Geospatial marker board alignment system and method

Abstract

A mobile app 12 on a mobile device 14 assists track workers 10 in placing a physical marker board at a desired location on a rail track. The mobile app 12 having a user interface displayed on the mobi

Description

Technical Field Of The Invention The present invention relates to the field of railway safety systems and geospatial tracking technologies. Specifically, it addresses the challenges associated with ensuring the precise placement of marker boards and maintaining the safety of track workers within the railway network. This invention embodies a novel system and method that seamlessly integrates geospatial data, mobile applications, and remote dashboards to enhance safety and efficiency in railway maintenance and operations. Background Railway networks are vital components of modern transportation systems, facilitating the movement of goods and people across vast distances. Ensuring the safety of railway workers, as well as the passengers and cargo they serve, is of paramount importance. This entails implementing stringent safety protocols that railway workers must follow to ensure their safety, and the safety of others, while performing tasks such as maintenance and remedial works on or near the railway network. Historically, the process of accurately positioning worksite marker boards within a railway worksite has relied heavily on the experience and knowledge of track workers. Placing marker boards precisely at the designated locations on the tracks is crucial to prevent accidents and maintain the integrity of safe working limits. However, this task can be prone to human error, particularly when workers are not intimately familiar with the specific railway network section they are operating on. To address these challenges and enhance railway safety, the present invention introduces a geospatial marker board alignment system and method. By harnessing the power of companion applications on smartphones, integrated with remote application dashboards, this innovation provides track workers with real-time, accurate information about safe working limits, marker board placement, and other critical data. This approach empowers track workers, improves safety, and streamlines railway maintenance operations. There is a need for a companion app is designed to transform the way railway staff interact with their environment, streamlining a multitude of tasks through a single, user-friendly interface. With real-time tracking, geofencing, and other advanced features, it aims to enhance safety, improve efficiency, and contribute to a more effective railway system. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide track workers with a virtual marker board, accessible through a companion app, which facilitates the precise placement of physical marker boards on the railway network, ultimately enhancing safety and accuracy. It is a further object of the present invention to provide track workers with visualisation of the safe working limits of a worksite using a companion app, connectable to a remote dashboard, without relying on alerts, and thus elevating worksite safety. It is a further object of the present invention to empower track workers to easily determine their precise location on the railway network, expressed in terms of ELR, TRID, mileage and chains, or What3Words geolocation, with a simple touch on the map of the companion app, thereby improving situational awareness. The present invention being a safety tool that be accessed by all levels of worker in the industry to keep them safe by showing them their safe working limits and their exact location in ERL, mileage and chains. Summary Of The Invention The present invention is described herein and in the claims. According to the present invention there is provided a mobile app used on a mobile device for assisting track workers in placing a physical marker board at a desired location on a rail track, the mobile app having a user interface displayed on the mobile device’s screen and being in communication with a remote dashboard which comprises a virtual marker board display means configured to input and display a virtual reference point at the desired location on the rail track, the mobile app comprising: location determining means for determining and displaying the current location of the track worker on a map on the user interface for assisting the track worker in aligning the physical marker board with the displayed virtual reference point. An advantage of the present invention is that it enhances railway safety and efficiency by seamlessly integrating geospatial data, mobile applications, and remote dashboards to ensure precise marker board placement and provide real-time safety information to track workers, thereby reducing or mitigating accident risks. Preferably, the location determining means utilises one or more satellite navigation systems, including but not limited to GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou, or other satellite-based positioning systems, to determine and display the current location of the track worker. Further preferably, a communication means enabling real-time or near real-time communication between the mobile app and the remote dashboard is established. In use, the remote dashboard additionally may allow the Engineering Supervisor (ES) or Person in Charge of Possession (PICOP) to set up one or more geofences defining the safe working limits of the worksite. Preferably, the virtual marker board positions are inputted based on data relevant to the railway worksite, including but not limited to information from the Safe System of Work (SSOW) pack. Further preferably, the virtual marker board positions displayed on the mobile app include the positions of virtual stop boards and / or virtual worksite marker boards. In use, the mobile app may allow the track worker to view the ELR, TRID, mileage and chains or What3Words grid reference of the track location where the virtual marker boards are displayed. Preferably, the mobile app comprises means for displaying a margin of error around the track worker’s current location, providing the track worker with an indication of the possible range of error in their current location. Further preferably, the mobile app further comprising a search engine functionality that allows the track worker to input an ELR, TRID, mileage, and chains of any location on the railway network and display its location on the map as a marker. In use, the mobile app may further comprise a search engine functionality that allows the track worker to input a What3 Words grid reference of any location on the railway network and display its location on the map as a marker. Preferably, the mobile app comprises means for enabling the track worker to capture and send photographs, along with raw track location details, to report potential faults or repair requirements or deployed or retrieved rail assets to the remote dashboard. Further preferably, track worker access to devices, geofences, and virtual marker boards within the mobile app is role and / or permission-based, ensuring that track workers can only interact with items relevant to their responsibilities. In use, the mobile app may receive group alerts or individual notifications from the remote dashboard, with different colours indicating varying levels of urgency or severity for the notifications. Preferably, the map overlays the track worker’s current position with the virtual marker board to facilitate precise alignment. Further preferably, the remote dashboard being configured to display the real-time locations and information of multiple tracked devices or assets, including but not limited to physical marker boards. In use, communication with the remote dashboard system enables real-time collaboration between multiple track workers and the remote dashboard. Preferably, the remote dashboard and mobile app being configured to display the one or more geofences defining the safe working limits of the worksite. Also according to the present invention there is provided a worksite safety system for track workers, comprising: a remote dashboard comprising a visualisation tool configurable to input and display the safe working limits of a worksite on a map; a mobile app installed on a mobile device to assist track workers operating on a rail network, the mobile app being capable of communication with the remote dashboard, and comprising: a user interface displayed on the mobile device’s