Business Profiles

Keeping the rail industry on track with remote environmental noise monitoring

Since the pandemic, people’s sensitivity to noise has increased. This is due to the rise in home working and the impact Covid has had on people’s general mental health

Managing noise levels has always been an issue for those operating in the rail industry, but train operators and railway businesses now face the risk of an increase in the number of people raising noiserelated complaints. The challenge is to find more efficient and effective ways to manage, control and, where possible, reduce the impact railway noise has on local communities and the environment. Protecting people’s health and well-being and avoiding reputational damage are essential.

According to the World Health Organisation, noise is the second biggest environmental cause of health problems. Research shows a direct link between excessive noise exposure and conditions such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, sleep disturbance, stress, anxiety, and depression. Therefore, it is incumbent on all businesses operating within the rail industry to take noise measurement, management, and control seriously. Not only to protect the health and well-being of those living near the railway but also their organisations’ reputations.

Finding the right equipment for the challenge Meeting the challenge isn’t easy. It involves knowing how to manage noise itself as well as finding the right equipment. Organisations need equipment that can be installed for long periods in difficultto-access areas and relied on to provide comprehensive and reliable data. They need

a cutting-edge solution that offers flexibility, efficacy and efficiency that most traditional noise monitoring instruments can’t.

Although they meet the demands of typical British weather and comprehensive environmental noise regulations, traditional noise monitors often require user intervention once installed, which is far from ideal when operators have to install monitors across a large geographical area and in hard-to-access trackside areas. The more rail operators can reduce the health and safety risk to engineers who may have once had to visit these monitors to carry out checks or download noise measurement data directly from them, the better.

Finding the right track partner for remote noise monitoring One of the UK’s busiest train operators has already started taking steps to get on the right track with its commitment to noise management and reduction. Its new ‘noise monitoring and management strategy’ aims to mitigate the impact that different types of noise have and seeks to influence an improvement in noise monitoring in the rail industry more generally. They hope to achieve this by understanding continuous, intermittent, impulsive and low-frequency noise in various trackside locations.

The rail operator approached Cirrus Research plc, a UK-based acoustic measurement and environmental noise specialist. Throughout its 52-year history, Cirrus Research has worked with some of the biggest names in aviation, construction and the automotive industry, helping them monitor, manage and reduce their noise impact. So, the rail operator knew Cirrus Research were the right team for the job.

Measure, monitor and analyse noise whenever, wherever Launched late last year, Quantum Outdoor is an environmental noise monitor that takes full advantage of cloud technology to offer a comprehensive solution for long-term, remote, unattended noise measurements in the rail industry. It provides continuous noise level monitoring 24 hours a day, without the need for any user intervention. It sends its data directly to the online Quantum Portal so that users of the system can log in using their organisation’s unique account details to get a real-time view of the noise levels, wherever their monitors are, whenever they need to check.

One of the other benefits provided by Quantum Outdoor is users’ ability to review historical data and create reports directly from within the cloud platform. Users can also export data to third-party software for further detailed analysis and reporting.

Much more than a noise monitor Although primarily a noise monitor, Quantum Outdoor goes beyond providing acoustic data alone. The units installed by Cirrus Research incorporate weather

monitoring to provide a more holistic view of the noise situation. Heavy wind and rain can impact noise levels and create unusual results. Having access to weather data directly alongside noise measurement information provides more context when reviewing historical data and helps the operator to plan remedial action more effectively.

In conjunction with weather data, the rail operator is also taking advantage of the ability to program Quantum Outdoor to capture audio recordings when noise levels exceed a pre-set trigger. These audio recordings will help identify the source of specific noise events and provide further clarity when deciding how to target noise levels more efficiently. The rail operator uses these audio recording specifically to help categorise noise events into their different types, which forms a substantial part of their strategy.

The rail operator chose Quantum Outdoor for one main reason: although other cloud-connected remote noise monitoring systems are available, few can meet its performance and flexibility. Multiple Quantum units can be connected to one network within a single integrated system, allowing users to view data from several units regardless of where they’re installed. Additionally, the rail operator’s team has complete flexibility over its data management and subscription plans. The team can add or remove features and functionality at any time. There are no contracts or minimum terms. The team only pays for what it needs, for as long as they need it.

The data provided by Quantum Outdoor is already making a big difference to the rail operator and is helping them to implement changes as part of their strategy. The reports the team has been able to generate have provided data and insight that was not previously available.

As the rail operator continues to work together with Cirrus Research and Quantum Outdoor, they anticipate making significant improvements to lessen the significance of their noise output, positively impacting all those affected by railway noise.

Away from the specific work this rail operator is doing with Quantum Outdoor and Cirrus Research, the instrument promises to revolutionise the way the rail industry measures, manages, and controls noise, with the following key features available as standard: • Remote access to all captured data, in any location, at any time and on any device. • Comprehensive environmental

monitoring with noise available as standard and weather, vibration, dust and gas measurements made possible through bolt-on modules. • Real-time alerts direct to your smartphone when noise levels breach pre-set event triggers. • Comprehensive data analysis and reporting are available directly in the cloud or Cirrus Research’s licence-free software, NoiseTools. • Secure data storage and management options. • Flexible installation and power options, including mains and solar. • Self-system integrity check that scans the instrument for errors without any user intervention. • Flexible subscription packages that can be upgraded or downgraded at any time, to ensure you only ever pay for what you need, when you need it.

