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GPS/GSM structured train traffic monitoring system – utilizing mobile phone networks to support public transportation. Dileepa Jayakody, Mananu Gunawardana, Nipuna Wicrama Surendra, Dayan Gayasri Jayasekara, Chanaka Upendra, Director, Rangana De Silva Abstract: The daily news presents a simple solution implemented by Sri Lanka, to provide an intelligent teach tracking and management system to improve the existing railway transport services.

The solution is founded on powerful mix of mobile computing, Global System pertaining to Mobile Interaction (GSM), Global Positioning System (GPS), Geographical Data System (GIS) technologies and software.

The in-built GPS UNIT module pinpoints the educate location having a highest precision and exchanges the information to the central system via GSM. The availability of this information permits the Coach Controller to take accurate decisions as for the train area. Location info can be even more processed to supply visual setting using roadmaps granting a wholesome view on train area.

Positioning data along with train speed helps the administration to distinguish the feasible safety issues and react to these people effectively making use of the communication strategies provided by the program. Additionally , the place information can be used to facilitate correct scheduling for train entrance and leaving on each stop. Introduction Speedy growth in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a worldwide trend experienced today. Emergence of wireless and mobile solutions plays a key role inside the global ICT boost, unfolding a new age of connection technology.

Global private sector was the initially to explore the limitless opportunities and potential of wireless technologies, by redecorating the business techniques with the the use of latest cellular and mobile technologies to achieve the competitive benefits in the business world. Today, a chance to achieve company goals will depend on purely around the availability, precision and dependability of the details. Governments throughout the world have also known the substantial potential in the ICT sector and are using it as a main instrument to facilitate govt processes and functions with all the goal of uplifting the existing standards of living in the society.

Governments today happen to be inspired by the concepts like eGovernment and mGoverment in which governments are driven by innovative and intelligent utilization of ICT as being a service provider pertaining to government activities and circulation of public information. ICT coupled with latest cellular and cellular technologies can be utilised effectively to streamline authorities activities and public service delivery procedure to improve production and considerably reduce capital expenditure, commitment. Many government authorities have discovered potential areas to be created via the effective implementation of ICT based solutions which will meet the needs of the future universe.

The vehicles infrastructure is definitely one such region, which can be increased to provide a competent, dependable very safe service to the public with the the usage of advanced communication technology. Appropriate usage of technology would support seamless administration of methods that would absolutely impact the country’s overall economy. The railway services in Sri Lanka will be rendered by the Sri Lanka railways Department, which is wholly possessed by the open public sector with the country. The us government is searching for methods to enhance the efficiency on this service while using main goal of offering a better in order to the teach commuters.

Nevertheless , the effort in the government can be constrained by lack of funding and inappropriateness of the current solutions. Nevertheless the development of ICT has exposed many options to uplift the railway support at a lower cost. Accurate train positioning has been a fundamental requirement to enhance the performance of the support. The current change based train-tracking system used by Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) facilitates the teach controllers to deal with the educate operation by giving the train’s location. The place data provided by this system falls short of in consistency.

Furthermore, the upkeep of the system accounts into a large area of total price incurred around the railway services. Majority of these types of systems (especially outside the Colombo Suburban Area) offers low accuracy in terms of indicating the place of a educate to the Coach Controllers. Setting up the systems, which can effectively provide these kinds of readings actually are expensive and the total cost of ownership is unbearable pertaining to SLR. The train security has been a concern with the elevating number of situations being reported that has brought on death and injury.

Many deaths for the railway involve third parties while using incursion on the level crossings. Average teach accident might cost countless Sri Lankan rupees and these can be avoided if there is a mechanism to track the educate location and speed and warn the locomotive individuals about likely safety issues. Additionally , the coach commuters likewise face troubles due to frequent train holdups hindrances impediments, as the administration is unable to provide exact schedules based on train’s location and velocity.

The solution is known as a comprehensive GPS/GSM based train tracking program, which provides correct, dependable and timely info to the controller. The built-in GPS module identifies the train area with a greatest accuracy and transfers the info to the central system by way of GSM. The availability of this information allows the Train Control to take exact decisions for the educate location. Site data could be further prepared to provide visual positioning applying maps approving a nutritious view on educate location.

