1. Digital Gauging
Colin Johnson
Managing Director
DGauge Ltd

2. ? What is Gauge Clearance? Gauging Calculations (‘Knowns’)
Gauging Allowances
(‘Known Unknowns’)
Clearance
‘Unknowns’

3. ? ? What is Gauge Clearance? Gauging Calculations (‘Knowns’)
Gauging Allowances
(‘Known Unknowns’)
Clearance
‘Unknowns’
Steady State Vehicle Movements
(Multi body simulations)
Worst Case Vehicle Conditions
(Tare / Crush / Failed)
Very Accurate Infrastructure Profiles
(Scanning to exceptional resolution)
Very Accurate Vehicle Profiles
(Typical of new vehicles)
Track Movements over time
(Track Fixity / Maintenance allowances)
Significant Tolerances
(Survey / Vehicle / Electrification)
Transitional Effects
(Overthrow and Dynamic Movement)
OLE Behaviour
(Uplift / Installation / Locations)
Vehicle Speed
Transient Vehicle Movements
(Speed Changes / Curvature Changes)
Environmental Effects
(Wind / Temperature / Ice)
Multiple Pantograph Behaviour
(Uplift Effects and Standing Waves)
Train Positions in Stations
(Stepping Risks as specific steps) ?
*note: this list is by no means exhaustive…….

4. Gauging Trends Trends Requirements
More train platforms, ‘Novel’ behaviour and cascade requirements
Stepping (and mobility) is going to become as critical as clearance
New European Standards (EN15273) are going to add complexity (and potentially confusion) to the UK
Risk Based approach is going to encourage a probabilistic gauging approach
Requirements
Speed and accuracy have to improve to meet tomorrows project timescales
Gauging needs to be less niche and more collaborative

5. Infrastructure Data Trends
Data Quality and Volume are going to increase
(BIM / Measurement Trains / Drones)
Noise and Errors are naturally going to be captured (Smart filtering required)
Requirements
Switch and Crossing Information will be critical
(Transitional behaviour)
Sixfoot and Track Interval Data will be critical
(Passing clearances)
OLE Position and Information will be critical
(Pantograph and Electrical Clearance)
Infrastructure Position(s) need to be monitored

6. Vehicle Trends Trends Requirements
Significant architecture permutations from traditional 20m / 23m vehicles.
Deployable and variable step positions are mainstream technology
Active and Articulated suspension are mainstream technology
Asymmetric and novel suspension (different bogies) are adding pitch and yaw components
Requirements
Longer and wider vehicles will make Switch and Crossing (S&C) information critical (Transitional behaviour)
Longer and wider vehicles will make Sixfoot and Track Interval data information critical
(Passing clearances)

7. Data Increases Vehicle Data Infrastructure Data 2018 2010 2000 1990
(Vehicle Model around 10,000 points)
2018
(Survey Slice up to 1,000 points)
≈ 230,000 Structures
≈900,000 Slices
High Resolution and Precision
Individual Component Profiles
3D dynamic movements (Pitch Yaw)
2010
Individual Car Models
Some Projection Profiles
Multi Body Simulations (e.g Vampire)
Active Suspensions
National Gauging Database
≈ 130,000 Structures
≈600,000 Slices
Medium Resolution and Precision
2000
Route Specific Structures
Low Resolution
Vehicle Library for UK
(Vehicle Model around 100 points)
1990
(Survey Slice around 10 points)
Simple Gauge Profile
Simple Sway Curves (BASS501)
Reference Gauges

8. (Conventional Methods)
What's Next?
Business as Usual
(Conventional Methods)
Local calculation of clearances and distributing findings. Data sources are limited and restricted.
Complexity with standards, settings and project rules often result in multiple truths.
Timescales will lengthen as data volumes increase. Can only be compensated with more or bigger computers.
Multiple users on multiple projects, and multiple designs is exceedingly inefficient.
Poor communication of change between Users, Vehicle Manufacturers and Infrastructure Maintainers.
Do it Smarter
(Digital Gauging)
Use multiple data streams outside the conventional gauging channels to enhance our accuracy and improve validity.
Eliminate bad data prior to gauging assessment.
Stop using local processing power (PC’s) to undertake complex computing assessment more suited to cloud computing.
Use online platforms to share and communicate findings between projects.

9. Data Streams from Train Operations
The Data Role?
Data Streams from Train Operations
Combine Timetable information and Live Train Times
Is there a Stopping risk on the Calling Points?
Can we anticipate the vehicle speed (not the linespeed) through the station?
Are there restrictions in place that could inform future cascading?
Can we mitigate restrictions?

10. Alternative NR Data Streams
The Data Role?
Alternative NR Data Streams
Combine GPS data to cross reference datasets
Curve, Cant and Speed are a Primary cause of Gauging ‘Questions’
The resultant direction and inclination are unlikely to ‘naturally’ change
Other functions capture this data, it could support gauging.

11. Data Streams from ‘the web’…
The Data Role?
Data Streams from ‘the web’…
Combine GPS data to cross reference datasets
Can be used to determine the plausibility of the data before assessment

12. The Technology Role?
Don’t have to limit the capture and storage of data. Storage is cheap.
Have to select and filter the data intelligently to achieve both speed and accuracy. Time is optimised.
Don’t treat all data the same. Use Historical trends to predict problems.
Provide all the information to make gauging decisions. Always available.
We need the technology to be Responsive and Interactive, and to remember.

13. The Technology Role? Got to be cloud based:
Link with other gauging projects
Link with other data streams
Utilise the efficiency of cloud computing
To be available everywhere
Communicate between Introducer and Maintainer

14. The Engineers Role?
“Gauging should not be about the ‘calculation of clearance’ it should be about the interpretation and optioneering of tight clearances”

15. The Engineers Role? Stepping Risks to Class 222 for EMT / MML
Clearance Risks to Mk3 for NR / MML

16. The Engineers Role?
Does the Stepping at Chesterfield Up Station pose a risk?

17. The Engineers Role?
Does the Clearance at Kettering Station pose a risk?

18. The Engineers Role? Do the gauging results make sense?
Has the right question been asked? (Why does it not fit?)
Do the input parameters match the operational requirements?
Has the ‘problem’ always been there? Has something changed?
What is my margin for error?
What is the Likelihood that it will occur?

19. Conclusions Data Technology The Engineer
Using additional data streams. Keep all data.
Use data intelligence and smart filters to validate.
Technology
Use data smartly (and quickly).
Provide evidence to make informed decisions. Be available.
Collaborate and share knowledge.
The Engineer
Digital Gauging will allow the engineer to Interpret not Calculate..

20. Any Questions?