Revolutionizing Railway Track Monitoring: Asia Mobility Technologies Successfully Completes Live Test-Bed with KTMB
Asia Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd, a prominent provider of mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, has accomplished a groundbreaking live test-bed program in collaboration with KTM Bhd (KTMB), Malaysia's largest railway operator. The program, known as IOrail, introduces innovative drive-by sensing technologies incorporating custom-designed IoT devices installed on trains. The data captured by these devices is transmitted to Asia Mobility's cloud platform, powered by advanced machine learning algorithms. This platform processes vibration signals, enables real-time defect prediction, and generates virtual models to monitor the physical condition of railway tracks. By providing real-time condition parameters and defect detection capabilities, IOrail empowers railway operators to identify faults and address them proactively, minimizing the risk of accidents. This live test-bed, a first of its kind in Malaysia, was developed entirely in-house by Asia Mobility Technologies.
Ramachandran Muniandy, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Asia Mobility Technologies, highlighted the significance of IOrail in creating a digital twin of railway tracks, enabling rail operators to shift from preventive to predictive maintenance. He stated, "Typically, such solutions are associated with large and costly systems from multinational vendors, costing millions of ringgit. However, we have demonstrated that Asia Mobility Technologies possesses the expertise and capabilities to provide a cost-effective solution with a remarkable 70% cost savings."
According to a survey conducted by Asia Mobility Technologies and ASAP Mobility, a Malaysian-based system engineering and consultancy firm, half of the railway operators in Asia lack condition monitoring systems. Among those with systems in place, 54% rely on manual inspection methods. The survey also revealed that four out of five operators expressed willingness to upgrade to advanced digital systems, with nearly two-thirds emphasizing the need for higher detection accuracy and faster reporting turnaround times.
Survey participants consisted of railway operators and rail asset owners from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, the Philippines, and Saudi Arabia.
Asia Mobility Technologies asserts that IOrail's proactive monitoring capability is a game-changer for railway operators, as it eliminates the need for infrastructure installation along the tracks or wayside, unlike traditional condition monitoring systems. With IOrail's deployment limited to the installation of devices on rolling stock and utilization of open 4G connectivity, operators can benefit from substantial cost savings, making it highly cost-effective and scalable for railway networks in the developing world, where efficient rail systems are vital for transportation of passengers and goods.
During the test-bed program, IOrail was implemented on KTMB trains operating on the Skypark Link and selected Komuter routes. Over the course of eleven months, the program collected more than 400 GB of data, covering a track distance of over 135,000 km. Remarkably, IOrail achieved a 100% detection rate of manually observed defects, outperforming manual inspections by identifying twice as many anomalies.
IOrail is now available for potential commercial partners to introduce across Southeast Asia, marking a significant milestone in revolutionizing railway track monitoring.
