Cosgrove 1:24 |
| Client number: | 20172 |
| Client name: | Hollis Farms |
| Client telephone: |
Our OnTrac software is a client/server solution via a web interface
The clients require a web browser.
Our program allows several users at the same time.
Statistics
Sanitation department can receive statistics regarding the data that is available in the database: emptying/month, emptying per client, complaints dealt with.
Statistics stored in the database can be exported to comma-separated files for presentation in Excel format.
The system’s effects
More effective planning
With real time updates, the number of checks and follow-ups are reduced and administration is made more effective, which has both environmental and economic effects.
Advantages
- Real-time reporting to the office
- No missed drainings – no extra drainings
- Directions to the next drainage site
- Optimize routes
- Reporting damage, obstacles etc
- Reporting with images
- Storage of all transactions
- Statistics for follow-up
- More effective administration
- Lower costs