To find out more about Quantum Outdoor, please visit https://hello.cirrusresearch.com/ quantum-outdoor

Tel: 01723 891655 Email: sales@cirrusresearch.com Visit: www.cirrusresearch.com

Transport Ticketing Global 2022

UK Minister of State for Transport to deliver keynote address as transport ticketing specialists come together from across the world

Wendy Morton MP, UK Minister of State for Transport will present the keynote opening address live at Transport Ticketing Global on 28 June 2022. This address follows last year’s release of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, detailing the UK government’s plans to reform the UK rail industry including an overhaul of ticketing and fare setting. It is set to be the catalyst for the biggest shake-up of the industry in decades.

Transport Ticketing Global 2022, the world’s largest public transport forum event for smart ticketing and mobility professionals, will bring together delegates from around the world at Olympia, London, on 28 and 29 June 2022 to explore the latest developments in this rapidly evolving industry.

Over 100 industry leading speakers will deliver engaging sessions in the agendasetting two-day conference on topics including the deployment of Account-Based Ticketing (ABT) & contactless; mobilebased and biometric ticketing; the use of central bank digital currency on public transport; transport data analysis; enabling MaaS; fare modelling and policies; revenue collection procurement and post-Covid UX, new customer behaviour and customer information.

The conference will also feature an in-depth panel discussion to explore the challenges and opportunities presented by the reform outlined in the WilliamsShapps Plan for Rail, featuring insight from experts across the UK rail and ticketing sectors including senior representatives from FirstGroup, Great British Railways Transition Team, Rail Delivery Group and more.

A series of case studies will explore new international developments and deployments. They include insights into the Nordic MaaS project, NOMAD; frameworks of tariff model development for ABT at HSL Helsinki; the lessons learned by SL in Stockholm while building their ticketing system in-house over the last four years; the implementation of mobile ticketing across 15 transit agencies across multiple counties in the USA and the evolution of digital ticketing by ATAC SpA in Rome.

Among the expert speakers set to share their insights over the two-day conference programme are Juan Corro, Chief Technology & Innovation Officer, EMT Madrid; Mark Langmead, Director Revenue and Compass Operations, Translink Vancouver; Brittany Esdaile, Director – Regional Fare Systems, Sound Transit; Danielle Agius, Head of Digital Experience Strategy, LNER; Andrew Anderson, Head of Customer Payments, Transport for London; Katherine Conrad, Director, NEORide; Hallie Liao, Head of International Development, Shenzhen Bus Group and Nick Mackie, Vice President Global Head of Urban Mobility, Visa.

An extensive exhibition, running alongside the conference, will offer the opportunity for delegates to interact with the latest technologies first-hand and meet with a complete range of solution providers under one roof.

In the evening on 28 June, the tenth annual Transport Ticketing Awards, the most prestigious recognition in the sector will celebrate the smart ticketing and mobility industry's greatest achievements.

Sponsors include Vix Technology, Visa, Cybersource, Conduent Transportation, Cubic, Scheidt & Bachmann, Stripe, Thales, eos.uptrade, HaCon, Indra, INIT, Moovit, Passenger Technology Group, Ridango, Snapper, Snowball Tech, Worldline, Fujitsu, Infineon, Masabi, Nexi, Telexis, Wizway, NTT Data, Flowbird Urban Intelligence and Discover Global Network.

Transport Ticketing Global 2022 takes place at Olympia London on 28 & 29 June. Complimentary passes are available for transport operators and government authorities. To register please click here or go to www.transport-ticketing.com or email transport-ticketing@clarionevents.com

Phase two of the Holt Weir fish pass is completed using Legato blocks

In March 2022 phase two of works on the ‘Unlocking the Severn’ fish pass project at Holt Weir, along the River Severn in Worcestershire were completed

The use of Elite Precast Concrete’s Legato Interlocking blocks proved to be a crucial element in the completion of the project. Home to many different species of fish, the River Severn is the longest river in the UK. The ‘Unlocking the Severn’ project, which has been funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the European Union LIFE programme is expected to cost around £19.7 million.

One of the largest river restoration projects of its kind in Europe the scheme has been designed to help boost the recovery of fish stocks. A number of weirs, built in Victorian times to aid the transport of goods along the river, have caused fish migratory routes to be blocked, this in turn has led to the decline of fish stocks.

The project however wasn’t without its challenges! Due to the remote location and restricted access of the fish pass the use of steel shuttering and wet concrete was going to be time consuming, impractical and expensive.

Land and Water Group Ltd, one of the main sub-contractors on the project, contacted Elite Precast Concrete and asked if they could help. Elite suggested that the use of their Legato interlocking concrete blocks might well be the answer.

Because the blocks are cast off-site their installation is not weather dependent and due to their size they were relatively easy to transport to the area and install. Over 900 Legato blocks were used in the end to complete the project.

In this latest phase Land & Water carried out a range of activities from the Legato block installation to concrete works in order to build the fish pass which is essential for the migration of fish to their spawning grounds upstream.

Elite were a pleasure to work with and played a major part in the successful completion of this complex project. The Legato blocks were the ideal solution and enabled us to complete the project on time.’ Liam Williams – Site Manager, Land and Water Group Ltd.

For more information or technical advice, get in touch via the contact information below.