An Innovative Approach to Surveying the Geometry of Visibility Triangles at Railway Level Crossings

Abstract

Railway level crossings (RLCs) in Poland are classified according to their protection systems. Category D, which is a form of passive RLC, aims to ensure safe and efficient operation. Surveying is essential to prepare and control the geometry of the visibility triangles used at RLCs. This article presents a new approach to monitoring the geometry of visibility triangles of RLCs using an electronic total station and a magnetic measuring square (MMS). Its main assumptions are presented together with the application of the innovative measuring instruments. Visibility is demonstrated taking into account the angles of intersection of the road axis with the track axis of the railway line and additional attributes related to the analysis and evaluation of general visibility conditions. The research highlights controversies that have received special attention against the background of the safety status of railway level crossings. As a case study, the RLC located on a single-track railway line in Poland is examined. The final section presents applications of the results obtained according to the proposed methodology. It is shown that the proposed approach is practical and effective. In addition to surveyors, the survey methodology can be used by road and rail traffic engineers and policy makers to further improve traffic safety at RLCs. This is an important global research task.