Austria | Germany | France | Sweden | India | USA | China | Singapore
Cloud-based Railway Bridge Monitoring with Solar Powered Q.series DAQ
News | 2 minutes Reading Time |

Cloud-based Railway Bridge Monitoring with Solar Powered Q.series DAQ

For a large railway operator, Gantner Instruments continuously monitors a railway bridge using displacement transducers to detect deflection in bridge support elements.

Bridge movement is measured with every passing train and data is transferred to a Gantner Cloud system via 4G modem. In the case of unwanted bridge movement, an alarm is generated and the Railway Operations Center is notified by Email. For every passing train, data is acquired at 500Hz with high resolution to ensure precise measurement of bridge movements for further evaluation.

The challenge was the tight schedule to provide a solution with no possibility to power the measurement system from any local grid. In combination with the demand to generate fast and precise measurement data with every passing train, the power supply system had to be designed with great care. After analysis of the local region’s weather data from the past 5 years, two solar panels were selected along with a high-quality Lithium-Ion battery. This carefully selected combination of products guarantees several days of measurement autonomy, even under harsh environmental conditions including low temperature and solar radiation during the winter season.

The entire process from first customer interaction to the installation and commissioning of the off-grid measurement system took only 3 months. Gantner Instruments was responsible for the complete system design of the measurement cabinet as well as the simulation and design of the solar powered off-grid system. After 2 weeks of full-scale testing at Gantner Instruments’ headquarters located in Schruns, the complete measurement system was delivered on-site.

Thanks to close cooperation with the customer during all project phases, both the installation and commissioning of the complete measurement system were executed within one day. With the Gantner Cloud system now in operation, data is collected with every passing train while live measurement values and system status information is accessible for railway crew with just a few mouse clicks. With a web browser-based fleet monitoring system such as the Gantner Cloud, it is possible to manage any number of constructions, regardless if on-site grid power is available.

More articles

News

Test of Battery and Battery Management Systems

At a very early stage Gantner Instruments was involved with special products for testing of batteries in the E-Drive environment. An already existing and successful product range is now supplemented with a useful novelty.

Read more...
Products & Services

Q.series X D107 SV: Digital Measurement Module with Sensor Supply

The Q.series X D107 2 x Lemo 2B SV module from Gantner Instruments provides a comprehensive solution for digital signal acquisition and sensor supply needs. Designed for distributed installations requiring precise digital measurements, this module enhances the Q.series product family's robust offering.

Read more...
NewsProducts & Services

Python Integration – A New Level of Automation and Analysis

Engineering teams rely on powerful, customizable tools to handle increasingly complex test scenarios. GI.bench now includes integrated Python scripting, empowering engineers to automate measurement workflows, perform advanced real-time analyses, and seamlessly integrate with external software. This feature leverages Python's rich ecosystem, ensuring flexibility and efficiency in test and measurement projects.

Read more...
Tips & Trends

3 Trends in testing you can’t ignore any longer

Testing is an agile business by its core definition. The structures and systems to be tested, whether it is in the automotive, aerospace, energy or civil engineering segment, keep evolving quickly and the data acquisition system needs to keep pace with it. At the same time not every new, hot trend will change your tomorrow.

Read more...