RAIL SURVEYING
people will think it can be stretched. This is certainly not the case and that points needs to be emphasised.
“Also around purchasing decisions, it may be the case that older equipment is being kept past the point where it really should be replaced so the likelihood of breakdown will increase. Of course, this is not peculiar just to the fork lift truck aspect of the rail industry.”
To help companies who operate a number of forklift trucks, the Fork Lift Truck Association has a Safe User Group aimed at helping operatives and supervisors keep up-to-date with legislation and what is good practice in general.
“Members of the Safe User Group get copies of our technical bulletins and safety related documents, which we put out on a regular basis. Details of this are on our website and if someone has a burning question then we will always try our best to answer it from the office here.
“There is no need for someone to be anxious about something, because even if we cannot give them the answer, we can usually point them in the direction of someone who can.”
This kind of help is going to become even more important as budgets become stretched and the demand for higher productivity becomes ever more present in the daily workings within rail facilities.
To obtain a copy of the Supervisor presentation, just send an email requesting a copy, mentioning you read about it in Rail Technology Magazine, to
mail@fork-truck.org.uk
For details of the Safe User Group and to view the FLTA catalogue of safety related items visit www.
fork-truck.org.uk
Surveying the future
Whether it is to provide measurements for a new infrastructure project or simply as part of the maintenance of an existing asset, the information taken by railway surveyors needs to be as accurate as possible. Rail Technology Magazine spoke to James Kavanagh to find out how lasers are helping rail surveyors make the most accurate measurements possible
I
n any kind of engineering project it is always crucial that engineers are using the most accurate information available to them. Surveying has been carried out using some rather basic equipment for centuries.
Technology has now moved forward to the point where measurements can be taken using the very latest in laser technology.
“On the railways, laser technology is used all the way through the process,” says James Kavanagh, director of land at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
“There are two ways to use lasers in surveying - in the air and on the ground. The way things work at the moment means that first we would use a piece of technology called a LIDAR, which is aerial-based and is usually attached to a helicopter or small aircraft.
“This is flown at about 50 metres above the track and picks up all of the information - and I mean everything - which is present. This attention to detail is one of the beauties and downfalls of using lasers. They pick up everything, including every leaf or piece of rubbish in the area being surveyed.
“This means a great deal of management has to be maintained not only in conducting the survey itself, but also in the management of the information collected to ensure its relevance to what you are doing.”
which they have not been able to get before.
“This is because the technology picks up on every little bolt and piece of wire throughout the area.”
James Kavanagh
“Some people are even coming over from the gaming industries because they have extensive experience of using 3D images and modelling.”
Aerial surveys deliver a huge amount of detail, but it is actually possible to get more from a ground-based survey.
James said: “If you wanted to investigate something at a closer range or in a tunnel, there is a process of mobile laser scanning. This is where a device is set up on a buggy on the track and is then sent down the track at a reasonably slow speed recording data and again, this picks up every little detail.”
This is the process being used by Transport for London to survey their tunnels.
“For the first time since these tunnels were built, there are really accurate three dimensional modelling and surveys being taken of these tunnels, giving engineers a detailed view of the tunnels
Collecting data around assets is not just an issue on London Underground. There are various rail systems around the country which are still to be investigated.
“Naturally, it is hard to keep track of assets over the years, as pieces get added on. The whole point of this surveying technology is to join up the information which you have on an asset.
“On the outside, GPS can be used to bring data sets together – it is really important that all of your data is being connected to a good strong reference system.
“There has been some amazing work done by University College London in regards to developing a mathematical algorithm called the snake, which is being heavily used in railway surveys.
“This algorithm allows the user to connect to the Ordnance Survey grid which has to be done on large infrastructure projects, which stops mapping inaccuracies from being an issue.”
This kind of accuracy is also essential in terms of getting the job done right the first time. In these times of economic uncertainty it is essential engineers do not make costly mistakes.
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