Setting data along with educate speed allows the administration to identify the possible questions of safety and react to them successfully using the conversation methods provided by the system. Additionally , the location details can be used to assist in accurate organizing with regard to train arrival and departure on each station. These details can also be offered for the commuters to recognize any educate delay in advance making this assistance more reliable. Train services in Sri Lanka The Sri share, Lanka Railways Department gives long range and intercity Colombo commuter, parcel and mail, gets and supply of special harter teaches. This accounts to a dotacion of companies to 105 million individuals and copy of 1. 6th Million metric tonnes of freight per year. The railways are a vital part of the country’s transport facilities. As our economy grows, demand for efficient transportation services boosts, which the train industry comes with an important role to learn in conference. The railroad industry is usually making progress in increasing the number of passengers carried, and its reveal of the gets market, and improving the customer focus and its levels of performance and safety.

Railway Today In 2008, train losses amounted to LKR 4, 553 million and state bus transport losses amounted to LKR 3, 554 mil, giving a total of LKR 8, 107 million loss on state transport. This is not just a one- time phenomenon, but has been the trend the past few decades. The entire losses from your railway alone since 1999 have been LKR 28, 052 million. That means, on average, the railway lost LKR 234 million monthly over the past ten years, or, to create it a lot more graphic, LKR 7. 79 million everyday for the last a decade [1].

This depicts the current condition of the railways system in Sri Lanka for the performance and basic acceptance with the service. Reliability matters for the railway’s customers and to our economy at large. Train delay, one common phenomenon in Sri Lanka is considered inevitable and an acceptable scenario. A coach delay might wary via 15mins to many hours. You will find occasions wherever this has caused disputes among the list of commuters and the administration nevertheless the problem even now remains unresolved. Railways department maintains a fixed schedule on train appearance and leaving but will not pre-update based upon potential gaps.

As a result the commuters confront many challenges and waste time and energy that can be used more productively. The provision of safe and reliable companies is a primary requirement of the railway because thousands count on this services as their excellent mode of transportation. The railway incidents accounts to death, damage and a large cost for the government. Most of the accidents are in sort of derailments, which in turn occur infrequently but have the to cause a large number of casualties. The most significant contributing factors of these incidents involve observe and signaling faults.

Not enough communication between the controllers plus the drivers may well prevent the preliminary precautionary actions being taken to avoid this kind of accidents. Additionally , the danger relies on the fact that there would be zero mechanism to spot the potential safety issues as for the unawareness of trains velocity and location. The railways department has arranged itself many objectives to cope with this situation through a quantitative improvement of the services. It can be planned to improve railway share of traveling transport by percent five per cent to 10% and Modal share of freight transfer from 2% to 10% by 2010[2].

In addition , the department has discovered the importance of improving the safety and performance of the support and has set the following objectives in its strategic program, • Improve cleanliness , quality of coachers / stations • • • • • Reduce teach delays by 25 % and accidents/ derailment by fifty percent Remove most speed restrictions less than 8 Km Ph level Establish management structure based upon performance evaluation and monitoring process Boost the percentage of efficiency Applied a methodology to get utilization of open public funds related to certain services to help make the present negative contribution right positive one particular

There’re a number of constraints which needs to be addressed to be able to achieve these kinds of objectives while this might actually require full reengineering of certain scientific aspects of the latest system. The key constraint of course is the lack of funding. Railways are suffering from historical under-investment stretching out back for decades that could be thought to be so for the foreseeable future as well. However , you can actually develop effective solution that is certainly economically possible the government. This could only be conceivable with the suitable introduction of new technological alternatives that achieve both functionality and price goals.

Conditions for the future Placing objectives won’t be adequate pertaining to the development of the railway services in Sri Lanka. There should be successful and suitable steps considered with a vision on handling future requirements and growth. These steps should involve further more planning, intensive designing, execution of solutions and maintaining such devices in order to preserve the service. There are several potential steps that may be taken in in an attempt to address the majority of the aforementioned issues associated with the railway service that in turn could assist the Railways division in attaining its strategic goals.

