After an extended period of monitoring the tram track network in Zagreb using an instrumented tram vehicle within the URITMIS project, the research focus is shifting towards direct measurements of track condition. On a new tram track section, approximately 4.5 km long, currently being constructed in Sarajevska Street in Zagreb, advanced measurement equipment has been installed to monitor track behaviour under real operational conditions.
In cooperation with infrastructire managerZET, the Department of Transportation Engineering at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb has established a test section on the newly built track: a segment with measuring equipment for continuous monitoring of tram traffic and track condition. The collected data on vibrations, deformations, and loads will enable a detailed analysis of vehicle-track interaction and the development of advanced infrastructure behaviour models during in-service life.
One of the project’s goals is to establish a digital twin of the tram track, which will serve as the foundation for developing a real‑time predictive maintenance system for the infrastructure. By implementing modern, advanced solutions, potential damages can be detected in time and maintenance schedules optimised, thereby increasing the safety, reliability, and longevity of the tram infrastructure.
The URITMIS project represents a major step towards the digitalisation of Zagreb’s public tram infrastructure and the application of contemporary engineering approaches in the management of track structures.