ISSUE 64 JULY 2017
NEWS – CATENARY EYE PHOTOGRAMMETRY – AROA RAIL CONTROL SOLUTIONS The Official Magazine of the Asian Railway Operators Association and Rail Solutions Asia 2018
KUALA LUMPUR CONVENTION CENTRE 2018
CO N T E N T S News 04
Alstom inaugurates trains on Kochi metro, Vietnam Rail Law approved, New MD for Thermit Australia, Chinese HSR and overhaul contracts awarded to Bombardier
Rail Solutions Asia 2017
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A review of the Rail Solutions Asia 2017 exhibition and conference, which was held in Kuala Lumpur – May 24-26 KUALA LUMPUR CONVENTION CENTRE 2018
Asia’s Premier Railway Event for 2018 The 19th Exhibition and Conference for Railway Professionals in the Asia Pacific region Incorporating the 15th Annual Congress of the Asian Railway Operators Association Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre 2018
AROA Interview
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An interview with Melvyn Bolus – Rolling Stock Construction Engineer, Hong Kong MTR Corporation
Rail Control Solutions
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Optimising the flow of trains on the Klang Valley rail network with CITYFLO 650. By Pattanachai Pawittranon – Project Engineer, Bombardier Transportation
IRSE Certification in Indonesia
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PT Len Systems’ programme to gain professional certification for their signalling engineers. By Ir. Toni Surakusumah – Sales & Marketing Director, PT Len Railway Systems
Distributed Acoustic Sensing
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New technology for train tracking and asset condition monitoring, with increased safety and security. By Frauscher Sensortechnik GmbH
Catenary Eye
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Overhead catenary inspection system, producing visual images for improved maintenance on KTMB. By Atsushi Oikubo – MMJV Project Manager, Meiden Malaysia SDN Bhd Joint Venture
Photogrammetry & ContextCapture
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An efficient and cost effective method of capturing digital data to survey and document site conditions with precise accuracy. By Bentley Systems
magazine, is published by TDH Exhibitions Ltd. TDH Exhibitions Ltd PO Box 139 Cranleigh GU6 7WD, UK Tel. +44 (0)1483 548290 Fax. +44 (0)1483 548302 Email: tdh.norm@gmail.com
NEXT ISSUE Issue 65 will be published in September 2017, Editorial content will include:
UK Office +44 1483 548 290 Malaysian Office +603 4024 7717 info@tdhrail.com
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RSA 2018 Rail Solutions Asia 2018 – An update on Asia’s premier railway event Signalling Use of automation for cost-efficient safety applications Permanent Way Improving track quality by using under sleeper pads on rail track Rolling Stock Rolling stock procurement This issue is dedicated to the memory of John Alec Griffin. 3
NEWS Bombardier’s Chinese JV Wins Shanghai Overhaul Contracts Bombardier Transportation’s Chinese joint venture, Shentong Bombardier (Shanghai) Rail Transit Vehicle Maintenance Co., Ltd. (SHBRT), has been awarded two contracts with Shanghai Shentong Metro Group Co., Ltd. to provide a 10-year overhaul service for 498 metro cars, operating on Shanghai Metro’s lines 7 and 9. Together, the two contracts are valued at approximately 1.1 billion Chinese RMBs (158 million US, 145 million euro). Bombardier owns 50% of the shares in SHBRT which was established in December 2012 and is jointly controlled by Bombardier and Shanghai Shentong Metro Group Co., Ltd. Under the contracts, Bombardier’s joint venture will overhaul Shanghai Metro’s fleet of 498 metro cars, which were built by another Bombardier Chinese Joint Venture, Changchun Bombardier Railway Vehicles Company Ltd. (CBRC). To perform the overhauls, SHBRT will adopt advanced methods and tools, including the BOMBARDIER ORBITA advanced train monitoring system and the Maximo Asset Configuration Manager application. Each of these products is a highly innovative and powerful predictive asset management and vehicle maintenance tool, that will improve the reliability and availability of the metro cars on Shanghai Metro’s lines 7 and 9. Bombardier has been Shanghai’s strategic mobility partner since 1999. Since then, Bombardier’s joint ventures (CBRC, BCP, PBTS and SHBRT) have won orders to provide Shanghai with a total of more than 1,600 metro cars, together with the propulsion systems and maintenance.
New MD for Thermit Australia Pty Ltd
Bangalore Metro’s Green Line enters commercial service
Robert Plötz will become the new Managing Director for Thermit Australia in September 2017.
Bangalore metro’s much-awaited launch of operations on the Green Line is equipped with Alstom’s train control and signalling system. This final section of Bangalore Metro Phase 1, inaugurated by Hon’ble President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, is an illustration of Alstom’s global capabilities provided from its Bangalore Engineering and Innovation Centre in India. As part of the contract, valued at a total of€€114 million (INR 710 crores), awarded by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) in 2009, Alstom provided the design, manufacture, supply, installing, testing and commissioning of the train control and signalling & telecommunications systems that have been deployed by engineering and R&D teams in Bangalore. The project covers two corridor lines (42 km, 41 stations) including: two depots, one Operation Control Centre (OCC) and one Back up Operation Control Center (BCC). It includes the Urbalis 200 Automatic Train Control system, which will ensure optimal safety, flexible operations and heightened passenger comfort. This solution is already operational on sections of Bangalore Metro and has already been successfully deployed in many cities around the world, including Delhi and Jaipur. Commenting on the occasion, Mr Bharat Salhotra, Managing Director, Alstom in India and South Asia said: “it is our great pleasure to be associated with this prestigious project and a matter of great pride for the team to see the project come to life.” The successful deployment of this solution showcases the close co-operation between several Alstom units: Bangalore and Coimbatore in India, Saint-Ouen and Villeurbanne in France and Bologna in Italy.