screen; and location determining means for determining and displaying the track worker’s current position on a map within the user interface, alongside the specified safe working limits of the worksite, wherein map is utilised to assist the track worker in maintaining their position within the specified safe working limits of the worksite. In use, the mobile app may provide the track worker with the capability to touch or tap on the map to retrieve location data for a location on the rail network, the location data being displayed as ELR, TRID, mileage and chains, or What3Words coordinates. Preferably, the remote dashboard further includes a geofence setting means allowing an Engineering Supervisor (ES) or Person in Charge of Possession (PICOP) to define the safe working limits of the worksite using geofences. Further preferably, the geofence setting means on the remote dashboard allows for the dynamic adjustment of the safe working limits in real-time based on changing worksite requirements and conditions. In use, the geofence setting means on the remote dashboard may enables the Engineering Supervisor (ES) or Person in Charge of Possession (PICOP) to define multiple geofences within the worksite, each corresponding to specific safety zones. Further according to the present invention there is provided a remote user app installed on a mobile device for enabling workers to retrieve location data of a rail network, comprising: location determining means configured to determine the precise geographic location of worker; a mapping interface displayed on the mobile device’s screen indicating the track worker’s location as a marker, the track worker being able to retrieve location data of any point on the mapping interface with a touch or tap on the displayed map, wherein the display of the location data on the mapping interface comprises details such as the ELR, TRID, mileage and chains or What3words address. Preferably, the mapping interface provides the worker with the capability to touch or tap on the location marker on the displayed map to retrieve location data for their location on the rail network. Further preferably, the remote user app comprises an image capture means configured to allow a worker to capture image data within the app and automatically embed location data, including ELR, TRID, mileage and chains, or What3 Words coordinates, onto the captured images for reporting track-related issues or the position of deployed or retrieved rail assets. In use, the remote user app facilitates the generation and sending of reports, including track-related issues such as track faults or the position of deployed or retrieved rail assets, to recipients within the worker’s e-mail distribution list or SMS contacts or via messaging applications, along with embedded location data associated with the reported issue. Also further according to the present invention there is provided a rail worksite management system, comprising: a remote computing device configured to execute a companion application, wherein the companion application enables a worksite supervisor to manage safe worksite activities and track workers, the companion application comprising: a login screen requiring the worksite supervisor and track workers to scan unique QR codes for a designated worksite, wherein the worksite supervisor is granted administrative controls upon login for the designated worksite; a notification module for dispatching alerts or individual notifications from the worksite supervisor to track workers, and prompting acknowledgment via their smartphone from each track worker, with acknowledgments time and date stamped, displaying the track worker's location on a map, the location data being displayed as ELR, TRID, mileage and chains, or What3Words coordinates; and a reporting module facilitating the generation and sending of issues and / or reports including location data associated with reported issues, wherein the reports include photographs or video images captured by the track worker. Preferably, the rail worksite management system comprises an alert functionality for triggering and broadcasting runaway alerts to all track workers upon activation, displaying the location of the initiating track worker on a map, the location data being displayed as ELR, TRID, mileage and chains, or What3Words coordinates; and a safety confirmation prompt upon activation of the runaway alert, displaying the updated location of the track worker on a map alongside recorded location data. Further preferably, the rail worksite management system comprises a tools and materials declaration module prompting track workers to declare tools and materials brought onto and / or removed from the worksite, and capturing photographs or video images using a smartphone, and embedding the media in acknowledgments sent to the worksite supervisor. In use, the rail worksite management system may include a distance measurement module enabling track workers to measure distances within the worksite by drawing lines directly on a map within the application and calculating total distances based on the drawn path. Preferably, the rail worksite management system comprises a whiteboard demo module enabling access to and storage of pertinent information from a Safe System of Work pack by the track worker and / or the worksite supervisor. Further preferably, the rail worksite management system comprises a form collection module facilitating the digital submission of worksite hand back forms which can be completed by a track worker through the companion application and displaying the location of the initiating track worker on a map, the location data being displayed as ELR, TRID, mileage and chains, or What3Words coordinates; and appending a photograph and / or video images to the form using a smartphone and sending the form to a manager for countersignature. It is believed that a geospatial marker board alignment system and method in accordance with the present invention at least addresses the problems outlined above. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variations of the present invention are possible and it is intended that the present invention may be used other than as specifically described herein. Brief Description Of The Drawings The present invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a high-level schematic illustration of the various components that are used together to provide the functionality facilitated by the present invention; Figure 2 shows the steps of a process according to an embodiment of the present invention in which a companion app installed on a worker’s smartphone can be communicably coupled with an application dashboard on a remote computing device to enhance the worker’s safety around the rail network and to ensure the correct placement of the worksite protection limits (stop and worksite marker boards); Figure 3 illustrates a screenshot of a dashboard which enables an Engineering Supervisor (ES) or Person in Charge of Possession (PICOP) to remotely supervise the worksite from the information contained in the Safe System of Work (SSOW) pack, and shows how virtual stop boards can be inputted on the dashboard to assist track workers with the correct placement of physical stop boards at each end of the worksite; Figure 4 is a screenshot of the companion app displayed on the worker’s smartphone and which displays the safe working limits of the worksite and also the location of the virtual worksite protection, including the stop and worksite marker boards; Figure 5 shows a screenshot of the companion app displayed on the worker’s smartphone and exemplifies how an individual can place a physical stop board equipped with a tracking device at the correct location by aligning it with the virtual stop board, the location of the virtual stop board can also be revealed by pressing and holding the screen to unveil its What3Words address in word.word.word format; this action being initiated by tapping on the icon on the screen; Figure 6 illustrates a screenshot of the companion app as it appears on the worker’s smartphone and demonstrating how the GPS location of the worker can be superimposed onto a map displayed on the phone screen; Figure 7 is a screenshot of the companion app displayed on the worker’s smartphone and exemplifying the function of a track data location search using Engineer’s Line Reference (ELR) mileage and chains; Figure 8 shows a screenshot of the companion app displayed on the worker’s smartphone and exemplifying the