Satellite network aims to monitor railway level crossings
Berner & Mattner in Munich is leading the SafeRail feasibility study to look for ways to improve the safety at level crossings as part of ESA’s Integrated Applications Promotion Program. This aims to use different types of space assets such as Telecommunications, Earth Observation and Navigation satellites combined with existing terrestrial assets.
With the Austrian companies Brimatech Services, JOANNEUM RESEARCH and Teleconsult Austria and the UK based Avanti Communications the study team furthermore includes project partners in the areas of satellite communication and navigation as well as economic and non-economic technology assessment.
The potential risk of railway level crossings as an intersection of two different traffic modes is very high. A quarter of all railroad fatalities are caused by accidents at railway level crossings. Due to the high variety of existing technical safety systems, efficient modernization of the current systems is at the same time very difficult.
The objective of the study is to determine the technical feasibility and economic viability of a space-based service using an integrated solution which employs different types of space assets in combination with already existing terrestrial technologies. Considered technical means range from determining railroad vehicles position using relative measurements carried out by the railroad company and by satellite navigation to redundant terrestrial and satellite communication and integrated traffic information systems that provide the driver with suitable information.
The SafeRail study is funded by ESA’s Integrated Application Promotion program ARTES 20. The goal is to provide innovative added value to services by combining different space assets and integrating them with existing terrestrial assets.
Berner & Mattner Systemtechnik currently employs 430 people at 7 sites in Germany and Austria and is a member of the international Assystem Group.
www.berner-mattner.com
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