Design of Rail-Track Geometric Systems by Satellite Measurement

Abstract

In this article a new method of designing railway track geometry is introduced. This method is adapted to the technique of global positioning system (GPS) surveying. In the presented method, the basic data necessary to project railway line modernization (the arterial directions of routes and their intersection angles as well as the coordinates of the existing rail-track axis) are obtained through continuous rail-track satellite measurements using antennas installed on mobile rail vehicle. Because the shaping of straight-line track with satellite measurements does not cause any difficulty, attention was given to designing bending sections. It has been assumed that the geometric track layout will be designed on the basis of an appropriate working system of coordinates. Then, some transformation of the acquired solution will be conveyed to the global system. The whole analysis together with the included theoretical equations is aimed at developing a concept of the rail-track system that will be as friendly in practice as possible. Therefore, it has been illustrated with a calculation example, taking advantage of data obtained from a railway line in use.