Ballast Fouling Measurement Tool – Phase III

Researchers developed a second-generation RAdar Ballast Inspection Tool (RABIT) based on ground-penetrating radar (GPR) for use by track inspectors. This system is much lighter (26 lb/11.8 kg) than its predecessor and is portable. It has a single bi-static antenna pair that straddles the tie, enabling the ballast properties under the tie to be measured. During a measurement, the RABIT rolls down the track and obtains average ballast properties over a span of 10 cribs, thereby reducing problems associated with local variability in ballast properties and tie geometry. Researchers collected measurements and ground truth data at 12 test track locations and 84 in-service track locations. The research team trained a neural network to map GPR waveforms to ballast fouling and moisture estimates. The correlation factor between the RABIT estimates and measured values determined from physical ballast samples was greater than 0.9.

• Record URL:
  • https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/ballast-fouling-measurement-tool-phase-iii
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/77159
• Corporate Authors:

  Earth Science Systems, LLC

  11485 W I-70 Frontage Road, Unit B
  Wheat Ridge, CO  United States  80033

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Railroad Policy and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research, Development, and Technology
  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Oden, Charles P
  • Ho, Carlton L
  • 0000-0002-1510-4369
  • Rubin, Aaron J
  • 0000-0002-6512-5360
• Publication Date: 2024-8-24

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report; Technical Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 51p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Ballast (Railroads); Contaminants; Ground penetrating radar; Inspection; Machine learning; Moisture damage; Neural networks; Railroad tracks
• Identifier Terms: RAdar Ballast Inspection Tool (RABIT)
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01929440
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FRA/ORD-24/27
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 2 2024 4:21PM