function of a track data location search using What3 Words address; Figure 9 illustrates a screenshot of the companion app displayed on the worker’s smartphone and exemplifies how a group alert or notification can be received from the application dashboard on the remote computing device; and Figure 10 displays a screenshot from the worker’s smartphone, featuring a standalone locator app that operates independently from the remote application dashboard. Figure 10 illustrates how users can retrieve real-time location track data from the standalone app. Detailed Description Of The Preferred Embodiments The present invention has adopted the approach of utilising a safety tool that be accessed by all levels of worker in the industry to keep them safe by showing them their safe working limits and their exact location in ERL, mileage and chains. Advantageously, the present invention provides track workers with a virtual marker board, accessible through a companion app, which facilitates the precise placement of physical marker boards on the railway network, ultimately enhancing safety and accuracy. Further advantageously, the present invention also provides track workers with visualisation of the safe working limits of a worksite using a companion app, connectable to a remote dashboard, without relying on alerts, and thus elevating worksite safety. Further advantageously, the present invention also enables track workers to easily determine their precise location on the railway network, expressed in terms of ELR, TRID, mileage and chains, or What3Words geolocation, with a simple touch on the map of the companion app, thereby improving situational awareness. Referring now to the drawings, a geospatial marker board alignment system and method according to the present invention is shown in Figure 1. The system and method being accessed by individual workers 10 that are equipped with a companion app 12 installed on their smartphones 14. When this companion app 12 is activated, it harnesses the inherent GPS capabilities of the users’ phones 14 to ascertain their precise location. As would be known to the skilled person, a smartphone 14 is equipped with a GPS receiver, which is a specialised chipset designed to receive signals from the GPS satellites 16. Once the GPS receiver has computed the user’s 10 precise coordinates, the companion app 12 displays the user’s location on a map 64 on a companion app 12. This enables the user to view their current position and use navigation gestures and swipes to find track locations or locate specific points of interest. The companion app 12 is communicably coupled to an application dashboard (user interface) 18 on a remote computing device 20. In a preferred embodiment, the remote application dashboard 18 is a railway safety application which enables an Engineering Supervisor (ES) or Person in Charge of Possession (PICOP) 22 to remotely supervise a worksite from the information contained in the Safe System of Work (SSOW) pack. The ES or PICOP 22 is someone who is tasked with supervising a team of workers on a possession of the railway network for maintenance activities to be carried out, such as remedial works, inspections, and routine maintenance. The remote companion app 12 on a smartphone 14 can seamlessly communicate with the main application 18 through various methods, depending on the specific requirements and architecture of the system, as would be known to someone skilled in the art. Alternately, the remote application dashboard 18 or a user interface embodied on a remote computing device 20 could be a Cloud based-platform such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. It can be appreciated by the skilled person that there are a number of commercially available software applications, utilities and file formats that can be utilised to implement the various steps of the invention. The companion application 12 employs multiple connectivity techniques to interface with the remote dashboard 18, as would be known to the skilled addressee, including: APIs: The companion app 12 utilises APIs through HTTP requests. Web Services: Standardised protocols, such as SOAP or REST enable seamless interaction. Socket Communication: Web Socket facilitates real-time, two-way connections. Push Notifications: Appropriate events trigger notifications, prompting further app 12-main program 18 interaction. The companion application software 12 can be downloaded to the remote computing device 14 via known digital media platforms, such as, for example, the App Store for iOS-enabled devices and Google Play for touchscreen mobile devices 14 based on the Android operating system. Upon downloading the application software 12, the user interface guides the new user through the account creation process. This involves providing necessary information such as personal details, contact information, and selecting a unique username and password combination. The individual is prompted to agree to terms and conditions or privacy policies governing the use of the application 12. Furthermore, to ensure enhanced security measures, multi-factor authentication techniques may be implemented during the account creation process and in use, as would be known to someone skilled in the art. The disclosed embodiment involves a companion application (app) 12 installed on a smartphone 14 that facilitates seamless communication with the main safety application 18. The app 12 can also act as an intermediary between the user and the main application 18, enabling efficient data exchange. Through established communication protocols, the app 12 establishes a secure connection with the remote application 18. The remote application 18 serves as the controlled dashboard from where various worksites and working parties can be coordinated. Figure 2 shows schematically how the geospatial marker board alignment method follows a logic flow using the hardware described above in relation to Figure 1, and provides an individual with a convenient means of ensuring the accurate placement of physical worksite protection in the correct location. In the following description each step of Figure 2 will be referred to as “S” followed by a step number, e.g., S24, S26, etc. The positioning of assets and personnel on a railway worksite is recorded in a document called a Safe System of Work (SSOW) pack. The process starts at S24, whereby the SSOW pack is received from the SSOW Planner assigned to the job. The SSOW is a set of procedures, protocols, and guidelines that railway workers and staff must follow to ensure their safety, and the safety of others, while performing tasks on or near the railway network. The person who has responsibility for the worksite is typically an Engineering Supervisor (ES) or a Person in Charge of Possession (PICOP). At S26, the ES or PICOP 22 reviews the data contained in the SSOW pack and by using the dedicated dashboard 18 (as described in further detail below in relation to Figure 3), they are then able to set up one or more geofences which define the safe working limits of the worksite. The geofence is configurable in software 18 and can formed as a radius around a point location or by utilising a line segment tool or the like. At S28, the ES or PICOP 22 then inputs the stop and worksite marker board positions on the dashboard 18 based on their ELR, Track ID (TRID), mileage and chains contained in the SSOW pack, and as described and shown in further detail in relation to Figure 3. These virtual markers or points of interest serve a dual purpose: aiding in worksite planning and scheduling, while also playing a crucial role in the present invention. They are seamlessly integrated with the companion app 18 to enable track workers 10 to confidently ensure the accurate placement of the physical stop and worksite marker boards at the correct locations on the track. The dashboard 18, at S30, then seamlessly populates the locations of the stop and worksite marker boards onto the map 64 on the companion app 12. The ES or PICOP 22 can check and verify the locations of the virtual marker boards, allowing clear visualisation of the worksite and the track protection. Such data is automatically populated on the track worker’s 10 companion app 12. For example, the extent of the safe working limits 60 of the worksite, and the location of a virtual stop board 62 are displayed on the map 64 of the network, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. This functionality is incredibly useful for track workers 10. It provides