​RMD’s Contribution to Digitalized Railways Nominated for InfraAwards 2024

Each year, InfraSweden organizes the innovation competition InfraAwards, where the winner receives funding of up to SEK 500,000 to advance an innovation project. Entries must have the potential to contribute to more sustainable transport infrastructure, and this year’s theme is connectivity, digitalization, and AI. Railway Metrics and Dynamics (RMD) is one of the three finalists in this year’s competition.

About InfraSweden

InfraSweden is an innovation program in Sweden aimed at developing sustainable and efficient infrastructure. The program is part of Vinnova’s initiative for strategic innovation areas and brings together actors from industry, academia, and the public sector. The focus is on promoting innovation in the construction, maintenance, and operation of transport infrastructure. Through collaborations and project funding, InfraSweden contributes to meeting future needs for climate-smart and cost-effective solutions.

The Competition Entry

Railway Metrics and Dynamics (RMD) submitted the entry “Digitalize Malmbanan,” which is based on a connected system using sensors and AI for monitoring and intelligent decision support in railway operations.

Digitalizing the railway system has always been important to RMD, and given that Malmbanan is one of Sweden’s most critical railway lines with significant importance for the country’s economy, it is particularly essential. In the past five years, nine severe derailments have occurred, the most recent being in Vassijaure near the Norwegian border in February 2024.

Planned Maintenance is Crucial

The single-track railway is sensitive, and the heavy loads cause premature wear on the rails, leading to fatigue cracks. Derailments result in severe consequences, including torn-up rails, damage to vehicles and wagons, long delays, and significant financial losses.

With the help of RMD’s sensor technology and AI-based system, damage to locomotives, wagons, and tracks can be detected early. This enables maintenance to be planned, actions prioritized, and the right work carried out at the right time. As a result, delays can be reduced.

If a derailment should occur despite this, the locomotive driver immediately receives a warning via RMD’s “MyTrainApp.” This allows the driver to stop the train and minimize the extent of the damage.

The Importance of Real-Time Monitoring

RMD’s proposal for digitalizing the railway relies on connected sensor technology combined with AI and machine learning. Highly detailed data on the status of locomotives, wagons, catenaries, and the track itself is sent to an AI-based system where it is analyzed in real time. The information can be easily shared with, for example, Trafikverket or third parties.

One of Three Finalists

RMD has been selected as one of three finalists in InfraSweden’s InfraAwards 2024 with its entry “Digitalize Malmbanan.”

– This is very exciting – and a sign that we have succeeded in clearly demonstrating the obvious benefits of our AI-based sensor system, says Jan Lindqvist, CEO of Railway Metrics and Dynamics.

The winner will be announced by InfraSweden and Smart Built Environment on January 15 at Transportforum in Linköping.

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