IBM opens global rail innovation centre

IBM has opened a new centre to devoted to the development of the next-generation rail systems in China. The centre will aim to modernise passenger and freight railroad systems through the engagement of industry leaders, researchers and universities for the next-generation rail systems.

The founding members of the Centre's advisory board include leading representatives and organisations in the railroad community: Judge Quentin L. Kopp, chairman of the California High Speed Rail Authority; Michigan Technological University; Motorola; Railinc; RMI; Sabre; Tsinghua University; and Professor Joseph M. Sussman of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The Advisory Board's role is to help define areas where business and technology solutions can solve passenger and freight rail problems. The Centre will address the rail industry's most pressing challenges, including-passenger reservations and service; asset utilisation and productivity; surveillance of tracks and infrastructure; scheduling; Integrated fare management; and environmentally efficient operations.

Based in Beijing, the Centre will be staffed by a global network of IBM rail consultants, software specialists, mathematicians and business partners. ''Population growth and urbanisation are driving an unprecedented demand for modernized rail systems, and governments and businesses worldwide recognise that railroads play a critical role in supporting economic growth,'' said Keith Dierkx, director of the IBM centre.

Dierkx says, ''By bringing together leading industry experts and advanced technologies, we can help rail providers increase rail capacity, efficiency, safety, and customer service – resulting in networks of smarter rail systems around the world.'' New railroad networks will contain millions of sensors that track everything from train speeds to when brakes need to be replaced. Building these intelligent rail networks requires a high-powered, integrated system that can collect, manage and analyze the enormous amount of data flowing in from the tracks, through the trains and stations, and across the maintenance process.

One major area of focus will be safety and preventive maintenance. Smarter capabilities and insight can help to prevent accidents before they happen. Sensor-based early detection of potential equipment failures provides a more optimal predictive maintenance scheme, and various monitoring capabilities for rail infrastructure such as tracks and bridges can reduce disruptions to passenger and freight service.