track workers 10 with complete visibility of their defined safe working limits 60, shown as a geofence. It also provides visibility of where the track protection needs to be placed by displaying virtual stop and worksite marker board positions on their mobile device 14. The process enables, at S32, a track worker 10 to open the companion app 12 to view their safe working limits 60 with the use of the geofence, and view locations of the virtual stop and worksite marker boards. Crucially, and as described in more detail in relation to Figure 4 below, the track worker 10 is then able to place the physical stop and worksite marker boards in the same location as the virtual boards, and being able to confirm that they have placed the track protection on the correct ELR, TRID, mileage and chains. Providing track workers 10 with virtual boards helps mitigate the risk of erroneously placing the physical boards at incorrect ELR, TRID, mileage or chain locations, a common irregularity, at S34. Figure 3 is a screenshot of the dashboard 18 which enables a remote ES or PICOP 22 to remotely supervise the worksite from the information contained in the SSOW pack. The dashboard 18 incorporates a 2D digital map 36, providing the ES or PICOP 22 with intuitive navigation options, including lateral and longitudinal movement and zooming in and out, all operable through familiar input commands like those used with a touchpad or mouse and keyboard. To proactively manage the worksite from the information contained in the SSOW pack, the ES or PICOP 22 can add a tracking device by selecting the drop-down menu 38. This allows the ES or PICOP 22 To select the various tracking devices that that may be involved in the job or task and assign them to the various asset or marker board. Equally, the ES or PICOP 22 Can add the respective workers assigned to this task at drop-down menu 40. To proactively manage the worksite based on the information within the SSOW pack, the ES or PICOP 22 can incorporate tracking devices through the selection of options in the drop-down menu 38. This functionality permits the ES or PICOP 22 to designate various tracking devices that may be relevant to the possession or task and assign them to specific assets or marker boards. In the drop-down menu 40, the ES or PICOP 22 can also manage the workers designated for this task, regardless of whether or not they are equipped with a GPS tracking device. The drop-down menu 42 enables the ES or PICOP 22 to establish a geofence that delineates the safe working limits 60 of the worksite. This entails the ES or PICOP 22 selecting the desired area on the map 36 to create the geofence, typically accomplished by clicking and dragging the cursor to outline the boundaries. Some additional software options may allow the ES or PICOP 22 to specify the shape of the geofence, be it a circle, rectangle, or custom polygon, for optimal selection. Alternatively, the safe working limits 60 can be configured based on the ELR, TRID, mileage and chains of each end of the worksite. Once the geofence is created, it can be added to the job by pressing a button 44. As described above, the ES or PICOP 22 can manage the worksite using the dashboard 18 that is provided on a remote computing device 20, additionally, and in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the ES or PICOP 22 can use their own smartphone 14 to access the companion app 12 and manage the worksite. In this embodiment, the app 12 streamlines access by requiring that the ES or PICOP 22 and track workers 10 scan different QR codes to login. Each person scans the respective QR code to log in. The ES’s or PICOP’s 22 unique QR code permits access to enhanced functionality, including administrative controls and analytics, while track workers 10 scan a different unique QR code to access a subset of the features and functions of the app 12 and is permission-based, ensuring that track workers 10 can only interact with items relevant to their responsibilities. This approach simplifies the login process and enhances security. Because of the multiplicity of worksites that can occur on the network, individual QR codes are generated for each worksite possession. After logging in, track workers 10 waiting to enter the worksite possession can then receive group alerts or individual notifications 86 dispatched by the ES or PICOP 22, as described in further detail in relation to Figure 9. When receiving any of the group alerts or individual notifications 86, the track worker 10 is prompted to acknowledge receipt of the alert on their smartphone 14. When doing so, the acknowledgment is sent to the ES or PICOP 22 and which is time and date stamped. The acknowledgment displayed to the ES or PICOP 22 also displays the location of the track worker 10 on a map along with What3Words coordinates corresponding to the worker’s 10 location. Furthermore, the report includes information about the nearest track location, expressed in ELR, TRID, mileage, and chains. This acknowledgement is seamlessly communicated to the dashboard 18 and is readily accessible by the ES or PICOP 22 for reference, evaluation or audit purposes. For example, as described in further detail in relation to Figure 9, a group alert sent to track workers 10 advising that the “Site has been granted, please prepare your team to access the site” allows the ES or PICOP 22 to receive acknowledgments from track workers 10, and they can quickly confirm that the worker 10 is at, or near, the correct access point ready to enter the worksite. By providing the ES or PICOP 22 with this information, almost in real-time, they can quickly contact the worker 10 if their location is incorrect, perhaps due to unfamiliarity with the worksite. Ahead of the worksite possession, the ES or PICOP 22 can prompt the worker 10 to declare what tools and materials they are taking onto the worksite. Again, using group alerts or individual notifications 86 dispatched by the ES or PICOP 22, the worker 10 is asked to complete a form which can include the number of workers in the party and any tools and materials that they are taking onto the worksite. The app 12 enables a worker 10 to capture a photograph or take video images of the tools and materials using their smartphone 14. This media is automatically embedded in the acknowledgment to the ES or PICOP 22. Again, as described above, the acknowledgment displayed to the ES or PICOP 22 also displays the location of the track worker 10 on a map along with What3 Words coordinates corresponding to the worker’s 10 location. Furthermore, the report includes information about the nearest track location, expressed in ELR, TRID, mileage, and chains. Equally, when the track worker 10 wishes to leave the worksite, they must request permission from the ES or PICOP 22, and again provide photographic and / or video evidence that the tools and materials have been removed as declared during sign-in. The ES or PICOP 22 can reject this request until they are satisfied that all tools and materials have been properly removed from the worksite. Once the worksite possession has been granted, the ES or PICOP 22 follow a specific protocol to ensure safety and compliance. Again, using the group broadcasting functionality, each worker 10 is provided a unique authority code for the individual worksite which they are promoted to accept. Again, as described above, the acknowledgment stamp displayed to the ES or PICOP 22 also displays the location of the track worker 10 on a map along with What3Words coordinates corresponding to the worker’s 10 location. Furthermore, the report includes information about the nearest track location, expressed in ELR, TRID, mileage, and chains. Figures 4 and 5 provide illustrations of the geofence that defines the safe working limits 60 of the possession when viewed on the companion app 12. Of particular interest is the method for inputting the position of the virtual stop boards 62 into the dashboard 18. As is known to someone versed in this field, physical stop boards are a safety feature used at the end of railway possession to provide a clear visual indication to train drivers that they must come to a complete stop. They are placed at the extremity of the safe working limits of the job. Therefore, their placement is critical to ensure the safety of track workers 10 and all those concerned with travel on the railways. One of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a virtual marker board or stop board 62 which then can be viewed on the companion