Welcome to the WillowTwin™ for Rail platform, this innovative tool uses live, static, and spatial data to provide users with the ability to visualize their rail networks, monitor the operation and condition of assets, and initiate tickets to help reduce costs and maintain operational efficiency.

The platform's web application allows users to see a complete view of operations, they can search for assets, view critical information related to rail wear, track defects, and asset operation. Users can also create and assign tickets for workgroups in the field to respond to incidents as they arise. The companion Willow Rail mobile app allows users in the field to review and update ticket details in real-time, all of which is visible in the web app for users to track progress. 

Let's begin by introducing the WillowTwin™ for Rail platform web application, explaining what users can expect to see and how to navigate through the application.

General Navigation

Upon logging into the platform, users will be presented with a dashboard which provides users the ability to view their rail network and options to search and view assets, navigate to tickets, and view performance reports. 

The platform can be broken down into 3 primary areas, each of which has a slightly different interface for allowing users to utilize their platform:

• Assets
  • This area allows users to visualize their rail network, search for assets along the network, and view critical network data such as: TSRs (temporary speed restrictions), track defects, rail wear, and more.
• Ticketing
  • The ticketing area of the platform is where users can create new tickets for maintenance, review the details of both currently open and closed tickets, and visualize the location of tickets and workgroups on a map.
• Performance
  • Important metrics and KPIs are visible in the Performance area, currently geared towards metrics associated with TSRs, this area provides users with details to help with planning and operational performance of the rail network.

Users can navigate to these areas from the main toolbar, and the interface will change slightly depending where the user navigates to. Below, we'll look at the options available from the main toolbar and discuss at a high-level what user can expect to see in the Assets, Ticketing, and Performance areas.

The Main Menu bar

The main menu bar allows users to move between the Assets, Ticketing, and Performance areas discussed above, as well as provide options to export data, submit a ticket to the Willow Support team, logout and more. Below are the options that users will see in the main toolbar, no matter where they are within the platform

Main Toolbar (left)

• Willow icon
  • The Willow icon is a home button, when clicked you will be returned to the main dashboard view seen when first logging into the platform
• Network selector 
  • If your organization has more than 1 network that has been added to your platform, use this field to select the network to view
• Sub-network selector
  • The sub-network selector drop-down is used to further filter the list of assets to those within the identified area of the selected network. 

Main Toolbar (center)

• Assets
  • The assets tab is divided into 2 sub tabs
    • Assets
      • From here users can search for assets loaded into your twin, selecting an asset from this area will allow users to visualize the location of the asset and view additional asset details and important data related to the asset (this is dependent on the asset selected and data being tracked by your twin)
    • Track Measurements
      • From here users can view more detailed data on track measurements and rail wear graphs (this is dependent on the asset selected and data being tracked by your twin)
        • Note: the asset panel is not visible from the Track Measurements sub-tab
• Ticketing
  • Create new tickets and review the status and details on existing tickets that have been created in response to issues with network assets that may require inspection, repair, or replacement
• Performance
  • View KPIs, metrics, and other reports critical to business operations
    • The main interface will display a series of metrics related to the rail operations, clicking the Restrictions sub-tab will display a series of metrics and KPIs related to any temporary speed restrictions along the network

 Main Toolbar (right)

• Export Data
  • Clicking the export data button allows users to export asset data information out of the platform in .csv format
• Support
  • Clicking the support button opens a form which can be used to submit a ticket to the Willow Support team, should you run into any issues that may require our assistance
• User drop-down
  • Clicking the user drop-down provides access to 
    • My Profile - where users can review their user profile
    • Admin - if your user account has admin privileges, this is where you can access the admin area to create new users within the platform
    • Clear view settings - the platform will remember all of the network, area, layer areas, and other settings, which you enable while using the platform. Click this to clear your settings to start fresh with new searches
    • Help & Support - click this button to access the Willow Support page, where you can submit support tickets, as well as review additional articles specific to the WillowTwin™ for Rail platform
    • Privacy Policy - click this to review the Willow privacy policy
    • Log Out - click this button to log out of the application when finished

General Overview

Assets

As mentioned earlier, the assets area of the platform allows users to visualize the rail network, search for assets, view the locations and details of TSRs, defects, view rail wear graphs and much more. The interface here is divided into the 2 main areas:

• Assets
• Track Measurements

Assets > Assets

This area is the default view for users, and will be the home screen users will be brought to when clicking the Willow icon in the main tool bar. Here users will see the interface divided into 2 sections:

• Asset panel
  • From here users can browse and search for assets from the category and subcategory folders of assets that have been added to the platform. Clicking on a subcategory folder will display the applicable assets in the bottom half of the asset panel
    • Selecting an asset from the list will zoom the map over the selected asset and display a details window with additional information related to the asset
• Map view
  
  • The map view allows users to see the selected rail network, from here users can change the base map, and enable or disable the view of a number of map filters to change the map, view TSRs, Track Geometry, and much more.

Assets > Track Measurements 

The track measurements area is again divided into 2 sections however the orientation of the interface will change due to the information that will be displayed here.

• Map view
  • The map view here still allows users to see the selected rail network, from here users can change the base map, and enable or disable the view of a variety of map fitlers
• Track Geometry/Rail Wear
  • The bottom half of the interface provides users with the ability to view track geometry and rail wear graphs which can be used to understand and make decisions on the health and operation of the selected rail track sections

Ticketing

The ticketing area of the platform provides users with the ability to view and create tickets associated with the maintenance of your rail network. The interface in this area appears similarly to that seen on the assets tab, with a panel on the left, which displays all Open and Closed tickets, as well as the option to create new tickets; and a map view on the right.

The map view again allows users to visualize the network, change the base map, enable or disable map filters related to TSRs, Defects, and much more, as well as view the location of any currently open tickets and workgroups who are currently in the field. 

Performance

The performance area of the platform provides quick insight into key metrics and KPIs that help organizations make critical rail network decisions. The initial view users will see when accessing this area of the platform will display a collection of high-level metrics on the network operation.

The Restrictions sub-tab here will display high-level metrics and KPIs related to any temporary speed restrictions that have been ordered along the network.