Improving Safety The Railway division of Sri Lanka carries regarding 150 , 000, 000 passengers per annum and the security of such service can not be taken for granted. Passengers are entitled to expect to travel and leisure in safety through their quest and the authorities should be devoted to protect the passengers and employers kind any basic safety issue that may rise throughout the journey. Successful safety organizing requires a in depth understanding of crucial risk areas, the activities or perhaps circumstances in which the safety risk to passengers, the labor force and the public can be greatest.

This permits resources and effort to be centered where they may have the best impact. Following are the main security concerns identified in Sri Lanka, • • Facilities engineering issues – derailment, signaling, factors and crossings Public patterns – Attack, objects on line, objects thrown at train locomotives, accidents at level crossings • • Passenger behavior – Struck against set objects, dropping from train in running Workforce problems – maintenance error, control errors The main safety issues are in the form of incidents that mainly involve third parties other than the passengers and the employers.

However , infrastructure protection threats and workforce problems accounts into a considerable amount recognized in Sri Lanka. Most of the infrastructure issues will be associated with signaling and car accident. This can be addressed by developing a communication channel between the coach and the control center. The control centre should be able to discover the train’s location and speed to acknowledge possible safety threats, including collision websites, speeding and noncompliance to signals. The control centre should also manage to notify the locomotive motorists of the reliability threat.

This permits the individuals to avoid at least minimize the harmful outcomes. New system-management technology put together with accurate familiarity with train position will give a chance to present individuals with advisory speeds as well as safety-critical rates, aimed at maintaining the stream of targeted traffic by regulating trains prior to points of discord so as to avoid or minimize the need to stop trains to await routes. Human involvement at control centers can lead to accidents as a result of human error or neglectfulness.

For an instance if the combination point computation is done by hand it can lead to accidents in the event that an erroneous worth is communicated. These complications can only always be solved via an automated system, which will handle these duties and might consequently prevent human error. Improving Reliability , Supply The turn to the train as a trustworthy service offers degraded over the last few decades as a result of poor provision of providers to the public. This is generally due to the recurrent delays experienced specially extended range distance services. A reliable railway is the solitary most important dependence on passengers.

Holds off are an useless use of people’s time, and serious holdups hindrances impediments might disrupt their travelling plans. The first cause of a delay may be: • • • A great infrastructure trouble for which railway department is definitely responsible (for example, a signaling difficulty or a rate restriction enforced in response into a track defect), An functional problem for which a coach operator can be responsible (for example, the breakdown of the train), and An episode that is largely beyond the railway’s control (for model, an accident concerning a third party)

The signaling problems and accidents regarding third parties could be minimized utilizing a communication funnel between the individuals and the control centers. The control centre should be knowledgeable of the train’s current location and velocity that should be based on an accurate, trustworthy source of info. Delays can be minimized with driver admonitory speeds, superior platform leaving times, supported by predictive routing algorithms and supporting dangerous train actions through junctions, can make sure presentation of trains just in time to employ a free path, rather than blocking and starting from rest if a path receives.

None of the solutions will be possible until the current tracking system is changed by a trustworthy and an even more informative program that is capable of featuring accurate educate position and speeds in the entire network. The cost of train control ought to fall speedily once real-time train area systems suitable to the community context can be identified and are also implemented.

It is likely that operations on most regional lines will be manipulated from a great operations hub, through cheap wireless technology such as GSM, the future advancement which will allow increased convenience of train control systems, rules, and improved passenger security services. Bettering Communication and Public Consciousness Lack of data regarding teach schedules, gaps, and low accuracy of the schedules in order to become worse within the circumstance of expansions and could only bring about more time spent on the platform, subsequently resulting in open public dissatisfaction and frustration.

There are many constraints recognized that would stop the railways by providing accurate schedules and other information. • • The static nature of the information sources (ex: static web pages and announcements at stations) Deficiencies with the current traffic monitoring system Public is made aware about the teach schedules using notifications by train stations and with the official internet site of the railways department.

