China Implements AI System to Process Large Volumes of Real-Time Data, Enabling Rapid Alerts for High-Speed Rail Maintenance Teams.
China is utilizing an artificial intelligence (AI) system in Beijing to operate and maintain its high-speed rail network, Interesting Engineering reported on March 12.
High-speed trains parked on the tracks taken from above. (Photo: ximushushu/iStock)
With a total length of approximately 45,000 km, China boasts the largest high-speed rail network in the world.
The AI system processes vast amounts of data across China in real-time, capable of alerting maintenance teams to abnormal situations within 40 minutes with an accuracy rate of up to 95%.
Liu Daoan, a senior engineer at the infrastructure inspection center of the China State Railway Group, remarked that the system operates effectively. “The system helps on-site teams conduct inspections and repairs as quickly as possible,” Daoan stated in a study published in the specialized journal China Railway.
China’s high-speed rail is among the fastest in the world, currently operating at speeds of 350 km/h, with plans to increase to 400 km/h next year. The country intends to continue expanding its rail network until all cities with populations over 500,000 are interconnected.
With the integration of AI, the number of minor track faults on operational high-speed rail lines in China has decreased by 80% over the past year. None of these lines have received speed reduction alerts due to serious track issues. Research indicates that the displacement of tracks caused by strong winds has also significantly reduced thanks to AI.
The rail network in the United States faces anticipated challenges, as improper maintenance leads to ongoing safety risks. Over the past 50 years, the average number of derailments has exceeded 2,800 incidents per year.
Over a decade ago, countries like Germany and Switzerland were among the first to recognize the potential of AI in railway management. Both nations are striving to utilize AI to improve their rail networks. However, their networks are smaller compared to that of China.
To train the AI system, Chinese scientists had to collect a massive amount of raw data. They sourced data from records on train body movements, track vibrations, waveform values, and meteorological records. Previously, the maintenance center issued alerts once a week. Now, thanks to AI, reports are published daily.
