4,000 km of rail network digitized with JAWESO Panora Pro PL 

In order for rail infrastructure to be operated and maintained reliably, corridor data must be consistently accurate and quickly available. Rail Corridor Mapping provides this basis by capturing the track environment and infrastructure in high resolution and detail and making it available for evaluation.

This is not about “pretty pictures” but about reliable information along the entire route. High-resolution 360° images and point clouds make details visible and comprehensible, such as the condition of the track and its surroundings, vegetation in the clearance profile, and structures such as bridges, tunnels, and platforms. This facilitates inspection, documentation, and maintenance planning and reduces queries because the condition is clearly documented.

Practical example: Deutsche InfraSoft

In the last quarter, Deutsche InfraSoft collected mobile mapping data throughout Germany using, among other things, the JAWESO Panora Pro PL. The initial goal was to digitize around 4,000 kilometers of track corridor and establish a reliable data basis for inspection, documentation, and maintenance planning in the Deutsche Bahn environment.

JAWESO Panora Pro PL mounted on a rail vehicle for high-detail rail corridor mapping

Ultra-high-resolution imaging makes the decisive difference

For the railway sector, image resolution is not just “nice to have,” but is crucial for evaluation. With 200 MP, even smaller objects and conditions along the corridor can be reliably detected and later checked in a targeted manner, for example, on installations in the track area and on components that are quickly lost in standard images. This saves return trips and makes data use in the office much more efficient.

Suitability for everyday use under harsh conditions

The project did not run under laboratory conditions. Over the course of the project, the systems were used daily in the field and had to withstand changing weather conditions. Typically, 200 to 300 km were recorded per day at 80 km/h. At night in particular, the systems were exposed to freezing cold, snow, and heavy rain. But the recording continued to run stably every day. And that is precisely what is crucial, because the technology has to deliver every day so that a project of this size remains plannable.

Real-time sensor fusion and JAWESO-DoubleSLAM

In addition to the georeferenced 200-megapixel panoramas, the trajectory and point cloud were also recorded. The real-time fusion of GNSS/IMU including correction data and LiDAR speed already provides a high-quality basis in the field. In post-processing, the trajectory and point cloud can be further optimized by JAWESO-DoubleSLAM, especially in sections with weak GNSS coverage or in tunnels. It is precisely these areas that often determine the usability of a data set in the rail environment.

Fewer closures, greater safety

Working in the track area always involves safety measures and often also disrupts operations. If data can be collected at 80 km/h, both of these factors are reduced. No personnel are required on the track for measurement tasks, and the recording vehicle can integrate into traffic without causing long closure times. This increases safety and reduces operational friction losses.

Additional JAWESO Planar for inventory in the track bed

In the 4,000-kilometer project, the JAWESO Planar system was also used to specifically record inventory close to the track bed. This includes, for example, switches, ETCS components, trackside equipment, and other infrastructure elements. These highly detailed images are also suitable as a basis for automated AI evaluations, for example to find anomalies and prioritize potential damage more quickly.

We are delighted that Deutsche InfraSoft has used the JAWESO Panora Pro PL and the JAWESO Planar system in a large-scale corridor project, demonstrating how high-resolution rail data can be captured efficiently and with minimal disruption to operations.