Känsälä, K; Rantala, S; Kauppila, O and Leviäkangas, P (2018) Acceleration sensor technology for rail track asset condition monitoring. Proceedings of Institution of Civil Engineers: Management, Procurement and Law, 171(1), pp. 32-40. ISSN 17514304
Abstract
In the rail traffic industry, the utilisation of inexpensive real-time sensors and the industrial internet of things for proactive asset management is a relatively new concept with great potential. As railways are one of the longest-lasting infrastructure assets, even marginal efficiency and cost gains have a significant impact on the life-cycle cost. This paper shows how wireless three-dimensional acceleration sensor technology can be applied to monitor track condition. The data collection was carried out in October 2016 on a railway line operated by Finnish Railways. In the test, a sensor was attached to a train unit and the acceleration of the train on a track segment was repeatedly measured at variable speeds. The collected data set was enhanced using map-matching and Bayesian filtering in order to improve the Global Positioning System location accuracy of the data. The filtered acceleration signals were analysed, and detected anomalies were compared against known parameters such as bridges and switches. The results of the testing support the feasibility of the concept. Finally, the implications of the concept regarding proactive asset management of track networks and statistical process control-based monitoring of tracks’ condition are discussed.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | information technology/maintenance & inspection/railway systems |
| Index terms: | efficiency, inspection, railway system, monitoring, acceleration, testing, internet, accuracy, asset management, process control, information technology |
| Subjects: | project controls, infrastructure and transport systems, performance management, professional development, control systems, computing systems, asset management, quality assurance, professional practice |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Engineering Principles, Time Control, Site Management, Digital Applications, Information Management, Business Strategy |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
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