Robert is currently the Managing Director of Goldschmidt Thermit Polska Sp. Z o.o. and previously worked for Elektro Thermit GmbH & Co. KG (the largest subsidiary of the Goldschmidt Thermit Group). Robert is an acknowledged specialist for the aluminothermic welding process for rail and brings a wealth of experience to Thermit Australia. In the interim, Dr Tianshun Liu – Managing Director of Thermit China will be overseeing the overall operations of Thermit Australia until Robert’s commencement in September and business operations will not be affected during this transition period. 4
NEWS Tuas West Extension opens in Singapore
Phase 2 of Kuala Lumpur MRT1 to open this month The first of Kuala Lumpur’s new three line metro system will begin full service on 17th July. Phase 1 of the 51 km line from Sungai Buloh to Kajang started operations in December last year. The Siemens/SMH Rail consortium won a 1.37bn ringgit contract to supply the fleet of 58 four-car driverless trains. Siemens in a consortium with Hisniaga also picked up a 400m ringit contract to supply depot equipment and maintenance vehicles. Bombardier was awarded a 281m ringgit contract to design, supply, install and commission the CITYFLO 650 communications-based train control (CBTC) solution for driverless operation on the line. Phase 1 of the line runs from Sungai Buloh to Semantan and covers 12 stations. More than a million passengers travelled on the line during its first month of operation. Daily ridership at that point was around 40,000 passengers per day. Phase 2 from Semantan to Kajang is in the final stages of testing and is on target for it scheduled opening later this month. When fully operational, MRT 1 is expected to carry up to 500,000 passengers per day This will help the government move closer to its target for public transport use in the Klang Valley, which was set by the National Land Public Transport Master Plan in October 2013. The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) is in overall charge of the various transport projects, handling key areas including; Policy, Planning, Regulation, Enforcement and Consumer Relations. It has been charged with reversing the trend over the previous 20 years, for decreasing use of public transport. Their target is a 40% share of morning peak period journeys in the Klang Valley by 2020. Rail is expected to carry 50% of all public transport journeys. For this sort of growth, a transport mode that could deliver more than 25,000 Passengers Per Hour Per Direction was required, which pointed the way to choosing MRT over other options.
Train rehabilitation completed on Manila LRT 1 Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) last month announced that the restoration of 25 LRVs has expanded the current fleet of trains on LRT 1 from 77, when the company took over the line, to 102. LRMC President and Chief Executive Officer Rogelio L. Singson disclosed that, with the expanded fleet, a new train timetable will be implemented, increasing the number of trips on weekdays from the current 498 to 554 trips daily. This reduction in headway will result in shorter waiting times for passengers. The total cost of the restoration was P-1 billion and has been carried out while the operator is awaiting the procurement by the Philippine Government of 120 new light rail vehicles. 6
This new 7.5km line started revenue services on the 16th June. Serving the heavily industrial district in the west part of Singapore, the Tuas West Extension extends the East West Line from Joo Koon station. The extension, which includes a twin tracked viaduct and 4 above ground stations, is expected to carry 100,000 commuters per day. A new 26-hectare depot will provide stabling and maintenance facilities for the additional trains. The extension was due to open by the end of 2016, but this was moved back to the second quarter of 2017, to allow more time for testing of the CBTC signalling system, which will be used along the entire East West Line by 2018.
DTL 3 Update
The Singapore LTA also recently announced that the Downtown Line 3 (DTL3) will open on the 21st October 2017. The opening of this section will make DTL3 the longest underground and driverless MRT line in Singapore. The completed DTL, which is due to enter service in 2024 will be 42km long and will provide direct travel from the north-western and eastern areas of the island to the Central Business District and Marina Bay areas.
Jakarta Bandung HSR to begin construction Following a series of delays, work on the 142 km High Speed line is set to begin imminently. The completion date is still scheduled for 2018, followed by revenue services starting in 2019. A consortium of Indonesian and Chinese companies will build the new line and land appropriation is underway to meet the China Development Bank’s funding requirements. When complete the journey time will be reduced from 3 hours to just 45 minutes. A contract for a fleet of 11 eight car trains, with a design speed of 350 km/h has been awarded to CRRC Qingdao Sifang.
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Holmatro Rerailing Experience September 9th 2017 | Kuala Lumpur Faster, safer and a more controllable rerailing solutions for all types of railway vehicles After a closer look at the rerailing process and the current systems available, Holmatro introduced a revolutionary Rerailing System where years of rerailing experience is combined with the most modern technology. This extremely user-friendly solution allows users to do the job faster, safer and with better control. No matter the type of railway vehicle. Discover the Holmatro Rerailing System yourself and attend our Holmatro Rerailing Experience on Saturday the 9th of September in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Go to holmatro.com/en/hirex-kl for more information and
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Holmatro sets the new standard for rerailing Years of rerailing experience combined with the most modern technology Faster, safer and a more controllable rerailing solution for all types of railway vehicles
When it comes to rerailing a rail vehicle back onto the track, it is important to do the job quickly, safely and in a controlled manner. Reducing delays and costs are the main priorities, as well as providing a safe environment for workers, while lifting, moving and lowering the railway vehicle. By focusing on these priorities, Holmatro developed an extremely user-friendly solution that achieves all of these goals, regardless of the type of railway vehicle.
Unique features for extremely safe working
A few interesting features have been added to the system to create an extremely safe working environment while working with the Rerailing Systems. For example; the pump can be operated remotely, which allows the operator to adopt a safe position and enables him to move around the railway vehicle freely, to keep an eye on the situation. Lowering valves with an integrated hose rupture security on each lifting cylinder, keep the load steady when the operator stops controlling the pump, or in the event of a hose rupture. To prevent instability of the railway vehicle and the equipment, the traverse sleds are designed with an indicator, which will alert the operator timely to traverse limits in a lateral direction.
Maximum performance with minimum weight
Thanks to the lightweight components – up to 50% lighter than those of similar systems available on the market – the physical burden is minimized considerably. A powerful Quattro pump, with 4 independent control valves guarantees uniform cylinder stroke speeds during lifting and lowering, regardless of the load they’re carrying. This makes synchronized controlling of the vehicle easier and sideways movement of the vehicle is achieved smoothly, because of the use of special sleeve bearings instead of traditional steel wheel rollers.
A suitable solution for every rerailing application
Holmatro offers 3 defined sets, each one suitable for different circumstances; a basic set, an advanced set and a premium set. The result is rerailing solutions that connect to a variety of rerailing applications and budgets.
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NEWS Alstom’s first “Make in India” Metro Inaugurated in Kochi Alstom recently inaugurated the metro in Kochi, India in the presence of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi. As part of the €150 million project, the Alstom-built metros are the first to have been entirely designed in Bangalore and manufactured at Sri City in India, supporting the Government’s ‘Make in India’ campaign. Each Metropolis train delivered to Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) will be able to carry up to 975 passengers and provide 136 seats, with wide gangways and longitudinal seating arrangements, allowing passengers to walk from one end of the train to the other, optimizing transport capacity and facilitating easy boarding. As the first Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC)-based metro in India, Alstom’s Urbalis 400 will control the movement of trains precisely, allowing more trains to run on the line at higher speeds in total safety. Alstom has also provided the telecom solution, with a third rail-based 750VDC power supply solution along with the associated SCADA system. “Our goal was to deliver an innovative and effective mobility solution for the people of Kochi. Alstom’s smart solutions have helped us meet that aim. Their end-to-end services and close attention to our needs ensured that the lead time was extremely competent and no gaps were caused by multiple-party involvement,” said Mr Elias George, Managing Director and Additional Chief Secretary of Transport of Kochi Metro Rail Limited. Alstom’s strategy is supported by investments in India and continuous innovation that will bring significant value to the passengers and operators, with an aim to being the benchmark for mobility in the future.
