McConnell Dowell Inland Rail

Challenge

The Inland Rail North-East Line Upgrade, extending from Melbourne to just south of the NSW border, aims to achieve vertical clearance for double-stack container trains.

Designing in this busy corridor posed challenges in obtaining comprehensive survey data especially for changes in and around bridges, level crossings, and existing overhead powerlines.

Solution

Using rail corridor MLS data, the Agonics team extracted track features and performed powerline and signal clearance investigations.

The XERRA LiDAR platform was configured to generate track feature outputs including railhead strings and reference datasets for ballast top and toe, earthworks, and other features. XERRA detected the lowest conductors on existing powerlines and calculated conductor clearances. Signal offset and clearance measurements were also generated.

Outcomes

• Accurate mapping of rail features was performed without fieldwork.
• Critical vertical clearances for powerline conductors were assessed from LiDAR point clouds.
• Design activities proceeded without manual field surveys.

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