Railroad Tunnel Inspections for Maintenance and Replacement Prioritization Using Untethered Ground Penetrating Radar and LIDAR Capable Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
This study aims to develop an innovative prototype system implementation of untethered, contact-free, reference-free, railroad tunnel measurements (surface and subsurface) that improves railroad safety. The unique concept will inform and optimize railroad tunnel asset life cycle cost decisions. The product application will provide GPR and LIDAR measurement capabilities via an efficient, specialized Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) deployment. It will measure areas of moisture/water entrapment (behind the tunnel liner), tunnel wall liner thickness and reinforcement geometry, tunnel clearance dimensions, and tunnel material properties. Relevant metrics SATES will evaluate are a function of moisture build up, geometry (tunnel clearance), and material properties impacting fire survivability and more. The project will uniquely integrate, operationalize, apply, and field test the subject Safe Automated Railroad Tunnel Evaluation System (SATES) technology. Results will uniquely address systemic railroad needs to improve overall railroad safety and maintenance related life cycle cost decisions.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $99879
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Contract Numbers:
Project 42
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Sponsor Organizations:
Safety Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA)
Transportation Research Board
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001 -
Project Managers:
Fitzpatrick, Velvet
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Performing Organizations:
ADOJAM, LLC
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Principal Investigators:
Scott, Michael
- Start Date: 20190905
- Expected Completion Date: 0
- Actual Completion Date: 0
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Drones; Ground penetrating radar; Inspection; Laser radar; Prototypes; Railroad safety; Railroad tunnels
- Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01730926
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
- Contract Numbers: Project 42
- Files: TRB, RIP
- Created Date: Feb 18 2020 7:47AM