Vietnam National Assembly Passes Rail Law Following ongoing discussions at the 3rd Session of the 14th National Assembly (NA) the amended Law on Railways was approved by more than 80% of the deputies. Lack of investment has been blamed for the slow pace of development of Vietnam’s railway system and the monopoly of stateowned enterprises has also cited as a cause of the current situation. Some delegates had argued that the government needs to continue to subsidise rail transport and even to increase its share of investment in the transport sector, in order to attract investment from home and abroad. Others stated that tax policies, which favoured railway enterprises, create unfair competition, but this was countered by the argument that the huge investment costs of railway projects and the slow return on investment, clearly show that railways are a special case. Other more profound changes to the model used to finance the railways were discussed, but it was decided that a longer debate was required before these could be implemented. 8
Bombardier JV to Build 40 HSR Train Cars for China Bombardier Transportation’s Chinese joint venture, Bombardier Sifang (Qingdao) Transportation Ltd. (BST), has been awarded another contract from China Railway Corp. (CRC) to supply 40 CRH1A-A new generation high speed train cars to the Nanning Railway Bureau. This new contract for five 8-car trainsets is valued at approximately 543 million Chinese RMBs (73 million euro, $79 million US) and follows a separate contract for 144 high speed cars announced by the JV in early March. Bombardier owns 50% of the shares in BST and the JV is controlled by BT’s partner CRRC Sifang Co., Ltd. This latest contract is the fourteenth high speed train order that BST has been awarded since 2004. Jianwei Zhang, President of Bombardier China, said, “Our cutting edge rail technology is one of the driving forces behind the rapid development of China’s advanced high speed train network. We have already provided more than 3,000 high speed train cars to the Chinese market and this latest contract is further proof of our ability to consistently leverage our expertise and experience to contribute to the development of local and national economies in regions like Guangxi.” The CRH1A-A train has an operational speed of 250km/h and its aluminium carbody’s design delivers improved performance and lower operating costs by reducing weight, track wear and aerodynamic drag. The train also has a unique appearance due to its innovative graphics, windows, lighting and shape, while its exceptional energy efficiency sets new industry standards for sustainable transportation and passenger comfort.
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Rail Solutions Asia 2017 – Show Review Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia, May 24 – 26
2017 was our eighth visit to Kuala Lumpur and our fifth consecutive year in the Malaysian capital. The year’s exhibition was the biggest in our 18 year history and the number of visitors equalled last year’s record- breaking show, when the number of participants was 31% more than our previous best show. The UK and Germany were the most represented countries, with 13 and 12 exhibitors respectively. Austria provided the largest national pavilion and Spain sent its largest ever group of suppliers.
THE EXHIBITION
91 companies from 18 countries displayed products, ranging from Buffer Stops and Level Crossings, to Optical Fibre Network Solutions and Public Transport Software. Exhibitor comments included: • Great meeting point for all rail people interested in doing business in SE Asia
ArcelorMittal
• The show had a great turnout, right till the end of Day 3
Bombardier
• RSA gives us an opportunity to network with Asean’s key rail personnel, all under one roof
Delkor
• For many years Rail Solutions has been the place to meet in Asia
Rail Personnel
• Very well managed and effective event for the railway sector in Asia
Talgo
• Well organised and interesting show for exhibitors and visitors alike.
Tiflex
VIPs
Senior representatives from the local Malaysian railway operators attended the opening ceremony. Prior to the Opening Ceremony the VIPs met with some of our key supporters
Main Picture above L-R
Tonny Yeap Ahmad Nizam Mohamed Amin Dato’ Ir. Zohari Sulaiman Dr Prodyut Dutt Dato’ Sri Azmi Abdul Aziz Datuk Elias Kadir
John Holland & RIA
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Director of Commercial Div. Chief Infra Services Officer CEO CDO President/Group CEO Former President
Austrade & CRRC
MyHSR Prasarana Rapid Rail SPAD (Main VIP) Prasarana KTMB
Bombardier
Advantage Austria
THE EXHIBITION (cont.)
During their subsequent tour of the exhibition the VIPs, visited many of the stands and showed a keen interest in the exhibits including:
Bombardier
Vossloh
CRRC
UK Pavilion
Schrey & Veit
Austrian Pavilion
Rehau
Spanish Pavilion
Hird Rail
Rail Solutions Asia covers much more than just the Malaysian market and the inclusion of the Annual Congress of the Asian Railway Operators Association means that exhibitors had the opportunity to meet Senior Managers from railway operators from 7 Asian countries on their stands, including:
Keen interest from Indonesia’s PT Kerata Api on The India Thermit Corporation stand
All 5 delegates from Ho Chi Minh City MAUR with Tan Wee Choon on the CAF stand
Engineers from KL Rapid Rail discussing rail milling technology with Linsinger
Bukhari Mohamed from KL Rapid Rail with staff from PCOM Pacific
Rodrigo Bulario from Manila LRMC chatting with staff from Gummi Metall Technik
Delegates from Vietnam Railways with Walter Kellenberger from Nencki
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THE CONFERENCE More than 130 delegates attended the conference sessions and specialist workshops, which included topics ranging from “Mobile Laser Scanning of Railways” to “Recycled Plastic Railway Sleepers”. The conference included a specialist session on the KL- Singapore HSR Line. The session was chaired by Mark Loader from HSR specialist consultants CH2M and the session included a joint presentation from Rina Meileene from MyHSR and Stephane Mortier of CH2M, followed by a lively Q&A session.
130 Delegates and AROA members from more than 20 countries attended the two day conference
Rina Meileene from MyHSR with Mark Loader and Stephane Mortier of CH2M after the KL – Singapore HSR conference session
Thomas Dorfner from Getzner during the Q&A session following his presentation in the Vossloh sponsored Permanent Way workshop
NETWORKING & SOCIALISING With conference coffee and lunch breaks held in the exhibition hall, delegates, exhibitors and general trade visitors have ample opportunities to network and relax in both formal and informal environments. Informal Drinks Receptions held at the end of both conference days in the exhibition hall are popular with all of the participants, while other functions organised by national associations in and around the event, complete a comprehensive social programme.
