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

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...
News

Q.series demo at European Rotorcraft Forum

From September 5 – 8, Gantner participated in the 42nd edition of the European Rotorcraft Forum. The event was held in Lille, France.

Read more...
News

Innovative EIS Solution for Next-Generation Battery Storage Systems

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) is an analytical tool for anyone involved in the development, maintenance, and advancement of electrochemical systems like batteries, fuel cells, and electrolyzers. Understanding EIS and its benefits can provide a substantial edge in optimizing these systems’ performance and longevity.

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...