Nevertheless , not one of these methods will provide accurate info as for the static characteristics of the web site and the notices at the station. Additionally , the deficiencies from the current checking system impose constraints about providing exact, dependable and timely details to the user. The made based checking system employed by the railways department can be yet to cover the entire network but would cost a considerable amount for expansion and protection thus, emphasizes the need of an alternative that would be more accurate and affordable.

This limits effective decision-making due to inaccuracy and could also bring about accidents. Additional train ability and better service efficiency will be the essential for success, but the coherent usage of technology to deliver information on coach status in real time will not only improve utilization, yet also offer soft planning as well as accurate information about availability of voyager services.

Additional enhancements of such program would even scholarhip passengers functions such as text messages informing appropriate arrival and departure instances and even the seating capacity of the educate. GPS/GSM Centered Train Tracking System We strongly believe that the correct mix of latest information and communication technologies provides an effective and feasible answer for the advantages of a reliable and accurate educate tracking program to improve the efficiency and productivity of Sri Lanka Railways.

The solution all of us propose encompasses a powerful combination of mobile computing, Global System to get Mobile Communication (GSM), Global Positioning System (GPS), Geographical Data System (GIS) technologies and software to provide an intelligent coach tracking and management system to improve the existing railway transport service. All these technologies are easily integrated to build a robust, scalable architecture as illustrated in Fig. 1 . Fig.: High Level Architecture The basic process in our system is obtaining train site using GPS NAVIGATION technology and transmitting the data via GSM network towards the central control unit to get data digesting and details analysis. Real- time placement information received by the server is made significant and extremely useful for the end user through the use of GIS technology the place that the end user can easily better organize and employ information by a graphic view level. Our system involves 3 key modules. • • • The lightweight hardware device (GPS/GSM teach locator unit) Central machine which andles receiving info from coach locators and concurrent user requests Gui (GUI) to provide services to our stakeholders The train locator unit selected and planted in the coach is designed and implemented, with the cost factor, size of the module, sturdiness and low power usage. The power supply unit of the module is actually a main component which makes a decision the feasibility of the device, as it ought to sustain a seamless way to obtain electricity at a low volt quality for the locator component to function effectively.

The GPS DEVICE receiver of the unit is capable of figuring out the latitudinal and longitudinal position and ground speed of the certain train by simply receiving information from the GPS NAVIGATION satellites. The positioning data is periodically provided for the central server through the GSM transmitter of the component. The device has the ability to of keeping data in a buffer at the same time of GSM connectivity failing, and can synchronize with the remote control server once GSM has returned online. The device can also reply to commands and data calls from the distant server according to administrative requirements of the teach controllers.

We have chosen GSM as the communication medium between the coach locator plus the central storage space to improve accessibility to our system through the use of the existing GSM network which covers the whole nation. The use of GSM over GPRS significantly enhances the feasibility and accessibility to our system. Despite the high mobile penetration and number of mobile telecom providers (GSM) covering the island, GPRS usage and the coverage is poor in several rural areas of Sri Lanka. As a result, selection of GSM over GPRS data connection is feasible and enables island extensive service provisioning.

The competition between GSM companies has also result in high quality GSM services for fair costs. The central control program includes a hardware for controlling and digesting all the position information received from teach locators via the GSM network. The server automatically improvements the repository with newest position, velocity and course information of each train. The server conducts information digesting and inspecting in order to look after different requirements of the users of our system.

The main stakeholders of our program are the train Department), locomotive drivers plus the train managers (Railway commuters. Our primary objective is to be instrumental in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Sri Lanka Train services simply by fulfilling the essential requirement of reliable and real time information of train positioning for monitoring and administration purposes by the Railway Department. The end user of our strategy is offered with an easy to use gui for information research and government tasks.

The web based access and extensible mobile use of our software is designed to be intuitive intended for the end end user to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of our system. We have incorporated GIS techniques to offer location specific data prepared in layers so the end user can better apprehend the info provided by the device. a very good Satellite tv images offering visual placement can serve as history when employed in conjunction with map info specifying the place.

Our system essentially provides operation for the railway supervisor to screen the progress of a particular train or maybe a group of teaches operating in a geographical location. The user can easily search and locate teaches by the coach ID, train name, current location or nearest station etc . Data such as teach speed, way can also be presented along with real time train positioning data. The train control and management method includes managing of heavy traffic of passenger and freight trains, which are operating in complex operating patterns for the railway network.

