Experimenting an embedded-sensor network for early warning of natural risks due to fast failures along railways

This paper deals with a project for real-time monitoring of railway tracks to detect events, such as fast failures from natural risks, which may threaten the transit of trains. The paper describes a network of smart sensors for early warning of these endangering events. Three main types of fast-failure events involving railways were identified: sinkhole, rock and debris falls. A case study on a known test site and experimentation with various scenarios were carried out with a view to developing algorithms capable of spotting and localising them. Results demonstrate the good performance of the network in monitoring the investigated events.