DB tests AI-equipped customer service “talking head”
German Rail (DB) has begun testing a Socio Empathic Human-Machine Interaction (Semmi) customer service robot that, using artificial intelligence (AI), is able to answer customer queries.
Analytics – Sponsored by Bentley
Preventive to Prescriptive to Predictive
Railway Age, June 2019 Issue, The Evolution in Track Geometry Technology: As railroaders know, establishing and maintaining proper track geometry requires frequent attention to maintain safe and fluid operation. Despite best efforts, derailments will occasionally occur due to geometry exceptions, prompting track engineers to look for more effective methods of correcting issues before they become problems.
Rolling Asset Health
Railway Age, June 2019 Issue, Combining Big Data Analytics With Remote Monitoring: Advancing safe and efficient rail operations continues to be a primary focus of North American freight railroad operations. What is particularly exciting right now is that the data available to railroads, both in its detail and volume, enables them to manage their operations in ways that were not possible before.
New from Bentley for transit: OpenBuildings Station Designer
Bentley Systems Inc. has released OpenBuildings Station Designer, described as “a new multidisciplinary application for the design, analysis, visualization, and simulation of new or operating rail, metro or other transit stations. Advancing beyond generic BIM (Building Information Modeling) applications, OpenBuildings Station Designer was developed specifically for rail and transit station modeling, with asset-specific content and workflows. It streamlines and automates design collaboration design between architectural, mechanical, electrical and structural disciplines sharing modeling, clash resolution and documentation capabilities.”
Webinar: Going Digital in Rail—Improving Decisions From Planning to Performance
Rail and transit continues to be the fastest growing transportation sector, producing new opportunities and challenges for those responsible for existing and proposed networks. Against the backdrop of limited resources, tighter budgets and shorter deadlines, the relevance and need for trusted data, including that collected from IoT connected devices like drones and sensors is greater now than ever before.
New from Bentley: OpenSite Designer
Bentley Systems Inc. has released OpenSite Designer, described as “an integrated application for civil site and land development workflows across conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design phases. OpenSite Designer advances BIM (Building Information Modeling) through comprehensive 3D site design, spanning reality modeling of site conditions from drone imagery and scans, geotechnical analysis, terrain modeling, site layout and grading optimization, stormwater drainage modeling and analysis, underground utilities modeling, detailed drawing production and enlivened visualizations.”
Bentley acquires Keynetix
Infrastructure design, construction and operations software provider Bentley Systems, Inc. recently announced its acquisition of Keynetix, a U.K.-based provider of cloud-based software for the capturing, visualizing, modeling and sharing of geotechnical data.
From Penn State Altoona, a new generation of railroaders
In its eighth year, Penn State Altoona’s bachelor of science degree program in Rail Transportation Engineering (RTE) remains the only one of its kind in the country. Having met the standards set by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) in goals, objectives and educational outcomes, students graduating from this program are prepared and eligible to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, the first step toward becoming a licensed professional engineer.
Wi-Tronix Violet installations, orders top 2,000
Wi-Tronix, LLC has reached a milestone of more than 2,000 of its Violet Edge locomotive event recorders ordered or installed industry-wide.
Adapt or die: Railroads must embrace advanced technologies
Advancements in the logistics industry over the past ten years have been vast, especially in over-the-road shipping modes with shippers utilizing 3PLs at record levels for domestic transportation management. The move toward partnering with logistics service providers has allowed shippers to use the power of modern technology to increase visibility and track product movements throughout their supply chains with greater efficiency than ever before. Unfortunately, rail has not seen advancement at the same pace, leaving shippers with the perception that rail carriers are behind the times.