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

What is Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS)?

As society shifts towards clean, renewable energy, batteries and hydrogen technologies are becoming increasingly crucial. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) offers researchers and engineers valuable insights into these technologies' inner workings. In this blog post, we will explore EIS's benefits, its integration with Q.series X, and its application to batteries and hydrogen technologies.

Read more...
Products & Services

Q.series X A101 SV: Universal Measurement Module with Sensor Supply

The Q.series X A101 2 x DB15HD SV module from Gantner Instruments is a precisely engineered multi-functional measurement module that seamlessly integrates into a variety of industrial applications. With 2 universal analog inputs and a programmable sensor supply voltage and current limit, this module is crafted to provide precise and reliable data across a spectrum of measurement needs.

Read more...
Products & Services

Q.series X A192

The Multifunction Module when Flexibility and the Highest Performance Matters Most

Read more...
Success Stories

How strong are you? 💪🏼

Such was the question asked by electronics apprentice Fabio Rudigier when determining a suitable topic for his final project as part of his final apprenticeship examination. He wanted to develop a machine that measures the force applied by an arm press and displays it visually on a display device.

Read more...