SafeRailSystem
High-speed trains, the increasing importance of transport by rail and expansion of the railway network all require that the rails, the ballast layer and the soil underneath be continuously monitored. Grontmij and its German partner Ground Control have developed a new standard for measuring the ballast layer and the ground in a quick and efficient manner: the SafeRailSystem. This sustainable inspection method has already been successfully implemented in various countries.
New standard
In the past, the railways were inspected by drilling and digging in the ground. This is a slow and labour-intensive process, which also necessitates service disruptions, resulting in higher costs and reduced capacity of the intensively used railway network. Furthermore, drilling yields only limited, non-continuous information. In a time in which railway safety is essential for the sustainable development of our living environment, this method is simply not adequate. This is why we developed the SafeRailSystem.
The SafeRailSystem is based on a ground-penetrating radar system, GeoRadar. Three measurement antennas transmit radar signals into the ground, which are partially reflected by the edges of structures in the soil. After computer processing, this creates a clear image of the quality of the soil and the various layers. GeoRadar images in combination with video images, GPS positioning and interactive rendering enable Grontmij and its partner to create a new standard for railway inspections and decontamination advice in the SafeRailSystem.
Properties
- Continuous high-quality data
- Very low energy consumption and non-destructive
- Measurements at speeds of up to 160 km/hour
- No need for train service disruptions
- 700 kilometres of track per use
- Video recordings of the tracks during measurements
- Compatible with all data systems, incl. Irisys
- Results can be combined with superstructure measurement data.
Data
The method graphically shows the quality of the railways by the following criteria:
1. Contamination and humidity levels of the ballast layer
2. Subsidence of the ballast layer
3. Transverse deviation of the rails
4. Soil humidity levels.
Advantages
- Fast, continuous measurements without service disruptions
- Modern technology with significantly reduced impact on the environment and railway infrastructure
- Cost-efficient with great added value.
SafeRailSystem: a sustainable development for safe railways!