3D clearance profile

Shifts in the track bed or objects protruding into the track area pose a hazard to rail traffic. This applies to tunnels, platforms, and areas along the track where vegetation can encroach on the train corridor. Special surveying trains measure specified clearance profiles at regular intervals.

LiDAR sensors: high-precision 3D data in real time

We develop LiDAR sensors for use on trains to measure the clearance profile of rail lines at high speeds, without contact. The laser scanners provide high-resolution 3D data in real time as a basis for maintenance work. When installed on a survey train, the systems scan the clearance profile at an angle ranging from 350° to a full 360°, perpendicular to the direction of travel, and reference the data to the track. In addition to the clearance profile, the systems also capture objects installed in the vicinity of the track. Our eye-safe laser scanners are based on the pulse or phase-time-of-flight method and measure independently of ambient light, providing trouble-free measurements at night or in tunnels. The robust systems are designed for long-term, low-maintenance operation in challenging measurement environments.

Clearance Profile Scanner (CPS) / High Speed Profiler (HSP)

The Clearance Profile Scanner (CPS) has been used for clearance profile measurements worldwide for over 20 years. The CPS takes 200 profile measurements per second, while the high-speed variant, the High Speed Profiler (HSP), takes as many as 554. Deutsche Bahn uses the HSP on its GMTZ track-measuring train (formerly the LIMEZ). Both systems use the phase-time-of-flight method for optical distance measurement.

Additional moisture detection
The CPS can be operated using an additional wavelength (CPS-Plus) to detect moisture or vegetation. The multispectral scanner uses the difference in backscattered laser signals to determine moisture content data for each measurement point. This allows the moisture content of tunnel walls, for example, to be determined.

Mobile Precise Scanner (MPS)

Our latest development, the Mobile Precise Scanner (MPS), captures its surroundings over distances of over 100 meters with submillimeter accuracy.
The fully encased, 360° profile scanner can generate up to three million measurement points per second and scans at frequencies ranging from 10 to 300 Hz. With a travel speed of 50 km/h, the profile density is 4.6 cm, enabling the capture of even the narrowest of objects. This small, lightweight, high-end laser scanner operates using the time-of-flight method. The MPS evaluates the entire echo sequence of each laser pulse (full waveform signal evaluation), ensuring reliable detection of multiple echoes. The full waveform evaluation of LiDAR data enables detection of objects even through vegetation or fog. The MPS allows the laser wavelength, scan rate, and pulse rate to be flexibly adapted to the measurement task. Thanks to its light weight and compact design, the LiDAR scanner can also be used on streetcars and subways.