3D LIDAR data processing and analysis

The requirement

To optimise the maintenance and management of railway infrastructure, an accurate and reliable method is needed to analyse the condition of infrastructure elements in 3D. The aim is not only to improve knowledge of the assets, but also to identify faults (e.g. rail deformation or displacement, checking gauges and detecting collision risks) using LiDAR data, and to improve the quality of services through optimised, predictive maintenance.

This requirement aims to :

- Improve infrastructure managers' (IMs) asset management.

- Reduce maintenance and operating costs.

- Improve safety and operational performance.

The solution

The proposed solution combines :

- Processing of 3D LiDAR data with digital twins and AI.
- Identification of defects directly on the 3D data, enabling rapid and accurate analysis.
- Generation of reports including 3D measurements and detailed plans.

Key functionalities include :
- Simulation of train gauges and identification of locations for equipment installation.
- Analysis of track layout and generation of 2D and 3D sections.

Experimentation

This solution was tested as part of a sprint between RATP Infrastructres and the start-up The Cross Product (TCP) with the following stages:
1. Data collection:   - Acquisition of a georeferenced 3D point cloud over approximately 3 km x 2 tracks1 km of rail network.   - Comparison with topographic data.
2. Analysis and validation: - Calculation of kilometre points (PKO) and generation of tunnel cross-sections every 10m.   - Creation of detailed views to estimate the available space in the RER B tunnels.
3. Weekly workshops: - Follow-up of requirements, validation of technical advances, and adjustments based on identified constraints.

Learning

The main lessons learned from this experiment are:
- Progress monitoring : The importance of dashboards to visualise development stages
- Estimating resources: Better planning of technical requirements to avoid delays
- Collaboration: Pooling requirements between projects to optimise the efforts of all stakeholders.

Further steps

After technical validation, the solution will be tested on a larger-scale project covering the entire RER B line, with a full analysis and the involvement of key stakeholders.