Connectivity.
It’s a word that you hear getting thrown around a lot. As more and more industries experience widespread digitalization, and we rely on mobile devices to conduct even the simplest of daily activities, it becomes clear that there are many opportunities to leverage connectivity to work more efficiently and make smarter decisions.
This is where the Internet of Things (IoT) enters the picture.
The Internet of Things for railroads
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to objects that have unique identifiers and possess the ability to transfer data over a network in near real-time.
Once this data is transmitted, railroads can then leverage data analytics to extract insights from the data to optimize performance and efficiency. What railroads are realizing is that they can make predictions about the future through historical and current data, convey this information in real time, and act on it.
Everyday objects can send and receive real-time data to each other, enabled with computing devices that are embedded in these devices.
The benefit of IoT for railroads
According to Cisco, an estimated $30 billion is going to be spent on the Internet of Things in railways in the next 15 years. Back in 2016, Progressive Railroading wrote that the IoT represents a world of opportunity for railroads and the technology providers that serve them.
Railroads have a unique position in the supply chain. With a long-established history in the transportation industry, the railroads can best benefit from the capabilities the IoT offers to gain a competitive edge in the transportation industry.
The end result of leveraging these technologies is a more centralized system and an intelligent railway. Railroads can run safer, make smarter decisions, and work more efficiently.
Let’s look at a couple of examples of this in play:
Positive Train Control (PTC)
Federal laws from the Federal Railroad Administration have mandated that railroads in the U.S. implement Positive Train Control (PTC) technology in order to ensure safety across a railway. With PTC, a train receives information about its location and where it is allowed to travel safely. There are mechanisms on the train (a type of train protection system) that use this information to enforce safe travel when needed, which prevents unsafe movement. The implementation of PTC points to the growing role that technology plays in supporting safety and security across railroads through collecting and exchanging data to inform safety procedures.
Sensor data
For many railroads, the potential of overheated axle boxes and brakes can lead to derailments. The only way to combat this overheating is to install sensors which are mounted along the sides of the rails. These sensors detect increased radiated heat that’s emitted from a defective axle box or bearing.
This is an example of the Internet of Things (IoT) in play, collecting raw data from sensors which are transmitted to an Azure Data Lake. Here, it can be stored and real-time alerts sent out within a minute of a bearing failure. This helps to support safety in a railroad, preventing derailments before they can occur, which saves costs.
How data analytics helps
At the core of increased connectivity is the transmission of data from one device to another, in real time. This is doable, given the sheer amount of data a railroad can leverage. But this also makes creating a strategy to leverage the IoT intimidating. Where do you start?
To make this process smoother, service providers have designed systems using Azure Stream Analytics in order to gather data in real time and deliver actionable insights to your railroad. Azure Stream Analytics integrates with Azure IoT Hub and IoT Suite to enable real-time analytics on data coming from sensors and applications.
If you’re interested in learning more about how railroads can benefit from the Internet of Things, check out this blog post.