Lim Chor Sheng from GPS Lands meets with delegates from Vietnam Railways
Conference speaker Peter Bradley from Frauscher with delegates from Ho Chi Minh City MAUR
Ignazio Rizzo from SMA chatting with Melvyn Bolus from Hong Kong MTR
Raffle prizes were awarded during the Informal Reception co-organised by Austrade, John Holland and Engineers Australia
With the largest individual exhibition stand, it was thumbs up from all of the staff on the CRRC stand
Conference coffee breaks held in the exhibition hall provide excellent networking opportunities for delegates and exhibitors
Henry Quek of TORX Industries was instrumental in bringing a sizeable delegation from Indonesia, including 4 Senior Officials from MASKA
The next generation. A group of more than 20 Railway Engineering students visited the exhibition to discuss future job opportunities
The Austrian Ambassador, Mr. Christophe Ceska (middle back) hosted a reception at his residence for the large contingent of Austrian exhibitors
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The Asian Railway Operators Association 14th Annual Congress – Kuala Lumpur AROA is a group of Asian urban and mainline railway operators and is designed to: ■ provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information ■ promote awareness of new technologies ■ highlight, address and respond to the challenges facing rail-bound transportation in Asia. The AROA Annual Congress is the highlight of the AROA year. Senior Managers from railway operators across Asia converged on Kuala Lumpur for three days of unrivalled opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of the railway industry. The emphasis of the association is very much on the sharing of expertise and experience for the mutual benefit of all members. With conference papers and specialist workshops, plus many of the world’s top railway suppliers on show, this is an event not to be missed by any railway operator, who wishes to develop their staff’s knowledge and improve their service to the travelling public.
More than 40 AROA members attended their 14th Annual Congress, with delegations of Senior Managers from 7 Asian countries representing 12 railway operators: Bangkok – Indonesia – Singapore –
MRTA MASKA SMRT
Hanoi Kuala Lumpur Taiwan
– – –
MRB RAPID RAIL BOHSR
Ho Chi Minh City – Manila – Thailand –
MAUR LRMC SRT
Jakarta – Singapore – Vietnam –
LRT SBS VNR
The essence of the AROA Congress is the opportunity for Asian railway operators to meet, network and exchange ideas, with their counterparts from around the region. This included the following exchanges.
Manila LRMC and Hong Kong MTR
Vietnam Railways, Manila LRMC and Kuala Lumpur MRT Corp
Taiwan BOHSR, Bangkok MRTA and Chinese Institute of Engineers
Comments from AROA members included: I would like to thank you for inviting my team to join the conference. It was a nice welcoming event and my team enjoyed both the workshops and the networking opportunities. We met several operators and discussed their railway practices. We also met many suppliers and plan to purchase their equipment. Watcharachan Sirisuwannatash, Chief Mechanical Engineer, Thailand SRT A great platform for the railway industry and railway operators to exchange ideas and information. Wu-Hsun Chang, Deputy DG BOHSR (retired) & Sec.Gen. Chinese Institute of Engineers, Taiwan RSA 2017 provided me with an excellent opportunity to experience all the latest railway technology from around the world, as well as making good connections with the participating exhibitors. Dam Le Minh Thong, Expert of PMU5, Ho Chi Minh City MAUR
Membership includes access to all aspects of the Annual Congress including air flights and accommodation For full details of Membership Benefits, Annual Fees and an Application Form, please contact: info@tdhrail.com 13
AROA INTERVIEW Melvyn Bolus – Rolling Stock Construction Engineer, MTR Corporation Hong Kong
Q: What is your current job and how long have you been doing it? A: I am a rolling stock manager involved in the construction and project management of driverless trains in Hong Kong and have been in this role since 2014. Q: What were you doing prior to your current job? A: I am originally from Sydney, Australia and was a rolling stock trainee, while completing my mechanical engineering degree part time. I then moved into the design and manufacture of air-conditioning systems for rolling stock. Previous to my move to Hong Kong I was involved in the Test and Commissioning on Australia’s largest procurement of passenger rolling stock. Q: Over time how has your role developed? A: I’ve had the opportunity to work in both engineering and project management roles across the rolling stock supply chain, including the sub-supplier, the railcar manufacturer, the rail operator, and the project delivery partner. Having been a stakeholder on each tier certainly makes it easier to empathise and work together for a common solution.
believe the eventual success of connecting Kuala Lumpur and Singapore will promote more cross-border HSR projects and lead to the exciting prospect of seamless cross-continent travel. Q: What gives you the most satisfaction about your job A: My family and I love travelling. So living and working in different cities around the world to deliver train projects and then riding that very train with my kids, when it’s in revenue service, is an amazing feeling. Q: What advice do you have for young railway engineers? A: Apply for traineeships so that you can get involved in your area of interest early and obtain that valuable hands-on experience before graduation. Q: What do you do when you are not working A: I try to get involved with the community as much as I can. I serve as the Chairman of the Parent Teacher Association at my children’s local school. I am also an Office Bearer for Engineers Australia, Vice President for education at my local public speaking club and I was a Justice of the Peace in Australia. It’s vital for me to be able to give back to my community.
Q: What do you enjoy about your current role? A: Being involved in the integration of systems on the train and then the integration of the train to the greenfield line and its dedicated depot. I started my engineering career designing and manufacturing one system on the train, now I get to enjoy working with traction and brake engineers, train control and communications engineers, plus depot and maintenance engineers. I also get to interface with signalling, OHL, permanent way, E&M and civil engineers, together with project controls, systems integration and systems assurance teams. The complexity and the variety of interfaces on a rolling stock project makes it challenging and enjoyable.
Q: Given the choice, which railway journey would you recommend? A: When you’re in Hong Kong, definitely take the South Island Line driverless train. The view along the viaduct is spectacular, particularly the sight of evening lights when you cross over Aberdeen Bridge.
Q: Your thoughts about the future? A: It is already very bright and exciting times for those involved in rolling stock. For example, LRVs in Canada, metros in major US cities, new lines and extensions in Asia, new suburban trains in Australia. In fact, I will be returning to Sydney to be involved in the Product Introduction of 24 brand new trains. Q: Any thoughts about the railway industry in general, or the role of rail transport A: The railways will continue to be the backbone of cities and countries transport systems. Moving millions of people safely and efficiently will continue to challenge the reliability, availability and maintainability of rolling stock. Moreover, I
Melvyn Bolus (right) with Dato’ Sri Azmi Abdul Aziz President & Group CEO of Prasarana at Rail Solutions Asia 2017.
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Optimising the flow of trains on the Klang Valley rail network with CITYFLO 650
Pattanachai Pawittranon Project Engineer, Rail Control Solutions Asia Pacific Bombardier Transportation For 100 years, Bombardier Transportation has been developing, engineering and installing advanced rail control systems. Every day, Bombardier’s signalling systems, are moving millions of people in over 50 countries, all around the world. Pattanachai Pawittranon highlighted the communications-based train control (CBTC) solution being supplied to the new Klang Valley Mass Rail Transit network at the recent Rail Solutions Asia 2017 conference and shares his experience in implementing Bombardier’s CITYFLO 650 technology for driverless operation on Lines 1 and 2 of the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) network.
