The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)’s proprietary optical fibre sensing technology in monitoring railway has been adopted overseas, for the first time, in metro lines in Singapore. A total of 6 groups of sensors will be installed in tracks and trains of the East West Line and North South Line of SMRT which are the two busiest lines in the metro network of Singapore. Apart from installing an optical fibre sensing network in tracks to monitor the trains, sensors are also installed in in-service trains to monitor the tracks on which the trains run.
PolyU is the first in the world using fibre optic sensors in in-service trains for continuous monitoring of the tracks. Compared with the prevailing means of regular check-ups for tracks after close of traffic, the new system provides continuous, in-service monitoring of tracks. This enhances service reliability through quick identification and rectification of defects. The use of optical fibre sensing network installed on tracks for monitoring trains, and in the trains for monitoring tracks, is also a most efficient mode of maintenance for two of the most mission-critical components for a railway.
“PolyU is proud to have exported its optical fibre sensing network to provide unprecedented health monitoring for mission-critical components in metro lines overseas. This PolyU technology will help enhance the performance of metro systems through an advanced predictive monitoring and maintenance regime, which is now the best practice in the railway industry and a global trend,” Professor Tam Hwa-Yaw, Chair Professor of Photonics and Head of Department of Electrical Engineering, PolyU, said.
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