URITMIS

Category: scientific visits

  • Research Visit to ETH Zurich – Meeting on Vibration-Based Predictive Maintenance of Urban Railway Track Infrastructure

    Within the framework of the URTIMIS project and the development of predictive maintenance systems for urban rail tracks, a research visit by members of the Railway Engineering Chair at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb is planned to the group led by Prof. Eleni Chatzi at the Chair of Structural Mechanics and Monitoring at ETH Zurich.

    Following a brief presentation of The Chair of Railways from the Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, the discussion will focus on the transition of maintenance strategies for urban railway tracks – from periodic inspections to predictive, data-driven infrastructure monitoring based on continuous data acquisition. Urban railway and tram systems are facing increasing operational loads, ageing infrastructure, environmental impacts of vibrations, and limited maintenance resources. In response to these challenges, approaches are being developed based on continuous monitoring of vibro-acoustic signals collected from instrumented vehicles in operation, combined with the development of digital twins and the instrumentation of track infrastructure. This enables detailed monitoring of track behaviour under real operating conditions.

    During the visit, discussions will address:

    • the application of vibro-acoustic measurement data for assessing track condition in urban railway systems
    • the development of digital twins of track infrastructure based on machine learning and artificial intelligence
    • the integration of continuous monitoring data into systems for maintenance planning and predictive maintenance of urban rail tracks

    The visit represents a great opportunity for cooperation between The Department of Transportation Engineering at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and ETH Zurich, particularly in the context of research on urban tramway infrastructure and its long-term maintenance. Participation in such activities further highlights the importance of international collaboration and knowledge sharing in the development of smart and resilient transport systems.

    Details about the visit can be found here.

  • Instrumentation of a new tramway track section in Sarajevska Street

    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.

  • Visit to the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Faculty of Civil Engineering from 18 to 21 June 2024.

    Visit to the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Faculty of Civil Engineering from 18 to 21 June 2024.

    Assoc. Prof. Ivo Haladin visited the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. During his visit, he had the opportunity to present the URITMIS project at the workshop Innovative Condition Monitoring Solutions for Urban Rail Transit Systems: Exploring Collaborative Opportunities, held on 18 June 2024. In his presentation, he outlined the project’s objectives, shared updates on its current progress, and discussed the ongoing activities associated with the initiative. The visit also provided a valuable platform for academic exchange, fostering collaboration and discussions on potential future joint research opportunities.

  • Outbound mobility to the Poznan University of Technology

    Outbound mobility to the Poznan University of Technology

    Our project member, Krešimir Burnać got the Hrvatska zaklada za znanost (Croatian Science Foundation) PhD mobility programme scholarship and spent one month on the University of Technology Poznan, visiting prof. Bartosz Firlik PhD and his research team on the Division of Rail Transport. The aim of the mobility was to conduct a measurement campaign connected to the vibro-acoustic properties of the tramway vehicles and tracks and the possibility of evaluating the condition of the rail running surface based on tramway vehicle vibrations.

    Big thanks to our hosts in Poznan, prof. Bartosz Firlik PhD, Tomasz Nowakowski PhD, Paweł Komorski PhD and to the Hrvatska zaklada za znanost (Croatian Science Foundation) for this wonderful opportunity.

    To read more about Krešimir’s mobility you can visit the link: https://lnkd.in/gq_QWMvv