Work began on the TRACKSCAN project with coordinators RVL assessing the User Needs for the TRACKSCAN concept. This involved targeting potential stakeholders to interview using an RVL designed Rail Infrastructure Questionnaire. Interviews were by telephone and face-to-face both giving the opportunity for additional qualitative comments. This research was carried out into month 5 of the project to gain the maximum amount of quantitative and qualitative information. A conclusion to the interviews was that the combination of seasonal weather, track vibration and rail weight, the structural integrity of rail culverts could be compromised possibly causing the surrounding area to erode beneath the structure causing a void or “sinkhole” not visible from the surface. These issues present many opportunities to use TRACKSCAN to identify any impending problems. For example, one particular area highlighted, as a constant concern with impacts to normal rail services was the effect wildlife has on infrastructure and culvert blockage, which incur financial penalties for delays in passenger and freight traffic. Responses from the interviews clearly show that that a TRACKSCAN device would be a valuable aid to a workforce, enabling an additional form of surveying primarily in the prevention of a situation occurring and this has now become a target area for RVL research.
To facilitate business development, RVL were put in contact with Enterprise Europe Network North (EEN) based in the North-East of the UK as a result of the EC funding. The association was very fruitful and RVL were made aware of many opportunities concerning future Business Planning/Coaching. It was through this EC funding mechanism that RVL had the opportunity to meet with a European Business Coach to work together in understanding the basics of producing a commercial Business Plan to move a prototype closer to market as a company.
Also at this time RVL began sourcing potential partners for a further large-scale project to make a prototype of the TRACKSCAN unit and take it to market. An important partner will be one who is able to interpret high volumes of data generated from the TRACKSCAN unit and turn these into 3d virtual reality images for interpretation. The initial TRACKSCAN prototype is for data acquisition only with the computer processing making the image from the prototype by software developers depending on the refinement of the hardware. This is a very specialised area and there is a local company in the North-East of the UK who are willing to take on this task and work together with RVL in future collaborations.
It was established through the feasibility study that there was potential for further development in the TRACKSCAN system and that the most appropriate IPR protection method would be to apply for a Patent. The RVL Chief Scientist was charged with producing a summary document identifying the novelties to brief a Patent specialist. The Managing Director of RVL identified a Patent Attorney who could be used for submission of a TRACKSCAN Patent. In month 5 of the project, a vehicle mounted radar-scanning device was submitted for examination to the UK patent office. This was advised by a Patent Attorney as the Patent search had not revealed any existing Patents worldwide that had the same scope as the TRACKSCAN technology. The Patent is now “Pending”.
The final month of the project, concentrated on maintaining a relationship with potential end users of TRACKSCAN as a result of the feasibility study in the UK as well in Europe. The RVL website has a page dedicated to TRACKSCAN which will continue to reflect the progress of the concept without compromising the IPR and Patent confidentiality - www.railview.co.uk/trackscan