app 12 to allow track worker 10 to confirm that they are placing the physical marker board at the correct location on the track. The virtual marker board has firstly to be placed on the dashboard 18 by the ES or PICOP 22. This is achieved by selecting the drop-down box “Add POI” 46. POI being an abbreviation for point of interest, and, as illustrated in Figure 3, the ES or PICOP 22 is depicted adding a virtual stop board 62 to the worksite. The present invention enables the ES or PICOP 22 to add a POI easily and accurately based on the ELR, TRID, mileage and chains of the track. As shown in Figure 3 these are entered at fields 48, 50, 52, respectively. When the ELR, TRID, mileage and chains have been entered into the window, the ES or PICOP 22 selects the save changes button 54 this then displays an icon on the relevant location on the map 36. In this way, the ES or PICOP 22 is able to pinpoint the exact location of the track that the virtual marker board 62 is positioned. An icon can also be selected for the point of interest at drop-down menu 56. The final functionality described in the left-hand menu of the dashboard 18 is that the ES or PICOP 22 is able to create alerts should a particular scenario occur. These alerts can be automatic in the software, e.g., a tracked worker crosses the geofence 60, or these can be sent manually by the ES or PICOP 22. These alerts can be sent to individual workers, or groups of workers, and an example of such notification being sent to the companion app 12 is illustrated in Figure 9. Further details of how the companion app 12 installed on a worker’s smartphone 14 seamlessly integrates with the remote application dashboard 18 on a remote computing device 20 is described in further detail below in relation to the various illustrative screenshots. The geospatial marker board alignment system and method according to the present invention utilises a companion app 12 which is in seamless, real-time communication with the remote dashboard application 18. Figure 4 is a screenshot displayed on the individual’s smartphone 14 on the companion app 12 and displays the location of the safe working limits 60 of the worksite and also the location of the worksite protection including the virtual stop boards 62. As previously explained, these locations are determined and set by the ES or PICOP 22 within the dashboard 18. The companion app 36 replicates the relevant information from the dashboard 18 and provides a 2D or 3D digital map 64 that can be navigated in a natural manner using swipes and gestures as would be known to someone skilled in the art. By displaying the virtual stop board’s 62 location, the track worker 10 can use it as a reference point to ensure they stay within their designated safe working limits 60 and accurately position the physical marker board 64 in alignment with the virtual marker board 62. The physical marker board 66 in the example shown in Figure 4 is therefore one that includes a GPS tracking device so that it is visible on the companion app 12 and also the remote dashboard 18. In this way, the track worker 10 is able to open the companion app 12 and move to the physical marker board 66 such that it is placed accurately at the correct location on the track (overlaying virtual board 62). As shown in Figure 4, the track worker 10 can select any point of interest, in this case by pressing on the icon 62 a panel 68 opens up which gives further details of the point of interest. In this case, this is “Virtual Stop Board 01”, and the panel 68 also displays this raw location data for this point of interest. In the example shown in Figure 4, the location data is displayed in panel 68 as ELR, TRID, mileages and chains. In the example shown in Figure 5, the location data is provided as a What3Words address in word.word.word format. When utilising the app 12, tapping button 70 will promptly relocate the user to their current track location, visually represented by a dot 76 (as depicted in Figure 6). This feature operates through the utilisation of the user’s mobile phone 14 GPS receiver, allowing navigation across the network by swiping in various directions and zooming in or out through pinch gestures, similar to standard GPS mapping apps. Subsequently, the user 10 can return to their precise location at any time by selecting button 70. Mobile GPS technology is susceptible to inherent limitations that may introduce positional errors, including factors such as atmospheric conditions, signal obstruction, and the quality of the GPS receiver, all of which can impact accuracy. Due to the inaccuracies, one of the most straightforward ways to inform users 10 about GPS accuracy is to display a margin of error on the map. This can be visually represented as a circle or ellipse around the GPS point 76, giving users 10 an immediate sense of the possible range of error, again as shown in Figure 6. Button 72 functions as a search engine, permitting users to input the ELR, TRID, mileage and chains of any location on the network by entering these details into the search box 78 (as illustrated in Figure 7). After entering these specifics, users 10 can initiate a search for track data by pressing the “SEARCH TRACK DATA” button, and the app 12 will subsequently navigate them directly to the specified point on the network. Button 74 serves as an alternate search engine, allowing users to input a What3Words grid reference into search box 80 (as depicted in Figure 8). Upon entering the What3Words grid reference and initiating the search by pressing the “SEARCH W3W” button, the app 12 will promptly guide users 10 to the specified location on the network. This feature proves particularly valuable when identifying access points specified in the SSOW pack, as such documents frequently provide access point information in What3Words format. Button 82 provides the user 10 with the option to capture a photo using their smartphone 14 or select an image from their existing media library. They can then send a report to the ES or PICOP 22 regarding a potential fault or repair requirement. When attaching a photograph, the user 10 can also include additional text, with raw track location details automatically included in the message. Button 82 also serves the purpose of capturing a photo using the track worker’s smartphone 14, specifically of the deployed physical marker board. This functionality proves particularly valuable in cases where no tracking device is attached to the physical marker board, as it offers an efficient means of verifying the correct placement of these boards within the rail network. After deploying the physical marker board at the virtual stop board 62 location, as previously described, the track worker 10 takes a photograph of the deployed physical marker board using the companion app 12. This action triggers automatic generation of time and date stamps, as well as What3Words coordinates corresponding to the photograph’s location. Furthermore, the report includes information about the nearest track location, expressed in ELR, TRID, mileage, and chains. This report is seamlessly communicated to the dashboard 18 and is readily accessible by the ES or PICOP 22 for reference, evaluation or audit purposes. This reporting functionality provided by button 82 can also be utilised to document and substantiate the removal or retrieval of the physical marker boards at the end of the possession. It enables the uploading of a photograph showing the board being removed or an image of the empty track, complete with automatically generated time / date stamps and location data, as previously described. The reporting functionality offered by button 82 serves as a versatile tool for documenting various aspects of rail operations. Button 82 can be also be utilised to document and substantiate the positioning of on-track plant and machinery on the rail network, including but not limited to Road-Rail Vehicles (RRVs), Mobile Elevated Working Platforms (MEWPs), trolleys and trailers and the like. Again, the companion app 12 enables the uploading of a photograph showing the on-track plant and machinery being safely deployed in a compound or sidings, for example. Again, automatically generated time / date stamps and location data is added to the report and is seamlessly communicated to the dashboard 18 and is readily accessible by the ES or PICOP 22. Button 84 functions as a menu button, allowing the user 10 to choose and access devices, geofences, and virtual boards that are within their visibility range, based