The coach controller should ensure that traveling trains happen to be adhering to the schedules as well to find efficient routes for unscheduled shipment trains. Recording the train movements, arrival/departure at train stations, gas status, railway track circumstances, and voyager information is a tedious process for the train controllers and will be time consuming if perhaps done personally. The precision of this information is very important to make certain smooth working of the railway service along with optimize reference planning.

For example at an area of a railway-track failure or perhaps an accident, educate controller will be able to decide on the right way to utilize existing resources and efficient substitute routes to assure system accessibility to the railway service because region. As a result our teach tracking system can be increased to handle the train control and management procedure for the Railway Department in order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the train services provided. Following is known as a list of services that can be provided by our system to automate the train control and supervision process. • • • • • • • • •

Automatic record keeping of train procedures and events Functionality to build time-distance chart for teaches which can be accustomed to control and plan the train movements Facility to generate user identified reports and graphs about train movements, arrival-departure each and every station, timetable adherence and so forth Facility to playback the progress of every train and events to get review uses Automated schedule regulation Forecasting functionality in train arrival-departure at diverse stations Computerized detection of over speeding, non-adherence 3rd there�s r egulations, rail-track failures, educate delays and so forth o visitors Facility to send alerts/warnings to particular teach drivers on possible collisions, derailment throughout the system Automated rail bridging control By simply automating the process of record keeping of educate traveling, the load of paper work on the train control is considerably reduced. This would also assure accuracy and integrity of the data getting rid of human error when documents is done by hand. A single access point of data ensures there’s no double entendre of the data recorded inside the system.

The logged info on arrival-departure time at different channels, number of passengers onboard, shipment details, signaling and fuel status in different areas, are instrumental for train administration the moment evaluating functionality of teaches and train locomotive drivers. Graphical representation of the data with ability to compare with historical data will be instrumental for the administration to consider effective decisions. Various end user defined reports on educate activities, new driver performance, traveler and shipment information likewise support well-timed and correct decision making by administration.

Time-distance graph is essential for the train targeted traffic regulation process. The chart gives the consumer a wholesome view with the train blood flow, railway system state in several regions and enables the user to detect unnatural conditions and conflicts. The graph is useful for the train user to identify visitors problems in advance and take precautions to resolve the problems. Info mining is known as a method of removing patterns from data [3].

The use of advance info mining methods combined with sophisticated algorithms just like neural sites, genetic algorithms and secret induction may be instrumental in identifying invisible patterns by enormous volume of data. Spatial data exploration technique combines data mining with GIS to find patterns in space data, that could be a effective tool for applications employing geographical data such as our system. With the huge amount of data regarding train businesses collected daily, process of info analysis using conventional methods would be a struggle.

Hence, the usage of spatial info mining tactics would significantly improve the production and effectiveness of the educate control and management procedure carried out through our system. Center to playback past actions on the railway, enables the user to review and analyze detailed situations in the past. Data mining operations can be used effectively in combination with the playback function to spot sequential patterns of particular activities and their impact on the railway targeted traffic.

For example , in an unfortunate event of a coach collision, train controllers may use the playback feature combined with data mining techniques to analyze and identify the series of activities which ended in that car accident. With that expertise, railway managers can take important precautions and trigger alerting mechanisms to stop such unfortunate accidents at a later date, making the railway travel much less dangerous. Improving basic safety and availability of railway transportation service needs detection and triggering of alerting systems to avoid feasible train collisions and other types of adverse situations.

Constant monitoring of educate location, rate, traffic circumstances, rail-track circumstances and devotedness to visitors regulations will help the train controllers to detect potential collisions and derailments. An appropriate alerting framework is vital to avoid such undesirable incidents by simply alerting the locomotive drivers in advance. Our bodies facilitates a comprehensive alerting system by permitting the teach controllers to send alerts/ notices to locomotive drivers by way of GSM interconnection.

