A method for forming 3D image data representative of the subsurface of infrastructure located in the vicinity of a moving vehicle. The method includes: rotating a directional antenna, mounted to the moving vehicle, about an antenna rotation axis; performing, using the directional antenna whilst it is rotated about the antenna rotation axis, a plurality of collection cycles in which the directional antenna emits RF energy and receives reflected RF energy; collecting, during each of the plurality of collection cycles performed by the directional antenna.

A system and method for inspecting a railway track using sensors oriented at an oblique angle relative to a rail vehicle on which the system is traveling. The use of an air blower, ducts, and one or more air distribution lids over the sensors helps remove debris from blocking the sensors and structured light generators.

A system and method for inspecting a railway track using sensors oriented at an oblique angle relative to a rail vehicle on which the system is traveling. The orientation of the sensors allows for different data to be gathered regarding a particular rail including rail design specifications (gathered based on manufacturer markings detected and analyzed by the system), rail seat abrasion values based on direct measurement of rails from the oblique angle, and other analysis of rail features including joint bars, rail welds, bond wires, rail holes, and broken rails. The use of an air blower, ducts, and one or more air distribution lids over the sensors helps remove debris from blocking the sensors and structured light generators.

This application relates to methods and apparatus for distributed fibre optic sensing and especially to the processing of signals derived from such sensing techniques to characterise events of interest. The application describes a method of distributed fibre optic sensing, comprising; performing distributed fibre optic sensing so as to generate at least one set of measurement signals from each of a plurality of sensing channels of an optical fibre (101) in response to at least one event of interest. For each set of measurement signals, processing the measurement signals from different sensing channels according to an association metric to determine whether any sensing channels are associated with one another and form at least one association matrix indicative of the sensing channels that are associated with one another. The method further comprising performing distributed fibre optic sensing to acquire a further set of measurement signals from said sensing channels in response to a further event of interest and processing said further set of measurement signals based on said at least one association matrix to characterise said further event of interest.

A method, an apparatus, a system, and a computer program product for managing safety for a railway system. A computer system generates a probability of a safety issue for a particular section of a railroad track in the railway system using information from a set of weather event sources. A set of unmanned aerial vehicles is dispatched to the particular section of the railroad track when the probability of the safety issue exceeds a threshold. A number of images of the particular section of the railroad track is received from the set of unmanned aerial vehicles. A risk score for the safety issue at the particular section of the railroad track is generated using the number of images by the computer system. An action is performed to resolve the safety issue using the risk score, enabling the computer system to manage safety issues for the railway system.

A system and method for inspecting a railway track using sensors oriented at an oblique angle relative to a rail vehicle on which the system is traveling. The orientation of the sensors allows for different data to be gathered regarding a particular rail including rail design specifications (gathered based on manufacturer markings detected and analyzed by the system), rail seat abrasion values based on direct measurement of rails from the oblique angle, and other analysis of rail features including joint bars, rail welds, bond wires, rail holes, and broken rails. The use of an air blower, ducts, and one or more air distribution lids over the sensors helps remove debris from blocking the sensors and structured light generators.

A method for forming 3D image data representative of the subsurface of infrastructure located in the vicinity of a moving vehicle. The method includes: rotating a directional antenna, mounted to the moving vehicle, about an antenna rotation axis; performing, using the directional antenna whilst it is rotated about the antenna rotation axis, a plurality of collection cycles in which the directional antenna emits RF energy and receives reflected RF energy; collecting, during each of the plurality of collection cycles performed by the directional antenna.

A route examination system includes a thermographic camera configured to be logically or mechanically coupled with a vehicle that travels along a route. The thermographic camera is also configured to sense infrared radiation emitted or reflected from the route and to generate a sensed thermal signature representative of the infrared radiation that is sensed. The system also includes a computer readable memory device configured to store a designated thermal signature representative of infrared radiation emitted from a segment of the route that is not damaged. The system also includes an analysis processor configured to determine a condition of a first portion of the route relative to other portions of the route at least in part by comparing the sensed thermal signature and the designated thermal signature.

A system and method for inspecting a railway track using sensors oriented at an oblique angle relative to a rail vehicle on which the system is traveling. The orientation of the sensors allows for different data to be gathered regarding a particular rail including rail design specifications (gathered based on manufacturer markings detected and analyzed by the system), rail seat abrasion values based on direct measurement of rails from the oblique angle, and other analysis of rail features including joint bars, rail welds, bond wires, rail holes, and broken rails. The use of an air blower, ducts, and one or more air distribution lids over the sensors helps remove debris from blocking the sensors and structured light generators.

A monitoring cable includes an outer jacket having a generally rectangular cross-sectional profile. The monitoring cable further includes a strain monitoring unit disposed within the outer jacket, the strain monitoring unit including a plurality of optical fibers embedded in a potting layer. The monitoring cable further comprises a protective unit disposed within the outer jacket and spaced from the strain monitoring unit, the protective unit including an optical fiber disposed within a metal outer jacket. A method for monitoring a rail track includes attaching a monitoring cable to the rail track. The method further includes monitoring strain of the rail track by measuring movement of the optical fibers of the strain monitoring unit.