• t he Wayside System, which receives train positions and issues movement authorities to ensure safe and efficient running of the trains • the Vehicle Onboard System that generates the train position and receives the movement authorities • the Communication System, which allows the transfer of data to and from the train.
Introduction This article describes the features of the modern communicationsbased article control (CBTC) moving block system as an increasingly flexible and efficient rail control solution for all operations. The scalable, off-the-shelf CBTC solutions can be deployed quickly, thereby allowing some of the world’s largest cities to meet their changing transportation needs, rapidly and reliably. Since the early 1990s, Bombardier has been at the forefront of advances in rail traffic management systems and CBTC technology, helping to facilitate interoperability between rolling stock and signalling solutions, wherever they are in the world. In Malaysia, Bombardier has been selected to equip over 100 km of Line 1 and 2 of the new KVMRT network with its fullyautomated CITYFLO 650 train control signalling technology. Phase one of Line 1 was commissioned in December 2016 and the total line will be fully operational by July 2017.
Elements of the CITYFLO 650 architecture Broadly speaking, the CBTC system consists of four parts: • the Control Centre System which controls operations
Diagram 1. CITYFLO 650 architecture
The Control Centre System has programs for automatic driving of the trains without any operator intervention, allowing either regulation by timetable or headway. Designed to support all modes of operation, CITYFLO 650 can run the entire system in unattended train operation (UTO) mode, without any Control Centre Operator inputs, unless there is a requirement for intervention due to a failure in the system. The wayside equipment of the CBTC system is distributed along the line, which is divided 17
into ’Regions’; each responsible for the safe movement of trains within its boundary of control and handover of the trains to adjacent Regions. Fully redundant regional automatic train protection (ATP) and operation (ATO) systems, located at various stations along a line, are responsible for issuing movement authorities to the train and communicating train locations to the Central Control System. The vehicle onboard system acquires and processes all information between the train and the track, including transmitting the train position to the wayside system. The train uses several different sub-systems to calculate its position – Norming Point tags (located along the track and containing location data), Tachometers (attached to the wheel and calculating train speed, acceleration, direction and distance travelled) and Doppler radar (also mounted on train axles to detect train speed and acceleration). Thereafter, this ‘Virtual Occupancy’ data is transmitted to the wayside regional equipment. The Region ATP can monitor the virtual occupancies of all the trains operating in the Region and sends back a Movement Authority to every train, informing how far each can travel. The communication system in CBTC solutions is based on radio transmissions, and more recently 4G LTE Wi-Fi networks, to enable bi-directional, ground-to-train data communications. Due to this contactless transmission, CBTC is able to implement a dynamic ‘moving block’ distance approach, in which the exact position of a train is known more accurately and train operations can run more efficiently. With the constant update of information about the train’s position and renewal of the Movement Authority, the train will be allowed to proceed without braking, as long as there is no conflict point (location along the track beyond which a train is not permitted) within braking distance ahead of it.
Diagram 2. Simplified view to show the location processing of the train
All CBTC systems are designed in such a way that they are operationally redundant, or duplicated so as to achieve the highest availability and safety levels. In the case of Bombardier, all systems have a built-in redundancy with fall back capabilities so that in the event of any single failure, operations can be maintained. The safe operation of the system is naturally assured throughout the testing and commissioning phase, from the moment of the first equipment being installed, until the issuance of the Final Acceptance Certificate upon delivery milestone.
Meeting the requirements of KVMRT Line 1 and 2 As with any mega-project, the KVMRT installation brings integration challenges due to the complexity and multitude of sub-systems to be installed by different contractors, with varying schedules and priorities. A particular feature of this project delivery is the phased implementation of the lines. For example, with Line 1 Phase One already in revenue service, installation activities have 18
to be undertaken on Phase Two, without affecting the existing operation on the same line. This requires meticulous planning and rigorous project management to manage the program schedule and gain track access to carry out the installation in limited time windows, when the system is not operating. The sequencing of the systems installation, testing and commissioning is particularly important and was an important feature of the project planning from the start.
The fully-automated KVMRT Line 1 operating with CITYFLO 650 CBTC system
Furthermore, operators have also been given the opportunity to experience the new functionality of the CBTC system in a testing environment, before working in revenue service. Bombardier has set up sophisticated simulation training programs for the KVMRT project for use prior to the start of trial operation – including the ability to generate and test various capacity and dwell schedules. As most operators are used to working in a very different conventional fixed block signalling system, this approach enabled them to become familiar with the new train control overview display. Training is also being made available to the operations and maintenance staff to ensure that they are all familiar with the new operator console, prior to operating the new system. With reliability and availability being the key drivers of system performance, CITYFLO 650 is also offering enhanced services to the operator to improve overall infrastructure management. With the CITYFLO system the operator can conduct analysis of daily operations, when the line is stable, to identify any abnormal behaviour, or degradation trends before failure, allowing for continuous improvements in both operations and energy usage. This use of real-time train data, including train health status and system alarms for improved diagnostics and the reduced wayside equipment required, also enables lower maintenance costs. The integration of operating systems, such as traction power, tunnel ventilation, passenger information and security systems, also allows for a strategic and integrated approach to signalling, train control and operations management. To conclude, many metros and railway systems benefit from using CBTC, with improved safety, reliability and capacity and centralised infrastructure management for maximum efficiency. The new fully automated KVMRT, equipped with the CITYFLO 650 technology system, is set to offer the operator maximum return on infrastructure investment by optimising network capacity and heightened responsive traffic management. In addition, the operator will also be able to meet the future demands of increased transit capacity on the entire railway system, when all three lines of the network are completely operational.
