New way to check railway lines: New Zealand network surveyed

Monday, 21 Jan 2008

Melbourne-based Geomatic Technologies - a company with an established history in the use of imagery for mapping rail assets - has changed the way railway encroachments can be detected.

Geomatic Technologies' laser survey Asset Inspection Mapping System (AIMS) uses vehicle-mounted, high-speed reflectorless lasers that continuously scan the rail corridor recording distances to a range of 8 meters from the track centerline. As the lasers complete their sweep cycles the combined data stream is saved to disk and stored as a complete profile. The data is referenced back to a map base and accompanying structure gauge envelope for easy identification of problem areas. The information can be exported in a variety of formats including CAD, GIS and spreadsheet based applications.

Until recently, the predominant way to detect encroachments on railway lines was to physically go and take measurements at specific locations along a railway track. It was long and arduous work and it posed considerable safety risks.

Australian-designed, the successful Geomatic Technologies' laser mapping system is now being exported to other parts of the world. "We have recently completed two major surveys for the New Zealand government's rail infrastructure company, Ontrack," said Business Manager, David Presley.

"Ontrack's managers recognized that network expansion and capacity planning would benefit from a laser structure gauge survey." Mr Presley said that more than 220 track kilometres of the Auckland network and 270 track kilometres of the Wellington network were covered.

"We processed more than 2.5 million laser profiles in the Auckland network alone and over 900 structure gauge encroachments were detected," Mr Presley explained. "While most of the track encroachments were due to vegetation close to the track, our data showed a number of platforms, bridges and tunnels that were of interest to Ontrack for further assessment."

Mr Presley said that the laser survey had assisted Ontrack in their testing of new rolling stock envelopes against the existing track easement.

"In Auckland, the laser data was extremely useful in assessing the track environment through bridges and tunnels for a planned electrification project."

Before this project in New Zealand, Geomatic Technologies' work had been exclusively in Australia in recent years. "Austrade helped us get back into exports," Mr Presley said.

"Austrade Rail Industry Specialists, Ian Robb in Sydney and Donna Joyce in Auckland, worked collaboratively with us," he noted. "They were instrumental in introducing Geomatic Technologies to Ontrack." Mr Presley said that Austrade New Zealand was aware of the work Ontrack planned for the Auckland and Wellington passenger networks.

"Ontrack and Austrade, through the Australian Railway Industry Corporation, arranged for a multi-discipline rail trade delegation to New Zealand early last year, where companies such as ours could meet face-to-face with potential rail customers. And we were able to offer the right technology-based solution to Ontrack's rail engineering requirements."

< Back