Digital Track Plan Reconstruction Using Grid-Based Position Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for creating digital track plans are inefficient and disruptive to operations, as they require cost-intensive geodetic services and can impact ongoing rail traffic due to the need for specially equipped locomotives to record position data over all track segments.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of satellite and land-based position signals recorded by receivers on rail vehicles, which assign data to a grid spanning the track system, reconstructing a digital track plan, and determining a topologically distorted, not-to-scale track model, allowing for improved accuracy and reduced operational disruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a specially equipped locomotive is driven over all track segments to acquire position data, then a digital track plan can be created, but operations are negatively impacted and disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the rail vehicles themselves, which are already operating on the track system, to acquire position data for creating the digital track plan. The vehicles serve dual purposes: normal operations and data collection, eliminating the need for dedicated surveying operations that disrupt traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
Position data is collected continuously during normal rail vehicle operations rather than requiring separate surveying missions. The data acquisition process occurs continuously as vehicles operate on the track system, transforming operational movement into productive data collection.
2Measurement precision
If geodetic services are used to update track plans, then accuracy is maintained, but costs increase and operations may be disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-surveying using onboard receivers on rail vehicles to collect position data, eliminating the need for external geodetic services. The track system surveys itself using its own operating vehicles as data collection platforms.
Solution Approach 2:
Traditional mechanical surveying methods using specialized equipment and personnel are replaced with automated electronic position receivers on rail vehicles that continuously collect and transmit location data for digital track plan creation.
3Measurement precision
If position data from multiple rail vehicles is collected and assigned to grid points, then track plan accuracy improves, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The track system area is divided into a grid of discrete points, and position data from multiple vehicles is assigned to these grid points. This segmentation allows systematic organization and processing of large volumes of position data by distributing it across multiple discrete locations rather than handling it as a continuous stream.
Solution Approach 2:
The grid points serve as intermediaries between the raw position data from multiple vehicles and the final digital track plan. By assigning position data to grid points and using them as reference locations, the system simplifies the aggregation and processing of multiple data sources.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables efficient and precise creation of digital track plans with reduced operational impact, improving the accuracy of vehicle position tracking and simplifying traffic planning by using a grid-based system that accounts for the number of position data points without increasing data processing effort.
Implementation Method 1
a receiver for satellite and/or land-based position signals
Data Source
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
Method, computer system and computer program for creating a digital track plan for a track system, wherein position data (Pgeo) acquired from at least one receiver for satellite-based and/or land-based position signals is assigned to respective points (x, y) in a grid that spans the area of the track system, wherein the amount of position data (Pgeo) assigned to each point is determined for each point (x, y) of the grid; and wherein a digital track plan is reconstructed from a plurality of points (x, y) of the grid while taking into account the amount of acquired position data (Pgeo) assigned to each point (x, y).