Marshall University Refines Technique to Measure Railroad Track Wear and Deformation

A refined technique for taking measurements of railroad tracks has been developed by Marshall University researchers for use in busy railroad yards, where physical access to rails is limited and dangerous. The new technique, in which locomotives are retrofitted with high accuracy Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment, integrates state-of-the-art data collection and processing software that can actually collect data as locomotives maneuver cars in rail yards. Used in lieu of traditional track-surveying methods, this advanced system has the potential to realize significant safety and accuracy benefits.