President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act authorizing a transcontinental railroad in 1862, an era when photographers hauled their bulky equipment by wagon and hand-mixed chemicals to develop images. Today, Lincoln’s railroad and others nationwide deliver the goods Americans use daily while utilizing remote cameras that can take 50,000 images per second as a train passes, sending them to a remote location for analysis. Such innovation is ever-present in our industry, inspiring constant change and improvements in the way we deliver goods in a global economy.
Take train inspections, for example, which number in the hundreds of thousands annually. An average inspection takes four-plus hours, illustrating the need for enhanced efficiency. Wayside detection systems strategically located across rail networks now can automate inspections and identify defects the human eye cannot, including analyzing wheels for internal cracks and flaws. This allows maintenance to be scheduled before trains reach their destinations, allowing carmen to more efficiently use their time fixing cars.
The role of drones in critical incident response will only grow, specifically in obtaining aerial images and testing air quality. They’re also valuable tools for inspecting bridges and communication towers, removing risk for craft employees who today climb those structures. Looking ahead, drone images will be used to create orthomosaic maps to develop future flight plans and automate inspection routes.
We’re also seeing an evolution in 3-D modeling. New software allows users to quickly validate railroad routes for oversize loads, removing time and resources required for manual clearance checks. These advances increase fluidity and enhance customer experience.
Technology permeates every aspect of the industry, and we must challenge ourselves to always think outside the box. We will continue to see increased demand for faster delivery, strengthening rail’s role as a supply chain linchpin.