Metro infrastructure is expensive, complex, intensively used, and critical for the safe and reliable provision of metro services. This study brings together information from 26 metros to identify technologies used by metros for automated monitoring of infrastructure (track, power and tunnels) and detection of pre-failure conditions that may enable a shift to condition-based maintenance.
There were four key benefits identified in the study that could be achieved through the
introduction of automated monitoring.
- Improved Reliability e.g. increased frequency of measurements, increased
knowledge of assets and reduced rate of failures for equipment - Changes to Existing Work Practices e.g. changing maintenance frequencies and
procedures without impact on safety/effectiveness - Labour Hour / Cost Savings e.g. changes to existing work practices leading to greater efficiency and/or productivity
- Improved Safety e.g. due to increased reliability; reduced time required in danger
zone for track workers.