IRSE Licences for PT Len Railway Systems’s Engineers A Recognition of International Competency in the Field of Railway Signalling & Telecoms
Ir. Toni Surakusumah, MIRSE, IPM, Sales & Marketing Director of PT Len Railway Systems
P
T Len Railway Systems (LRS) is a government-owned company, located in Indonesia. The company has been a leader in several projects for the design, installation, testing and maintenance of railway signalling & telecoms. It is mandatory for all LRS engineers, who work in the office, or on-site, to obtain a professional engineering certificate in their related field of expertise The certification program for professional engineers in Indonesia is organized by PII (The Institution of Engineers Indonesia). Up to now approximately 75% of LRS’s engineers have obtained a professional engineering certificate in the “middle” category, while the rest have obtained a certificate in the “young” category. The certificate of expertise in Indonesia is awarded by LPJK (National Construction Services Development Board). An engineer will receive a certificate after passing the relevant competency test. For the railway signaling & telecom certificate this includes railway signaling & telecom, as well as interior electrical engineering and electronics. Up to now, more than fifty of LRS’s engineers have obtained this certificate of expertise. An engineer who has received the certificate of Professional Engineer and Certificate of Expertise in the “middle” category, is seen as equivalent to a professional engineer as recognised by the AER ( Asean Engineering Register) and the ACPE (Asean Chartered Professional Engineers). The AER and ACPE, which are located in Indonesia & Malaysia respectively, have members from 10 different countries; Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The objective of these organisations is to promote recognition of an Asean Engineering Team within & outside Asean. They were also established to safeguard and promote the professional interests of engineers, engineering technologies and technicians.
IRSE Certification
Around fifty LRS’ engineers have the same qualifications as AER and ACPE engineers. In order to strengthen LRS’s plans to work internationally, we decided to put our engineers through the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers (IRSE) certification program. We initiated this program in 2009 and the program was started by conducting IRSE licence training and document preparation training. In 2016 we started intensive preparations and conducted the International Licencing IRSE Process Phase I for principle designers and signaling designers from our Engineering Division. The licencing process began with a series of training exercises including; basic signaling technology, preparation of documentation for licencing, engineering safety management, common safety methods and Continuing Professional Development (CDM) regulation training. The candidates had to complete several workplace assessments & competence assessments. At this moment, 6 IRSE licences have been received by us, which were granted to; Rustandi for principle signaling designer category ( 1.1.550v.3) and Mokhammad Abdul Rozaq, Sjaikunnas
El Muttaqien,Hilmanda Aryandi Putra, Rijal Fakhruddin & Arstiyan Rasmiarso for signaling designer category (1.1.510.v.1). It is planned that a further 20 engineers will attend the assessment process to obtain the IRSE Licence Phase II during 2017. The workplace assessment will be conducted by internal assessors from LRS. The categories include signaling designer, assistant signaling designer, telecom designer, assistant telecom designer, telecom installer, signaling installer, signaling functional tester and assistant signaling maintainer. An engineer, who holds a national or international CDM licence, is required to maintain their engineering knowledge and skills and keep up-to-date with technology in their related field.
Current Projects
LRS is currently working on domestic projects, such as the Light Rail Transit – Palembang, Light Rail Transit – Jakarta, Automated Power Mover System, CTS from Madiun to Jombang (East Java) and the double tracking from Martapura to Baturaja (South Sumatera). Moreover, we have also been trusted to conduct several overseas projects such as the VPI modification project in Bangladesh. One of our domestic projects is the Automated People Mover System (APMS) project for Bandara Soekarno Hatta in Jakarta, which is currently under construction. The APMS system will use the latest Communication Based Tele communication Controlled (CBTC) technology, providing a driverless signaling system, with a track length of 2.98 km. This project is projected to serve five terminals at the SoekarnoHatta Airport, Jakarta, Indonesia with landside operations (before check in). The APMS will use a type of Automated Guided Transport (AGT) vehicle and trains will operate with three train sets, with three configurations. The project was executed using a design and build model, with 50% local content. The improving quality of our human resources and our increased certified expertise, which is recognized regionally and internationally, will strengthen our company’s position to expand our market, not just domestically, but also throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in the near future. Author: Ir. Toni Surakusumah, MIRSE,IPM has worked at PT Len Industri (Persero) since 1996. He graduated from the Engineering Physics Faculty at Bandung Institute of Technology and began his career as a Design Engineer . Since 2013 he has been Sales & Marketing Director of PT Len Railway Systems. He is also active as the Secretary General of the IRSE Indonesia Section. 19
Listen to your tracks, trains and infrastructure By Frauscher Sensortechnik GmbH
S
everal factors, including making use of increasing digitization and managing train traffic with shorter headways, due to rising passenger numbers, or strict schedules for freight trains, are constantly challenging the railway industry. As a result, railway operators all over the world are continually watching out for innovative approaches to increase the efficiency and safety of their system. To meet these new requirements and to optimise existing applications with a compact solution, Frauscher Sensor Technology has developed a system based on Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), which has the capability to track trains, monitor assets and to secure the infrastructure. The result of this process, the Frauscher Tracking Solutions FTS, was presented at InnoTrans 2016 in Berlin and since then the company has been further developing this system together with operators, interested partners and research institutes all over the globe.
Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS): how it works When sending a light pulse into a glass fibre, millions of minor changes (“scatter sites”) each scatter a small portion of that light pulse back towards its emission site. The reflected component of
this scattered light is called “backscatter”. DAS uses this effect by detecting the backscatter, which is also changed by sound waves and vibrations radiating against the fibre and by evaluating these changes of the backscatter, the whole fibre optic cable turns into a continuous sensor that works like a string of virtual microphones. As the light pulse and backscatter are travelling at the speed of light, changes detected in the backscatter caused by various sound sources can be translated into acoustic signatures. By developing appropriate algorithms it is possible to connect these signatures to specific events. Using this method it is possible to detect; people walking, trains moving, changes in asset’s condition and more, as all of these create differing amounts and patterns of acoustic energy. It was apparent during initial test installations that DAS provided a wide range of benefits, but just like any other sensing technology, it has a specific set of challenges to overcome. In its current form, DAS does not robustly identify which track a train is travelling on, along a multi-track line. While the cable senses all the trains and their movements on all the tracks, it still requires a secondary input to corroborate which track the acoustic signature is associated with.
Frauscher Tracking Solutions FTS Impact Sound
Scatter Site
Optical Fibre
Light Pulse Backscatter
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Altered Backscatter
As a leading supplier of sensor technology for railway applications, Frauscher Sensor Technology has been driving the use of DAS in the railway industry. With FTS they have developed a set of railway specific DAS solutions, which integrate DAS with proven axle counters and wheel sensors. This allows the system to overcome the constraints described above and
as an example; enables DAS to be applied comprehensively to a double track line. When used on a stand-alone basis, FTS provides real-time information of a train’s position, speed, acceleration, length and more. When combined with wheel detection systems or axle counters, such as the Frauscher Advanced Counter FAdC, these can take care of fail-safe track vacancy detection up to SIL 4, while FTS generates additional information that can be used to optimise train movements.
Application Areas
By combining the inductive sensor and DAS technology, FTS are able to offer the railway industry numerous new possibilities for data generation. Implementing data from the operator’s other systems can improve the quality of the information even further, but also places special demands on interfaces and data formats. In test installations that have already been set up, various applications have been implemented in the fields of train detection, infrastructure monitoring and safety applications.
