Omnicom Engineering Ltd: Asset Survey Train 4002 'Sets the Scene' for Nexus Rail

Saturday 11th July 2009 was a momentous day for NEXUS Tyne and Wear Metro in Newcastle as Metro Car 4002 emerged from Gosforth Depot at 0800 hrs.

On this day, 4002 was not to carry its usual payload of passengers rather it was to play a pivotal role as a specially commissioned survey vehicle and as the technology platform for a ground-breaking survey of the NEXUS Rail network undertaken by Omnicom Engineering Limited (OEL).

NEXUS Rail commissioned OEL to carry out the first ever, multi-camera digital video survey of the assets and infrastructure along 78 km of their network.

OEL engineers and survey specialists supported by their sub-contractor Derby Engineering Unit spent 4 days mobilising 4002 with a combination of the lastest geo-positioning and video technologies. These included high-definition (HD) video cameras, differential global positioning (DGPS) and inertial navigation systems (INS). The award-winning survey system, developed by OEL, is called OmniSurveyor3D^®.

This installation included the external fitting of a purpose-built frame upon which were mounted five cameras to capture respectively the rail corridor, left and right rails, both railheads and a 90° left facing cess view. A 6th camera was mounted in a roof opening specifically to film the overhead power line. Each camera is linked to the combined DGPS and INS systems enabling accurate geo-positioning of the resultant video imagery. Special lighting was also needed to illuminate the rail cameras in the 7 km of tunnels under the city.

A rain-free day with optimum visibility and clarity of light, the promise of the highest-quality video imagery was eagerly anticipated by the joint NEXUS Rail/OEL survey crew.

4002 began her first run from Newcastle Airport to South Shields passing an unusually blue North Sea and crowded beaches at Whitley Bay. During the day, 4002 continued unhindered, back and forth around the network, to schedule, with no incidents and according to a pre-prepared, demanding train plan. This ensured no impact on the daily operation of the Metro itself.

It provides a first-ever complete and detailed visual record of their network and all the assets and infrastructure that form it. OmniSurveyor3D^® will allow NEXUS rail engineers to visit any part of their network from the relative safety of desktop/laptop computer.

The video imagery and software will allow them to view and freely navigate the network. They can take precise measurements in 3D, capture assets together with their geospatial position and all this without going near the track. Sweeping reductions in trackside visits and the need to schedule costly possessions will lead to major savings across the organisation.

The next stage will see OEL undertake and deliver to NEXUS Rail a detailed asset collection, extracted from the video according to a series of agreed work instructions.

Phil Kirkland, Head of Rail Infrastructure Engineering at NEXUS Rail said "the asset survey project with OEL has become a great talking point in our organisation given the visibility of 4002 on the system. My colleagues are astounded, not only at the physical constructions of the mobilisation, but also the professionalism of OEL, their technical efforts and the technologies behind the scenes".

Martyn Clegg, Business Development Manager at OEL said "we are delighted to have the opportunity to undertake this ground-breaking survey. We enjoy an excellent working relationship with NEXUS Rail. In partnership with them we are supportive at the core of their efficient business operations and we have also established our credentials as a proven service provider to the Passenger Transit Industry".



	Asset Survey Train 4002 'Sets the Scene' For Nexus Rail Saturday 11th July 2009 was a momentous day for NEXUS Tyne and Wear Metro in Newcastle as Metro Car 4002 emerged from Gosforth Depot at 0800 hrs. On this day, 4002 was not to carry its usual payload of passengers rather it was to play a pivotal role as a specially commissioned survey vehicle and as the technology platform for a ground-breaking survey of the NEXUS Rail network undertaken by Omnicom Engineering Limited (OEL). NEXUS Rail commissioned OEL to carry out the first ever, multi-camera digital video survey of the assets and infrastructure along 78 km of their network. OEL engineers and survey specialists supported by their sub-contractor Derby Engineering Unit spent 4 days mobilising 4002 with a combination of the lastest geo-positioning and video technologies. These included high-definition (HD) video cameras, differential global positioning (DGPS) and inertial navigation systems (INS). The award-winning survey system, developed by OEL, is called OmniSurveyor3D^®. This installation included the external fitting of a purpose-built frame upon which were mounted five cameras to capture respectively the rail corridor, left and right rails, both railheads and a 90° left facing cess view. A 6th camera was mounted in a roof opening specifically to film the overhead power line. Each camera is linked to the combined DGPS and INS systems enabling accurate geo-positioning of the resultant video imagery. Special lighting was also needed to illuminate the rail cameras in the 7 km of tunnels under the city. A rain-free day with optimum visibility and clarity of light, the promise of the highest-quality video imagery was eagerly anticipated by the joint NEXUS Rail/OEL survey crew. 4002 began her first run from Newcastle Airport to South Shields passing an unusually blue North Sea and crowded beaches at Whitley Bay. During the day, 4002 continued unhindered, back and forth around the network, to schedule, with no incidents and according to a pre-prepared, demanding train plan. This ensured no impact on the daily operation of the Metro itself. So what does the survey give to NEXUS Rail? It provides a first-ever complete and detailed visual record of their network and all the assets and infrastructure that form it. OmniSurveyor3D^® will allow NEXUS rail engineers to visit any part of their network from the relative safety of desktop/laptop computer. The video imagery and software will allow them to view and freely navigate the network. They can take precise measurements in 3D, capture assets together with their geospatial position and all this without going near the track. Sweeping reductions in trackside visits and the need to schedule costly possessions will lead to major savings across the organisation. The next stage will see OEL undertake and deliver to NEXUS Rail a detailed asset collection, extracted from the video according to a series of agreed work instructions. Phil Kirkland, Head of Rail Infrastructure Engineering at NEXUS Rail said "the asset survey project with OEL has become a great talking point in our organisation given the visibility of 4002 on the system. My colleagues are astounded, not only at the physical constructions of the mobilisation, but also the professionalism of OEL, their technical efforts and the technologies behind the scenes". Martyn Clegg, Business Development Manager at OEL said "we are delighted to have the opportunity to undertake this ground-breaking survey. We enjoy an excellent working relationship with NEXUS Rail. In partnership with them we are supportive at the core of their efficient business operations and we have also established our credentials as a proven service provider to the Passenger Transit Industry".
Copyright Omnicom Engineering Ltd 2009 Registered Office: 292 Tadcaster Road, York, YO24 1ET, United Kingdom UK and Wales Company Registration Number 3153641 All rights reserved.

Asset Survey Train 4002 'Sets the Scene' For Nexus Rail