Evaluation of Intrusion Detection Technologies for High Speed Rail Grade Crossings

摘要

The rail industry is in the process of developing a prototype system for high speed rail. One of the concerns when using high speed rail is the danger of obstructions on the track. This level of danger is much higher than with traditional railway vehicles because the high speed passenger equipment is both lighter and faster moving than traditional equipment. It is therefore more vulnerable to serious damage and derailment by objects on the track. The goal of this project was to evaluate methods for detection of objects on railway track where they are crossed by a roadway. Two existing traffic monitoring technologies were tested for their potential in railway intrusion detection: video and microwave. Laboratory test results indicated that both systems appeared to have good potential for use in railroad intrusion detection. The video system was tested in indirect natural light, medium intensity artificial lighting and low level artificial lighting. Object detection was independent of color, composition, and direction of entry but was a direct function of detection zone size. Spheres as small as 4 inches (102 mm) in diameter, were consistently detected by the video system at distances of 15-25 feet (4.6-7.6 m).