BIG DATA
Figure 2: Brake Failure Predictive Model.
DEEP DIVES Using data science to better understand and maintain rolling stock performance.
D
ata analytics, often referred to as “Big Data” has become an important part of the railroad industry’s efforts to improve performance, increase safety and reduce costs. This effort extends to both freight and passenger rail, and cuts across traditional departmental lines, with applications in engineering (track and structures), equipment (rolling stock) and transportation (operations) [1, 2]. The University of Delaware’s annual “Big Data in Railroad Maintenance Planning” conference provides a forum for railroad and data analytic professionals to come 36 Railway Age // February 2021
together with academia and discuss the latest applications and research in railway-related data science. December 2020’s “virtual” conference, which attracted more than 270 registrants from three continents, examined both rolling stock- and trackrelated Big Data applications. This article will discuss the rolling stock side; next month’s article will address track- and infrastructure-related applications. The growing value of Big Data analytics was addressed by the conference keynote speaker, William C. Vantuono, Editorin-Chief of Railway Age, and was highlighted in a quote he presented from an earlier address by Ron Batory, former FRA
Administrator, who said, “Proper application of artificial intelligence (AI) can create less operational risk and afford a safer environment. Continuous strengthening of the predictive algorithms associated with AI can deliver endless value toward eliminating variability, thus creating more productive capacity. Smarter railroading in the years ahead can be achieved by advancing use of AI technology.” This was clearly seen in the conference, where the leadoff speaker stated that while “traditional” data analysis can give you answers to existing questions, Big Data analysis techniques, including machine learning (ML) and AI, will give railwayage.com
Uptake
BY ALLAN M. ZAREMBSKI, PH.D, P.E. FASME, HON. MBR. AREMA, PROFESSOR OF PRACTICE AND DIRECTOR, RAILROAD ENGINEERING AND SAFETY PROGRAM, DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
