PROJECTS CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTED

APPLICATION OF MODERN METHODS OF DIGITALISATION OF COMPULSORY PERIODIC INSPECTIONS OF RAIL-SWITCHES BY THE RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGER

Project name: Application of modern methods of digitalization of compulsory periodic inspections of rail-switches by the railway infrastructure manager
Project location: the NDCon LOGIC a.s. plant, Osvobození 1 141, 431 11 Jirkov, Ústí nad Labem Region
Project registration number: CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/21_374/0027365
Provider: Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic
Source of funding: European Regional Development Fund
                                Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovation for Competitiveness
Call title and number: APPLICATION-CALL IX., 01_21_374
Place of measurement: railway infrastructure in the Czech and Slovak Republics
Number of participants: 12
Project duration: 01.09.2021 - 31.05.2023, 21
Phase I: until 01.09.2021 - 31.08.2022
Phase II: until 01.09.2022 - 31.05.2023
Estimated project costs: CZK 55 431 857,-
Support rate for the whole project: 45 %
Maximum subsidy rate: CZK 24 944 335,65
Project purpose: To test current modern digitisation methods in their application to mandatory inspection of rail-switches at the railway infrastructure manager.

Using the scientific method of research, create a functional, verified technology and SW solution for digitizing the mandatory review of rail-switches for railway infrastructure managers. At present, in practice, mandatory revisions are solved by a system of manual measurement, which is still carried out in a personal walk-around (inspection) and non-digital form that is in direct contradiction with the current trend, EU standards and regulations ordering all railway infrastructure managers of EU member states to digitize the entire process of inspection, maintenance and operability of the railway. The project will implement such a modern technological solution within the framework of technology verification to cover the whole process of railway switches inspection digitally including its repair cycle.

The main objectives of the project are:

1. Implementation of a data collection application for direct connection to gauging stations, enabling data collection directly in the railway infrastructure.
2. Comparison of rail-switch measurements with different gauges on different types of rail-switches.
3. Implementation of the developed turnout revision module into the Diagnostics Data Warehouse.
4. Development of a SW tool for a digital rail-switch sheet.
5. Development of a SW solution for the whole chain of data collection and processing of rail-switch revision data.
6. Verification of the application operation on digital devices for rail-switch inspection.

INTELLIGENT TRAFFIC PATH DIAGNOSTICS USING LASER TECHNOLOGY

reg number: CZ.01.1.02/0.0/0.0/19_262/0020267

The project aims to provide new knowledge for the creation of an innovative product of a new diagnostic system for the measurement of critical components of the railway superstructure using the opto-laser method. The aim is to ensure high safety of the railway as a critical infrastructure, to increase the throughput of the railway, to reduce energy consumption, to increase the speed of railway traffic and to reduce the cost of repair and maintenance of the railway superstructure.

The aim is to ensure higher safety of critical railway infrastructure (railway track) and identification of defects, malfunctions or damage to infrastructure and other track equipment. The form of physical inspections and diagnostics of tracks has recently undergone considerable development. Measured diagnostic data is a key input for the assessment of tracks and the resulting activities, including maintenance planning. As the speed on the tracks increases, the track diagnostics is of an increasing importance (ensuring track safety). Higher speeds of passing trains place higher demands on the quality and reliability of tracks and on ensuring their serviceability.

 With the newly emerging modern technology of Opto-Laser Technology, it offers completely new possibilities for detecting defects, or suspected covered defects. The combination of such HW equipment with developed software with embedded mathematical algorithm for artificial intelligence and intelligence of the environment (containing algorithm of the method for object recognition in images for identification of areas) ensures machine decision-making about the category to which the identified object falls. This process will create an innovative product with Deep Learning + Machine Learning to provide continuously refined measurement sensitivity and smarter processes in defect identification.

• THE RAILWAYS HAVE A NEW DIAGNOSTIC TRAIN (source: Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic, 22.8.2023) - Today the Slovak Railways inaugurated a measuring train, which will analyse the condition of tracks all over Slovakia. This will give ŽSR a perfect overview of which tracks need to be repaired as soon as possible.
• ŽSR INTRODUCED A NEW DIAGNOSTIC TRAIN INTO OPERATION, IDENTIFIES RAILWAY FAULTS (source: zive.aktuality.sk, 22.8.2023) - The Slovak Railways (ŽSR) in the presence of the Minister of Transport Pavel Lančarič and the State Secretary Jaroslav Kmět put into operation a new diagnostic train DV NDT. It will check the quality of the materiál used and allow ŽSR to increase the frequency of measurements..... 
• SLOVAK RAILWAYS ARE IN BAD SHAPE. NEW DIAGNOSTIC TRAIN WILL HELP FIND TRACK FAULTS (source: spravy.rtvs.sk, 22.8.2023) - The new vehicle can diagnose 500 km of tracks per week. The Railways also plans to check the entire track network twice a year. "If we can identify them earlier, it is expected that we will save money. These interventions will be done in a situation when the damage is even less," Transport Minister Pavol Lančarič stated.