Analysis of Visibility Conditions at Railroad Crossings

Conducting Safety Analyses for Railroad Crossings and Identifying Accident Risks Early On

The Challenge:
High Risk at Unmanned Railroad Crossings

Railroad crossings are critical points in railway networks where tracks intersect with roads and sidewalks. Passive railroad crossings—those without automatic gates or warning signals—pose the greatest risk. Safety at these crossings depends entirely on the caution of road users, which makes them particularly dangerous.

Key Facts:

There are over 43,000 unguarded railroad crossings in the EU (Source: UNECE Statistical Database, 2020)
More than 9,000 in Germany alone (Source: Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), 2023)
Poor visibility at these crossings significantly increases the risk of accidents

To improve safety, regular inspections are essential to ensure a clear line of sight between roads and paths in the designated areas.

Our project on this topic:

Geoanalytics

Space4LevelCrossing

Space-based innovative solutions for safety at railroad crossings.

Learn more

The solution:
Combination of satellite data and on-board sensors

Our innovative monitoring approach integrates satellite data and onboard sensor technology to enable a cost-effective, scalable, and efficient inspection process.

Step-by-step monitoring process:

1. Initial screening using satellite d

Large-scale, regular evaluations (e.g., every two months)
Identification of intersections with obstructed visibility
Cost-effective and independent of on-site operations

2. Selection of critical railroad crossings

Operators review flagged crossings
Decision on a further detailed inspection

3. Use of on-board sensors

High-resolution imaging and precise visibility analysis
Installed on trains for practical, real-world evaluation

4. Evaluation and Decision-Making

Data analysis to identify necessary measures
Informed decision-making regarding security measures

5. On-site safety measures

Implementation of remedial measures (e.g., removal of vegetation)
Ensuring long-term visibility and risk mitigation

By using this hybrid approach, rail operators can improve safety at passive level crossings while optimizing resources and minimizing operational disruptions.

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