on their assigned permissions by the ES or PICOP 22. User access is role and permission-based, ensuring that they can only interact with items relevant to their responsibilities. This access control system enhances both security and user experience by presenting individuals 10 with the specific information and features aligned with their designated roles within the application. As described above, the app 12 facilitates the generation and sending of reports, including track-related issues such as track faults or the position of deployed or retrieved rail assets, to recipients within the worker’s e-mail distribution list or SMS contacts or via messaging applications, along with embedded location data associated with the reported issue. The app 12 also enables for the streamlined processing of Network Rail’s TEF3203 Infrastructure Conformance Certificate (Forms A to G) that, to date, need to be completed manually and physical copies returned to supervisors for countersigning and storing. The app 12 has digitised Forms A to G, and these paper hand back forms can now be completed through the app 12 and sent to managers by e-mail, WhatsApp or text message for countersigning. Again, it is of critical importance to note that the app 12 enables a worker 10 to capture a photograph or take video images using their smartphone 14 and these are appended to the form. The compiled form also displays the location of the track worker 10 on a map along with What3Words coordinates corresponding to the worker’s 10 location. Furthermore, the report includes information about the nearest track location, expressed in ELR, TRID, mileage, and chains for reference, evaluation or audit purposes for countersigning by the responsible manager. In this way, the digital version of the forms allows for easy and seamless attachment of additional media and verifies that the form was completed at the worksite, enhancing safety. The digitisation of Forms A to G provided by the app 12 also helps streamlining procedures when performing electrical isolations on the rail network. As is known in the art, Machine Controllers (MCs), who supervise the use of on-track plant, have a face-to-face briefing with the NOMI (the NOMI manages the teams installing the temporary earthing straps) at the start of the shift. Currently, the NOMI will explain to limits of the electrical isolations to the MC and ask them to confirm they have understood the briefing, and understand their isolation limits. The NOMI will then issue the MCs with a Form C which confirms that the isolation has been established, and the isolation team have performed a “Test Before Touch” action. The NOMI will then distribute unique authority numbers to the MC. The app 12 of the present invention enables such to be accomplished digitally in the same manner has been described for the ES 22 distributing authority numbers to the PICs / COSSs, but instead it is the NOMI distributing authority numbers to MCs. To achieve this, the app 12 further allows the NOMI to perform a virtual briefing to the MCs. The app 12 also provides the MCs with a visual of their isolation limits with GREEN zones indicated for isolated parts of the network, and RED zones for live parts of the network. The NOMI would be able to distribute the Form C via the app 12, also with the NOMI receiving a notification on which MCs had accepted the Form C, and which ones had not. Again, as described herein, such an acknowledgment may also display the location of the MC on a map along with What3Words coordinates corresponding to the MC’s location and the nearest track location, expressed in ELR, TRID, mileage, and chains. Equally, when the MC wishes to leave the worksite, they must also request permission from the NOMI, and complete the Form C. Like has been described above with the ES 22, the NOMI is able to accept or reject this request. The app 12 enables the NOMI to confirm that the MC is off track with the use of the location stamp when the MC wishes to hand Form C back to NOMI. Figure 9 demonstrates a companion app 12 screenshot on the user’s smartphone 14, illustrating how group alerts or individual notifications 86 can be dispatched from the remote application dashboard 18 to the companion app 12. These notifications may be automated, such as when a tracked worker crosses a geofence 60, or manually initiated by the ES or PICOP 22. These alerts 86 can target individual workers 10 or groups of workers, and an example notification is provided in Figure 9. While not an exhaustive list, here are some additional group notifications that track workers 10 may receive from the ES or PICOP 22 via the dashboard 18, with different colours potentially indicating varying levels of urgency or severity: • Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) isolation is complete. • Site has been granted, please prepare your team to access the site. • Train in worksite is about to travel, please be cautious. • Urgent, please seek place of safety. • Worksite limits will be extended in the next 30 mins. • Worksite limits will reduce in the next 30 mins, please make sure you are inside the new safe working limits. • Emergency, please exit the worksite. • 1 hour remaining of the worksite. • 30 mins remaining of the worksite. • The Engineering Supervisor has handed over to their relief, the new ES is ???????? • Train entering the worksite. • Train leaving the worksite. This above list is not exhaustive and serves as illustrative examples of the notifications track workers 10 may receive. Another button is a “Runaway alert” should a trailer or trolley become detached from the RRV. This scenario poses significant danger as detached units can gain considerable speed even on slight slopes, and often go unnoticed due to their quiet operation. This alert is crucial for preventing collisions with working parties 10, reducing risks significantly. Pressing the “Runaway alert” button immediately records and displays the track worker’s 10 location on a map, using What3 Words coordinates. Additionally, the report includes details such as the nearest track location identified by ELR, TRID, mileage, and chains. This alert is broadcast to all workers 10, ensuring immediate awareness among the working parties and the ES or PICOP 22. Upon activation, the software prompts all workers 10 to confirm their safety, displaying their updated location on the map alongside recorded track data for review by the ES or PICOP 22. It is important to highlight that the current process presents a significant challenge. Currently, the ES or PICOP 22 is required to individually contact every Controller of Site Safety (COSS) on the worksite. These individuals then relay the alerts to individual track workers 10. This reliance on a cascade of mobile phone calls can lead to substantial delays and the risk of some workers 10 not receiving the notifications or being overlooked. The practicality of group alerts, which can be sent to multiple rail workers 10 logged into the mobile app 12 simultaneously, should not be underestimated. There have been reported instances where a COSS’s mobile phone has been misplaced or the battery has become depleted, leaving the ES or PICOP 22 with no immediate means of contacting track workers 10. The present invention offers a straightforward and efficient solution for alerting individual rail workers 10, mitigating these potential issues and enhancing worker safety. Furthermore, in an enhancement not depicted in Figure 9, track workers 10 have the capability to acknowledge the alert or notification 86 they receive on their mobile device 14. This acknowledgment would involve the track worker 10 pressing a button (not shown) to confirm receipt of notification 86. This confirmation is relayed back to both the dashboard 18, and the ES or PICOP 22. This feedback loop ensures that it is clear which track workers 10 have acknowledged the notification 86, improving overall communication and safety. This multi-user notification and acknowledgment feature enhances operational efficiencies and safety. With all track workers 10 receiving alerts simultaneously, the present invention eliminates the delays caused by cascading phone conversations between the ES or PICOP 22 and each individual COSS, and in turn, between the COSS and each track worker 10. Consequently, this ensures that track workers 10 can maximise their work time on the possession. Figure 10 shows a second embodiment of the geospatial marker board alignment system and method. The construction of the second embodiment is very similar to that of the first embodiment and corresponding features have been given the same reference numerals. