A UML-Guided Software Architecture for Real-Time Railway Condition Monitoring

Railroad condition monitoring is essential for a train's safe and efficient passage. However, the high cost and slow speed of the current methods hinder the ability of railroads to monitor the tracks more frequently and network-wide. The need for alternative solutions that are more cost-effective and scalable motivated the design of a real-time information system that agencies can use to make better decisions. This paper introduces the Railway Autonomous Inspection Localization System (RAILS), which will enable safe, reliable, cost-effective, and proactive maintenance. The authors introduce the system architecture and apply Unified Modeling Language (UML) to explain the software design. An experiment using the data collected from a regional railroad validated the system's functionality.