RAIL INDUSTRY FOCUS GETTING EDGE COMPUTING ON TRACK
Railways are changing, and Asia is leading the way by becoming an early adopter of smart technologies. The UK, however, is on the precipice of a major opportunity to make huge steps towards improving this vital piece of our infrastructure, and the key for doing so rests with Edge Computing. Greg Hookings, head of business development – Digitalisation, Stratus Technologies, explains
T
he UK railway system is the oldest in the world, dating back to 1825 when the first
steam train hauled its load. Now, the system shifts nearly 2bn personal journeys every year on 10,000 miles of standard gauge lines – some are single track, others crisscross into quadruple lines, and all need constant monitoring and management. Then there is the London Underground system which opened in 1863. This carries 1.4bn passengers every year on just 250 miles of track. Since its creation, the UK Rail system has
grown at a rapid rate and, as operators move towards computer-based management, control and communications systems, the sector has set a trajectory for a rapid increase in big data from interconnected stakeholders. This causes opportunities and challenges for service providers. With the move to decentralise the control systems away from sole management provided by operations control centres to track-side and train-side localities, the control of data becomes even more complex. With the capture and analysis of this data becoming a business-critical need, this is where Edge Computing comes in.
DEPLOYING EDGE COMPUTING The UK isn’t standing alone when it comes to building smart railways. From barrier crossing controls, track circuits, axle counter sensors and on-board units, through to lineside electronic units, times are changing; and we have international standards that we can learn from. The introduction of state-of-the-art digital technologies across the globe is changing the way railway companies operate. Asia in particular is leading the transformation.
From Singapore to Hong Kong to India, smart technologies – such as computer based management, control and communication systems – are being deployed to strengthen operational and network efficiency while maintaining passenger safety. The UK also has company when it comes to
the deployment of Edge Computing. Collecting and analysing data where it is needed most - the source – this technology deployment is now becoming commonplace among the industrial automation, life sciences, process and retail sectors. Legacy ICT infrastructure is being replaced by
highly effective Train Control and Management Systems (TCMS) that are empowered by the IoT and big data analytics. Edge Computing allows
real-time data capture from sensors installed within trains and along tracks to enable reliable monitoring, data collection and analysis. The data collected plays a dual role: supporting remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance. This not only allows equipment, tracks and stations to operate more efficiently but also improves safety and reduces long-term costs for all elements involved, from the Radio Block Centre all the way to the barrier drive. You only need to look at Singapore to see
such rapid advancements in its railway systems. Singapore has successfully embraced digital transformation and digital readiness across the board – including its immensely efficient railway network. Singapore is a major Asian metropolitan hub
that has set its sights on overcoming land scarcity by being the world’s first truly smart nation. Only 12% of the land in Singapore is set aside for roads and transport infrastructure. But, with a growing population and more than one million vehicles on the road, the challenge lies in optimising the limited space to achieve more efficient, safe, and reliable public transportation. As a part of the country’s smart nation
initiative, Singapore has adopted new smart technologies across all aspects of its transportation network, especially the SMRT networks. The goal is to ensure it is ‘smart city ready’. This not only enhances back-end operations, such as maintenance processes, but also favourably impacts customer experience.
SMART TECHNOLOGIES Traditional maintenance processes such as train tunnel and site inspections were once carried out manually by engineers who entered identified problem sites and took photos and videos, often causing operational disruption. Today, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has implemented a Drone Task Force which harnesses the power of technology to inspect and monitor train tracks and tunnels without any operation disruption. With a mandate to improve both operations
and maintenance efficiency, The Smart Urban Rail Corporate Laboratory (SMRT-NTU) has identified three innovative technology improvement projects that will begin network trials in 2019: • The first is a train mounted real-time condition monitoring system. This technology has the foresight to detect defects on power rails and running rails along the network by using radio frequency technology to monitor the electrical
contact between trains and tracks.
• Another innovation set to roll out in 2019 is the Automated Inspection System for Train Wheels and Axles which automates the inspection of train axles using a portable robot that comes equipped with a track-mounted sensor.
• Also in the pipeline is a high precision mobile laser-cladding repair system which uses laser technology to repair defective rails. This impressive technology can repair worn-out rails overnight (within regular servicing hours) rather than the three nights currently required. These trials follow the success of the introduction of pneumatic train doors that were implemented to monitor air pressure, movement speed and power systems, which paved the way for enhanced train reliability. In view of creating significant customer
enhancements, billions of dollars have also been spent on embedding MRT infrastructure with feedback loops and tracker sensor systems which calculate journey time. This has provided commuters with real-time information to plan and estimate trip journeys and has been well-received. As Singapore sets the benchmark and
leads global innovation across integrated transport networks, it is important to understand and leverage the technological advancements in order to achieve growth in neighbouring APAC countries. In India, it has been reported that artificial
intelligence-powered trains (known as Smart Coaches) will be able to detect a range of maintenance scheduling issues including wheel defects, security and water leaks, and automated reports will signal back to maintenance offices for immediate repair. The new fleet of AI trains also offer real-time GPS tracking which will improve network efficiency by providing more up-to-date arrival time information.
Stratus Technologies
www.stratus.com
DESIGN SOLUTIONS | OCTOBER 2019 43
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