ProRail is developing the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) in the Netherlands, replacing the existing automatic train protection system (ATB-EG) in key areas to ERTMS level 2. To verify and detect deviations in current track conditions and assist in the design, Fugro supplied an inventory of all above-ground relevant rail infrastructure and track geometry; building a digital foundation for work now and in the future.
Over the coming years, the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) will be introduced in the Netherlands to create seamless, cross-border rail traffic.
ProRail is actively involved in this process, replacing the existing automatic train protection system (ATB-EG) in key areas to ERTMS level 2. To assist them with the design Fugro supplied an inventory of all above-ground relevant rail infrastructure and track geometry data for the rail corridor in Haarlem and the surrounding area.
Building a Digital Foundation
Fugro’s fully remote RILA® train-borne survey system was deployed to create a 3D real-world model of the network’s assets.
The data was acquired in four days and processed to produce one homogeneous dataset, accelerating project delivery and building a digital foundation for the overall ERTMS project.
This digital foundation, which includes track centreline, point clouds, imagery and video can be accessed repeatedly in a desktop environment for post-processing into track geometry, rail condition, topographical survey information and georeferenced imagery. Used in an engineering design application, with no need to access the track or its environs, it reduces risk and improves safety.
The data is used by Fugro to conduct a series of critical tests and checks, including:
- Working out the coordinates and cant of the track centreline
- Calculating the alignment of the track centreline
- Analysing differences (slews and lifts) between the alignment and survey data (track centreline)
- Check alignment compliance against ProRail standards and reporting deviations
- Importing the alignment into the ProRail SIGMA database
The resulting analytics, mapping (in IMSpoor format), video and point cloud were supplied to ProRail and will be used by them as input to the design of the Netherlands ERTMS project.
Bringing the railway to the desktop
Fugro also provided a web-based interface through which ProRail could view and interpret the data. RILA® Portal is an intuitive, secure, web portal that brings the railway to the desktop. It allowed ProRail to view, inspect and connect RILA® datasets with their existing software tools. Consisting of a 2D map viewer and a 3D data viewer it seamlessly integrates into a modern user interface. Core functionality included easy data viewing and navigation capabilities; object selection and inspection; basic analysis tools; and sharing or exporting views to exchange information with co-workers
Thanks to the delivered end products we are capable of providing our ERTMS design work on the basis of reliable and up-to-date data for the relevant railway infrastructure of Haarlem and its surroundings.
Key benefits
The use of Fugro’s RILA® train-borne survey system to create a 3D real-world model of the network’s assets accelerated the project delivery time and lowered the cost of survey operations compared to traditional methods. Moreover, the safety of operations was increased as there were no track possessions or staff needed on the tracks.