Train tracking FTS make it possible for all trains, within a monitored track section, to be located in real-time. In non safety-relevant areas, they can also be used as a stand-alone solution, i.e. without integrating an axle counter or wheel detection system. Since no specific equipment has to be fitted to the vehicles, their design and origin are insignificant. The information obtained provides considerable benefits for traffic management and in remote areas this technology can provide a cost effective and efficient solution to controlling systems. Integrating an axle counter makes it possible for the DAS-based real-time tracking of trains to be combined with safety-relevant applications. Associated interfaces enable level crossings to be controlled with even greater precision. Inputs from both systems can be combined in the Traffic Management System (TMS) in order to calculate accurate times of arrival, supply platform displays, or to precisely coordinate and compose platform announcements.
Asset condition monitoring When monitoring the condition of infrastructure and train
components, FTS can supplement or even reduce equipment installed trackside. For example, it allows flat spots on wheels or broken rails to be identified, based on acoustic signatures. Rock falls can also be located and the corresponding information can be forwarded directly via radio to approaching trains. If data from FTS and a wheel detection system is overlaid, certain incidents can be localised with even greater accuracy along the route. Integrating information from the operator’s different databases can enrich this data pool even further: if train numbers are implemented, flat wheel alarms can be assigned to a specific train and to a specific axle via the wheel detection system.
Safety and Security The oil and gas industry successfully uses DAS for a range of safety applications. Adapting the corresponding algorithms for the railway sector was therefore one of the first steps to be taken when developing the FTS. This enables people and animals on, or in the vicinity of the track to be detected. It also allows various safety applications to be implemented, such as the detection of activities associated with vandalism or cable theft. Passing on data and linking it with additional information further increases the potential of the applications. This means that interfaces to safety equipment can be used to provide alarm messages by email or SMS. Work crews can be accurately located and provided with information, for instance about approaching trains, via a direct connection on mobile devices. Even drones can be supplied with data, which is then used to directly fly to a section to be controlled.
Outlook
By using DAS in various application areas and combining this promising technology with proven axle counters and wheel detection systems, FTS have the potential to provide railway operators with one single solution to track trains, monitor their infrastructure and to increase safety and security throughout their whole network. In order to develop a sustainable solution that keeps an eye on the possibilities that increasing digitization brings to the industry, Frauscher will continue to work closely with current and new partners who meet the company’s philosophy of further developing the industry together.
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Catenary Eye © Overhead Catenary Inspection System
By Atsushi Oikubo – MMJV Project Manager, Klang Valley MRT Project, Meiden Malaysia SDN Bhd Joint Venture
T
he Catenary Eye ©, Overhead Catenary Inspection System has been implemented by KERETAPI TANAH MELAYU BERHAD (KTMB) and was officially launched by the Malaysian Deputy Minister of Transport on 28th February 2017.
Key Technology and Features of the Catenary Eye
The state-of-the-art image processing technology, supported by high speed cameras and sensors, provides various visual images of the condition of the catenary for maintenance purposes, with accurate location data. This produces a quantum leap in time, resource and power savings, compared to traditional maintenance methods. The broad range of Catenary Eye products covers everything from high speed rail (up to 300kmh), to urban transit and a dedicated maintenance vehicle. The standard function of the Catenary Eye covers measurement of the stagger, wear, height and gradient of the Catenary as shown below. Standard Function of Catenary Eye
KTMB Catenary Eye system
KTMB Catenary Eye is mounted on the rooftop of an existing KTMB maintenance vehicle. It was delivered and implemented as part of the Industrial Collaboration Program (ICP) for the Klang Valley MRT project, in order to contribute to the high quality maintenance and operation of the electrified KTMB railway, operating for 1,000 km through peninsular Malaysia. The measurement items are shown in Table 1. KTMB CATENARY EYE system
Table 1 KTMB Catenary Measurement Item Wear and Stagger Height and Gradient Photograph Monitoring Vehicle Speed 22
Eye measurement item Measuring Method High Speed Line Sensor Laser Sensor Area Sensor (CCTV) Doppler Speed Sensor
New Function of Catenary Eye
Since the 1st Catenary Eye was launched on the Japan Railway (JR) bullet train in 2001, Meidensha has continued to pursue and develop new functions for the Catenary Eye, in response to the needs of the railways’ operation and maintenance, including rail monitoring, track offset, geometry measurement, wear trend analysis and construction gauge measurement.
(1) Rail Monitoring As part of the extended technology of Pole Monitoring, the captured video image of the Running Rail is derived as follows. a. Track Center – by image process b. Rail Curvature Radius – by image process c. Rail Cant – by calculation
Rail Monitoring System Area Sensor Captured Image
Rail Curvature Radius
Note: The formula for the Rail Cant Calculation will depend on the regulations of each country.
Track Offset
(2) Track Offset The Track Offset provides the horizontal distance between the Track Center and the Pole. They are derived by using the Rail Monitoring system and the Laser Range Scanner respectively. Observation and analysis of the offset value and its transition will identify the Stagger error in advance and help to plan preventive maintenance measures. The diagram opposite shows the Roof Top Unit and its function.
Geometry Measurement
(3) Geometry Measurement The crossing area of the Main Wire and the Crossing Wire are sometimes geometrically complicated and it is essential to maintain a separation distance while the vehicle is passing with the pantograph. This feature measures the clearance between the two wires. The diagram opposite shows the Roof Top Unit and a sample measurement of the clearance data.
KTMB OFFICIAL HANDOVER
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(4) Wear Trend Analysis This new feature has been developed using a statistical analysis approach, to estimate the wear progress of the contact wire, within the interval leading up to the next planned measurement. When the same rate of wear arises, the estimated result will indicate the limitation of wear.
Wear Trend Analysis Wear Trend Analysis Result (Reference Data)
LEGEND -3sigma: Statistical minimum wear value in 1 tension length Lower/upper: Permissive wear value, including measurement error Estimate: Estimated wear value at next measuring period Rate: Estimated wear rate by year Life time: Estimated time to reach the limit of the contact wire
Construction Gauge Measurement Measurement method (Stereo Camera Method)
(5) Construction Gauge Measurement This feature has been developed to inspect the Construction Gauge prior to either; the commencement of revenue service, or the operation of a new vehicle. It is only implemented for the maintenance vehicle.
Captured Data
In brief, the measurement methods are; 1. Detecting Running Rail position 2. Measurement of Curvature Radius & Cant 3. Superimposing the Construction Gauge onto the image. 4. Measuring distance (clearance) between the Construction Gauge and all objects 5. Infringement of Construction Gauge can be derived.
