Sector:
Rail Operator:
Integrator:
Scope:
Primary use:
Solution:
Railway Infrastructure / Tunnel Maintenance
Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI), Japan
Leading Japan-based system integrator
Tunnel inspection support system combining RTLS positioning, sound analysis, and visualization
Real-time mapping of hammer-based tunnel inspection results to exact wall locations
CoreHW Bluetooth AoA RTLS including CoreRTLS locators and Tag devices, CoreRTLS software, integration with the customer platform via MQTT and REST API.
RTRI is developing a tunnel inspection support system to improve the efficiency and consistency of railway infrastructure maintenance. The system focuses on assisting inspectors during tunnel wall inspections by combining digital technologies with existing inspection methods.
The solution integrates CoreHW RTLS technology with sound analysis and visualization to support real-time inspection work inside railway tunnels.
Tunnel inspection is a critical but demanding task. Many railway tunnels in Japan have been in operation for decades, making regular inspection essential for safety.
Traditionally, inspectors:
This process is:
As a result, maintaining consistency and efficiency across inspections is challenging.
RTRI developed a system that enhances the traditional hammer-based inspection method using digital support.
The system includes:
The diagram shows a tunnel inspection workflow. An inspector taps the wall with a hammer equipped with a CoreHW RTLS tag. CoreHW RTLS tracks the hammer position in real time. The tapping sound is captured by a wireless microphone. The software links location with sound analysis, enabling inspection results to be mapped and projected onto the wall at the exact location of the tap.
This allows inspectors to instantly see which areas are normal and which may require attention.
The system enables:
The RTLS component (CoreRTLS tags, locators, and Positioning Engine) provides the spatial accuracy needed to ensure that each inspection result is correctly aligned with its physical location on the tunnel wall.
By supporting inspectors with real-time feedback and location-based visualization, the system:
It helps inspectors focus on areas that require attention, rather than relying solely on manual judgment and documentation.
This case demonstrates how RTLS can be used as part of a broader system that combines positioning, sensing, and analysis.
In this implementation, CoreHW RTLS enables precise spatial tracking within a workflow that remains familiar to inspectors, supporting a gradual transition from manual to digitally assisted processes.