The components unit selected and planted in the teach can be enhanced to immediate the notifies to the driver in visual and hearable forms. A LED display device and a great alarm bell to signal adverse conditions can be built-in with the components unit to get a complete alerting framework. The machine can be further more enhanced to aid voice connection between teach controllers and locomotive motorists in order to provide direction and crucial messages towards the particular rider. This would also enable train locomotive drivers to make contact with the control unit in a state of emergency.

Furthermore the system can be incorporated to significantly improve safety by railway and road area points. Through the years, many road accidents occurred at railway crossings imposing a critical basic safety threat to both coach commuters and passengers in vehicles. These kinds of accidents happen to be caused primarily by the unreliability of the protection mechanisms including blocking biceps and triceps and sign lights utilized at the bridging point. Therefore our system could be extended to boost the dependability of these kinds of safety systems by synchronizing the railway crossing control process together with the incoming train’s position.

We could provide exact real time information concerning train situation, speed and length of the teach to synchronize the capabilities of train crossing while using train moves. The productivity of the service can be considerably improved by giving accurate estimations on approaching train on the rail-road traversing and showing amount of remaining a chance to clear the crossing via train targeted traffic. Alarm triggers to inform road cars approaching as well close to the rail-road crossing at a point of train nearing, can also be included to improve the potency of our remedy.

Thus the program is instrumental in increasing safety of both railway passengers and individuals crossing rail-road cross details. Integrating an intelligent forecasting mechanism on arrival-departure time by different railway stations may further improve the efficiency and productivity of our system. Coach schedule is impossible to avoid subject to teach delays that may occur due to various factors such as excessive train fill, rail track failures, teach traffic, adverse weather conditions and so forth

A number of functional parameters just like railway traffic, train goal, efficient paths, and train infrastructure circumstances have to be considered to effectively forecast train arrival period at different stations. In this article also info mining with other complex methods can be instrumental to provide correct forecasting upon train arrival-departure at areas. The train schedule polices are automatically updated and stakeholders may be notified. One of the primary purposes of the system is to facilitate correct public information istribution with regard to train services and operations. Thus, our system could be incorporated to develop and implement innovative Traveling Information Devices (PIS) depending on real time information of teach positions. LED-Display panels set up at railway stations can display arrivaldeparture moments of each teach enabling the population user for making informed decisions on their journeys. Route quantity, destination from the arriving automobile and ready time can be displayed with real time details.

With correct forecasting of train arrival-departure at areas, Railway Department can improve the loyal customer base and also appeal to new individuals to train transport assistance by successful their trust and minimizing user doubt of applying public transport facilities. The user experience can be further enhanced by bringing out information Kiosks which can offer information to travelers within an intuitive and interactive method to make knowledgeable decisions upon selecting educate routes and departure time.

The online kiosk may be used to obtain travel around information such as alternate tracks to particular destination, path details on the railway map and latest information on train schedules etc . As a web marketing strategy, information about the particular metropolis, culture and commercial activities can also be presented to the end user through the kiosk. Another extendable of the ORINA system is providing real time coach information to handheld products such as mobiles and PDAs.

With the raising interest on mobile applications, access to most recent train routine information by way of mobile connection can be influential for improving customer base from the railway assistance. Easy to use mobile phone applications could be designed and implemented to enable train relevers to easily subscribe to our services and obtain most recent train routine information through mobile devices. Trustworthiness and client loyalty in the railway providers can be considerably improved by using such actions to improve correct public information division of the current status of railway companies.

Conclusion Having seen many developments and modifications in our location monitoring technology, Sri Lanka Railways now has the ability to pin number point the location and other attributes of an functional train within an economical appropriate manner. As a result it is visible that to perfectly keep up with the today’s with regard to information also to comply with the citizen centric governance, technological advancements is essential for a third world country, as all things considered the deciding factors of your country’s achievement would be around the how ollaborative and duplex the governance framework in terms of seamless info flow of accurate and timely information between governance ecosystem. Reference point [1] Rohan Samarajiva, May 2009, Ways to win the war: Sri Lanka’s main line railway, http://www. lankabusinessonline. com/print. php? nid=1238565096 [2] Sri Lanka Train Department 2007, n. m., Future Programs, http://www. railway. gov. lk/future_plan. html

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