Automated Track Geometry Monitoring System

This study will develop, implement, and evaluate an autonomous track geometry monitoring system to screen the network for faults during normal train operations. The technology performance will depend on the specific implementation and deployment options selected. Therefore, automatic data collection and recording devices will be necessary to gather motion, location, and speed data to evaluate the performance of various system implementation options. Initial data collection will begin with a smartphone that has all of the required sensors. The PIs will develop a smartphone application that will be capable of autonomously collecting and uploading data from hi-rail vehicles where power is available. The technology transfer phase will inform commercialization partners about the best approaches to develop a lower-cost and self-sufficient version of the sensor system deployed during the research. This research project will focus on developing the signal processing and machine learning algorithms and models that will transform the on-board sensor data into track geometry equivalents. The research team will also develop a reporting and mapping system to provide decision-makers with a data visualization tool.

• Record URL:
  https://www.mountain-plains.org/research/details.php?id=448

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $198302
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551747108

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Mountain-Plains Consortium

  North Dakota State University
  P.O. Box 6050, Department 2880
  Fargo, ND  United States  58108-6050
• Project Managers:

  Kline, Robin

• Performing Organizations:

  Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute

  1320 Albrecht Blvd.
  Fargo, ND  United States  58102
• Principal Investigators:

  Lu, Pan

  Bridgelall, Raj

  Tolliver, Denver

• Start Date: 20171204
• Expected Completion Date: 20220731
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program
• Source Data: MPC-551

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Algorithms; Data collection; Flaw detection; Maintenance of way; Mobile applications; Monitoring; Railroad tracks; Sensors; Smartphones
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01656109
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Mountain-Plains Consortium
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747108
• Files: UTC, RiP
• Created Date: Jan 2 2018 10:18AM