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that instead of the companion app 12 communicating with the dashboard 18, certain features can be used as a standalone location app 88 broadening the market reach. In cases where users 10 are not utilising the dashboard 18, track workers 10 can still leverage the standalone app 88 to access some of the unique benefits, addressing current gaps in the market and enhancing safety measures for all stakeholders involved. The standalone app 88 offers track workers 10 the convenience of navigating through the app by swiping in different directions and using pinch gestures to zoom in or out, just like standard GPS mapping apps. This functionality allows them to locate specific points on the network 90 and retrieve the raw track data for those points. For instance, if a track worker 10 wishes to obtain ELR, TRID, mileage and chains, and / or What3Words coordinates for a particular point on the network, they can simply press and hold on that point 90, and the app 88 will promptly present this information in a dedicated panel 92. This function is also useful for track workers 10 when they are on the track and they need to determine their precise location in terms of raw track data. In such cases, the worker 10 can simply click on the track at the location of the location dot 76, and the app 88 will promptly furnish them with the relevant raw track data in a panel 92. The skilled person will also understand that such functionality can be implemented in the companion app 12. The standalone app 88 will include an added feature that enables users 10 to capture photos within the app 88, with the option to automatically embed track data onto the photo. Users 10 can then draft a report, indicating issues such as track faults that require immediate attention. The app 88 will facilitate the sending of this report to any recipient within the user’s e-mail distribution list. Therefore, the geospatial marker board alignment system and method according to the present invention enhances railway safety and efficiency by seamlessly integrating geospatial data, mobile applications, and remote dashboards to ensure precise marker board placement and provide real-time safety information to track workers, thereby reducing or mitigating accident risks. When used in this specification and claims, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components. The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes” and / or “including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Insofar as embodiments of the invention described above are implementable, at least in part, using a software-controlled programmable processing device such as a general purpose processor or special-purpose processor, digital signal processor, microprocessor, or other processing device, data processing apparatus or computer system it will be appreciated that a computer program for configuring a programmable device, apparatus or system to implement the foregoing described methods, apparatus and system is envisaged as an aspect of the present invention. The computer program may be embodied as any suitable type of code, such as source code, object code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like. The instructions may be implemented using any suitable high-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and / or interpreted programming language. A skilled person would readily understand that term “computer” in its most general sense encompasses programmable devices such as referred to above, and data processing apparatus and computer systems in whatever format they may arise, for example, desktop personal computer, laptop personal computer, tablet, smartphone or other computing device. The computer program may be stored on a carrier medium in machine readable form, for example the carrier medium may comprise memory, removable or non-removable media, erasable or non-erasable media, writeable or re-writeable media, digital or analogue media, hard disk, floppy disk, Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), optical disk, magnetic media, magneto-optical media, removable memory cards or disks, various types of Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) subscriber identity module, tape, cassette solid-state memory. The computer program may be supplied from a remote source embodied in the communications medium such as an electronic signal, radio frequency carrier wave or optical carrier waves. Such carrier media are also envisaged as aspects of the present invention. Additionally, the computer program may be stored on the cloud, which allows for remote access and delivery over the internet. When used in this specification and claims, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components. The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes” and / or “including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in the terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, separately, or in any combination of such features, can be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof. The invention is not intended to be limited to the details of the embodiments described herein, which are described by way of example only. It will be understood that features described in relation to any particular embodiment can be featured in combination with other embodiments. It is contemplated by the inventor that various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. For the purposes of this patent application, the terms “user” and “individual” and “track worker” are used interchangeably and encompass any person who utilises the described technology to navigate the rail network, and worksites, more safely. For the purposes of displaying precise locations of the railway network and being expressed in terms of ELR, TRID, mileage and chains, the skilled person will appreciate that distances in yards could equally be utilised instead of chains and this is entirely contemplated by the spirit and scope of the invention. The companion app 12 or dashboard 18 can also monitor and display to the ES or PICOP 22 various aspects of a worker’s mobile device 14, including battery percentage and connection status. Displaying the current battery level of the worker’s remote device 14, and whether the device is connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data networks can be useful for ensuring devices are charged adequately, and for connectivity and location. The ES or PICOP 22 can notify the track worker using the alert functionality described herein, or even restrict access to the worksite, if certain battery / connection threshold conditions are not met or fall below sub-optimal conditions. The skilled person will understand that such a worksite management tool as described herein, in which all interactions, activities, and events are logged is essential for auditing, billing and performance analysis. This streamlines operations, and the data can be utilised for time tracking, providing insights and analytics to help optimise productivity and efficiency. Analysing the event logs helps organisations record and understand usage patterns, KPIs and overall network performance. The software eliminates the need for the ES or PICOP 22 to individually contact each Controller of Site Safety (COSS) on the worksite, thereby avoiding delays and the risk of overlooking track workers due to this cumbersome cascade of phone calls otherwise known in the art. The app 12 offers additional functionality for measuring distances within a worksite. Utilising its mapping technology and GPS capabilities, workers 10 can draw a line directly on the map within the app 12 to represent a specific segment. This feature is particularly useful for tasks such as measuring the length of cable between two points. Once the segment is drawn, the app 12 calculates the total distance (length) accurately based on the drawn path. This calculation considers the precise route segments, providing a comprehensive measurement from a start to an end point. The app 12 also offers additional functionality in that it enables what is informally known 5 in the rail industry as the “Whiteboard demo” to be stored and accessed by the track worker 10 and the ES or PICOP 22. The “whiteboard demo” including that pertinent parts of the information from the Safe System of Work (SSOW) pack.