HIGHSPEED STOP SAFETY RAWIE
A. RAWIE GmbH & Co. KG . DornierstraĂ&#x;e 11 . 49090 OsnabrĂźck . Germany . Fon +49_541_912070 . info@rawie.de . www.rawie.de 24 anz_prellbock_176x85_f1.indd
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24.08.2011 16:08:58 Uhr
Costain Explores Photogrammetry to Document Site Conditions for a GBP 6.5 Bn Project ContextCapture Delivers an Efficient, Cost-effective Solution for the Reconstruction of London Bridge Station
Railway Redevelopment Plans
As part of its vision to improve the safety, reliability and efficiency of railway travel within the city of London and throughout the United Kingdom, Network Rail undertook responsibility for the government-sponsored GBP 6.5 billion Thameslink project. The project was initiated in 2009 with an expected completion in January 2018, when new spacious trains will travel through central London at peak times every two-to-three minutes. The massive railway improvement scheme includes; platform lengthening, station renovations, new railway infrastructure and additional railway vehicles. It involves collaborative efforts among UK train companies, architects, engineering and design firms and construction organisations, all managed by Network Rail. At the heart of the Thameslink initiative is the redevelopment of London Bridge Station, the UK’s largest and fourth busiest station, handling more than 56 million passengers each year. Plans for the London Bridge Station involve reconstructing its concourse to unify the station for the first time, allowing passengers access to all platforms in one place, as well as establishing new retail stores and station facilities. Upon completion, the new street-level concourse will be the largest in the country, exceeding the size of a football pitch. To manage the London Bridge Station refurbishment, Network Rail awarded The Costain Group (Costain), one of the UK’s leading provider of engineering solutions, a GBP 400 million contract, under which Costain is responsible for delivering detailed design and reconstruction plans. “Our focus is to design and deliver a world-class London Bridge Station that enhances the capital’s infrastructure and improves the journeys of the hundreds of thousands of passengers who pass through the station every day,” commented Andrew Wyllie, chief executive of Costain.
all while keeping the station operational. To minimize passenger impact it was decided that the project would be completed in nine phases. To implement its phased construction approach, Costain and the project team needed to obtain reliable data for the nearly 200-year-old site. Originally constructed between 1836 and 1839, London Bridge Station housed a considerable amount of masonry arches that required surveying to determine the optimal approach for designing and constructing the new concourse. To obtain this information Costain needed cost-efficient survey techniques that could generate an accurate 3D representation of the aging structures, to understand the subsurface for reconstruction potential and enable stakeholders to make informed decisions on a tight deadline.
Photogrammetry vs. Laser Scanning
For years laser scanners have been the preferred method of capturing digital data to survey and document site conditions with precise accuracy. Laser scanning provides the ability to capture
Challenges Reconstructing London Bridge Station The sheer size of reconstructing London Bridge Station to include 15 new platforms presented numerous demands, ranging from reconfiguring the station’s tracks and installation of new signaling, to demolishing existing platforms and removing the existing roof,
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a point cloud so dense that it’s almost a 3D picture. Points in the scan are given 3D coordinates and this virtual geo-referenced representation can be shared among the design team. Costain has invested in this technology to successfully deliver numerous projects. However, given the age of the structures at London Bridge Station and the limitations of laser scanning (a process that would take months to complete), Costain’s graduate surveyor, Richard Bath, experimented with photogrammetry to ensure each brick in the existing structures would match perfectly with the new façade. Using a simple camera to capture the old surface area delivered a denser survey than the scanner and provided colour, enabling designers to quickly identify the bricks from the mortar joints. Additionally, photogrammetry was less disruptive to the onsite workers, given the speed and size of a small digital camera, or even just a smartphone, to survey the site. The workers were able to move out of the area, while Bath recorded a video or snapped a few photos and within minutes returned to their assigned task. Using Bentley ContextCapture allowed Costain to process the images into accurate 3D mesh models that facilitated decision making and provided documentation of existing conditions for use, not only in the London Bridge Station reconstruction, but also throughout the lifecycle of the infrastructure for maintenance and future projects.
A Simplified Workflow
Another advantage of photogrammetry is that it accelerated workflows. While laser scanning requires highly skilled, welltrained technicians to obtain a virtual 3D representation, photogrammetry requires only a camera to snap a few photos and using ContextCapture automatically generates the 3D reality model. Costain followed a basic four-step workflow process: 1) Mark ground control points (GCPs) of the area of interest and ensure they are clearly visible in the photos; 2) take pictures from varying angles and elevations surrounding the area; 3) survey the GCPs (at least three are needed to scale and geo-reference the model); and 4) process photos and GCPs together using ContextCapture to produce the final model in a range of deliverables. The first two steps can be implemented by anyone with five minutes training on determining the best method to mark GCPs ContextCapture automatically processed images into accurate 3D mesh models documenting existing conditions of London Bridge Station and facilitating decision making for redevelopment.
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and take the photos to ensure optimal deliverables. The final step uses Bentley’s reality-capture software and is completely automated, aside from the limited user time required for uploading the pictures and identifying the GCPs. While the overall processing time varies according to the number of photos and GCPs, the entire workflow, from taking the photos, surveying the GCPs and processing, can be completed in under an hour.
Automatic 3D Reconstruction Delivers Optimal Results Comparing the accuracy of photogrammetry to that of laser scanning on the project, Bath observed there was a difference of a few millimeters for many uses on site, such as excavations. While the accuracy of the final 3D reality mesh predominantly relies on the comprehensiveness of the photos acquired, it is not imperative to invest in an expensive camera. The entire process from initial photography through to the 3D model is automated and for the London Bridge Station reconstruction project, produced sufficiently accurate results that optimized costs and other project deliverables. Photogrammetry saved time for data collection and eliminated the bottleneck associated with sharing a scanner among two dozen surveyors. Furthermore, using a camera is much less expensive than the cost of a laser scanner. Photogrammetry and ContextCapture provided a safe, reliable non-contact survey technique that streamlined workflows and improved efficiency. Using Bentley software for the London Bridge Station reconstruction saved time and costs, while reducing the chance of misinterpretation, enhancing reliability and decision making on this railway redevelopment initiative that will transform travel throughout London and the UK, expanding through-station passenger capacity to 90 million people annually. Richard Bath commented that “ContextCapture is providing Bentley users like Costain a software environment that is progressing the use of reality 3D capture on a construction site. With just a smart-phone, the entire workforce has the potential to document visually-rich 3D construction progress with a minimal amount of training. ContextCapture is changing data capture onsite.”
InnoTrans 2018 18 – 21 SEPTEMBER • BERLIN International Trade Fair for Transport Technology Innovative Components • Vehicles • Systems
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