Sensor technology developed by students at the University of the West of Scotland could speed up the identification and repair of railway track faults.

The IoT (Internet of Things) tech developed by the student team will monitor track temperatures, vibration, applied forces and voltages to pinpoint faults as they occur. It is hoped that the technology will enable engineers to monitor railway faults in real-time, helping them to react swiftly and allocate suitable resources.

Long-term, this could help reduce repair time, relieve pressure on resources and minimise service disruption for passengers on Scottish railways. Currently, rail engineers are required to check multiple sections of track before a fault is identified – all without knowing the complexity of the issue until it is identified.

This process is time-consuming and often leads to frustrating delays for commuters.

Dr Muhammad Zeeshan Shakir, project lead, said the tech has the potential to “simplify and automate” a range of processes not just in rail maintenance, but across a range of industries.

“Wireless sensor technology is advancing all the time, becoming smaller, cheaper and smarter, making it ideal for industrial use,” he explained.

“The tech has the potential to simplify and automate a range of fault monitoring and detecting processes across a number of industries, aided by advanced data analytics and machine learning algorithms.”

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Students from the University’s MSc Smart Networks course have already developed a suitable prototype and hope to trial the tech on Scottish railways later this year, Dr Shakir added.

“We’re in the process of applying for further funding and are also preparing to trial the technology on real tracks,” he explained. “We are confident this technology can assist rail engineers in their daily tasks, as well as minimise disruptions for passengers of Scotland’s rail network.”