Claims

1. A mobile app used on a mobile device for assisting track workers in placing a physical marker board at a desired location on a rail track, the mobile app having a user interface displayed on the mobile device’s screen and being in communication with a remote dashboard which comprises a virtual marker board display means configured to input and display a virtual reference point at the desired location on the rail track, the mobile app comprising:location determining means for determining and displaying the current location of the track worker on a map on the user interface for assisting the track worker in aligning the physical marker board with the displayed virtual reference point.

2. The mobile app of claim 1, wherein the location determining means utilises one or more satellite navigation systems, including but not limited to GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou, or other satellite-based positioning systems, to determine and display the current location of the track worker.

3. The mobile app of claim 1, further comprising a communication means enabling real-time or near real-time communication between the mobile app and the remote dashboard.

4. The mobile app of claim 1, wherein the remote dashboard additionally allows the Engineering Supervisor (ES) or Person in Charge of Possession (PICOP) to set up one or more geofences defining the safe working limits of the worksite.

5. The mobile app of claim I, wherein the virtual marker board positions are inputted based on data relevant to the railway worksite, including but not limited to information from the Safe System of Work (SSOW) pack.

6. The mobile app of claim 1, wherein the virtual marker board positions displayed on the mobile app include the positions of virtual stop boards and / or virtual worksite marker boards.

7. The mobile app of claim 1, wherein the mobile app allows the track worker to view the ELR, TRID, mileage and chains or What3Words grid reference of the track location where the virtual marker boards are displayed.

8. The mobile app of claim 1, wherein the mobile app includes means for displaying a margin of error around the track worker’s current location, providing the track worker with an indication of the possible range of error in their current location.

9. The mobile app of claim 1, further comprising a search engine functionality that allows the track worker to input an ELR, TRID, mileage and chains of any location on the railway network and display its location on the map as a marker.

10. The mobile app of claim 1, further comprising a search engine functionality that allows the track worker to input a What3Words grid reference of any location on the railway network and display its location on the map as a marker.

11. The mobile app of claim 1, further comprising means for enabling the track worker to capture and send photographs, along with raw track location details, to report potential faults or repair requirements or deployed or retrieved rail assets to the remote dashboard.

12. The mobile app of claim 1, wherein the track worker access to devices, geofences, and virtual marker boards within the mobile app is role and / or permission-based, ensuring that track workers can only interact with items relevant to their responsibilities.

13. The mobile app of claim 1, wherein the mobile app can receive group alerts or individual notifications from the remote dashboard, with different colours indicating varying levels of urgency or severity for the notifications.

14. The mobile app of claim 1, wherein the map overlays the track worker’s current position with the virtual marker board to facilitate precise alignment.

15. The mobile app of claim 1, wherein the remote dashboard being configured to display the real-time locations and information of multiple tracked devices or assets, including but not limited to physical marker boards.

16. The mobile app of claim 1, wherein the communication with the remote dashboard system enables real-time collaboration between multiple track workers and the remote dashboard.

17. The mobile app of claim 4, wherein the remote dashboard and mobile app being configured to display the one or more geofences defining the safe working limits of the worksite.

18. A worksite safety system for track workers, comprising:a remote dashboard comprising a visualisation tool configurable to input and display the safe working limits of a worksite on a map;a mobile app installed on a mobile device to assist track workers operating on a rail network, the mobile app being capable of communication with the remote dashboard, and comprising:a user interface displayed on the mobile device’s screen; andlocation determining means for determining and displaying the track worker’s current position on a map within the user interface, alongside the specified safe working limits of the worksite, wherein map is utilised to assist the track worker in maintaining their position within the specified safe working limits of the worksite.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the mobile app provides the track worker with the capability to touch or tap on the map to retrieve location data for a location on the rail network, the location data being displayed as ELR, TRID, mileage and chains, or What3Words coordinates.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the remote dashboard further includes a geofence setting means allowing an Engineering Supervisor (ES) or Person in Charge of Possession (PICOP) to define the safe working limits of the worksite using geofences.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the geofence setting means on the remote dashboard allows for the dynamic adjustment of the safe working limits in real-time based on changing worksite requirements and conditions.

22. The system of claims 20 or 21, wherein the geofence setting means on the remote dashboard enables the Engineering Supervisor (ES) or Person in Charge of Possession (PICOP) to define multiple geofences within the worksite, each corresponding to specific safety zones.

23. A remote user app installed on a mobile device for enabling workers to retrieve location data of a rail network, comprising:location determining means configured to determine the precise geographic location of worker;a mapping interface displayed on the mobile device’s screen indicating the track worker’s location as a marker, the track worker being able to retrieve location data of any point on the mapping interface with a touch or tap on the displayed map, wherein the display of the location data on the mapping interface comprises details such as the ELR, TRID, mileage and chains or What3words address.

24. A remote user app as claimed in claim 23, wherein the mapping interface provides the worker with the capability to touch or tap on the location marker on the displayed map to retrieve location data for their location on the rail network.

25. A remote user app as claimed in claim 24, further comprising an image capture means configured to allow a worker to capture image data within the app and automatically embed location data, including ELR, TRID, mileage and chains, or What3Words coordinates, onto the captured images for reporting track-related issues or the position of deployed or retrieved rail assets.

26. A remote user app as claimed in claim 24, wherein the app facilitates the generation and sending of reports, including track-related issues such as track faults or the position of deployed or retrieved rail assets, to recipients within the worker’s e-mail distribution list or SMS contacts or via messaging applications, along with embedded location data associated with the reported issue.33

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