The Use of Earth Observation Data for Railway Infrastructure Monitoring—A Review
Satellite data have the potential to significantly enhance railway operations and drive the digitization of the rail sector. In the context of railways, satellite data primarily refers to the use of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data for applications such as navigation, positioning, and...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Infrastructures |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/10/3/66 |
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| author | Milan Banic Danijela Ristic-Durrant Milos Madic Alina Klapper Milan Trifunovic Milos Simonovic Szabolcs Fischer |
| author_facet | Milan Banic Danijela Ristic-Durrant Milos Madic Alina Klapper Milan Trifunovic Milos Simonovic Szabolcs Fischer |
| author_sort | Milan Banic |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Satellite data have the potential to significantly enhance railway operations and drive the digitization of the rail sector. In the context of railways, satellite data primarily refers to the use of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data for applications such as navigation, positioning, and signalling. However, remote sensing data from Earth Observation (EO) satellites remain comparatively underutilized in railway applications. While the use of GNSS data in railways is well documented in the literature, research on EO-based remote sensing methods remains relatively limited. This paper aims to bridge this gap as it presents a comprehensive review of the use of satellite data in railway applications, with a particular focus on the underexplored potential of EO data. It provides the first in-depth analysis of EO techniques, primarily examining the use of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and optical satellite data for key applications for infrastructure managers and railway operators, such as assessing track stability, detecting deformations, and monitoring surrounding environmental conditions. The goal of this review is to explore the diverse range of EO-based applications in railways and to identify emerging trends, including the integration of thermal EO data and the novel use of SAR for dynamic and predictive analyses. By synthesizing existing research and addressing knowledge gaps, the presented review underscores the potential of EO data to transform railway infrastructure management. Enhanced spatial resolution, frequent revisit cycles, and advanced AI-driven analytics are highlighted as key enablers for safer, more reliable, and cost-effective solutions. This review provides a framework for leveraging EO data to drive innovation and improve railway monitoring practices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d27fc641ff1346f5a82b23862f08a9ea |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2412-3811 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Infrastructures |
| spelling | doaj-art-d27fc641ff1346f5a82b23862f08a9ea2025-08-20T01:48:46ZengMDPI AGInfrastructures2412-38112025-03-011036610.3390/infrastructures10030066The Use of Earth Observation Data for Railway Infrastructure Monitoring—A ReviewMilan Banic0Danijela Ristic-Durrant1Milos Madic2Alina Klapper3Milan Trifunovic4Milos Simonovic5Szabolcs Fischer6Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nis, 18000 Nis, SerbiaOHB Digital Services GmbH, 28359 Bremen, GermanyFaculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nis, 18000 Nis, SerbiaOHB Digital Services GmbH, 28359 Bremen, GermanyFaculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nis, 18000 Nis, SerbiaFaculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nis, 18000 Nis, SerbiaCentral Campus Győr, Széchenyi István University, 9026 Gyor, HungarySatellite data have the potential to significantly enhance railway operations and drive the digitization of the rail sector. In the context of railways, satellite data primarily refers to the use of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data for applications such as navigation, positioning, and signalling. However, remote sensing data from Earth Observation (EO) satellites remain comparatively underutilized in railway applications. While the use of GNSS data in railways is well documented in the literature, research on EO-based remote sensing methods remains relatively limited. This paper aims to bridge this gap as it presents a comprehensive review of the use of satellite data in railway applications, with a particular focus on the underexplored potential of EO data. It provides the first in-depth analysis of EO techniques, primarily examining the use of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and optical satellite data for key applications for infrastructure managers and railway operators, such as assessing track stability, detecting deformations, and monitoring surrounding environmental conditions. The goal of this review is to explore the diverse range of EO-based applications in railways and to identify emerging trends, including the integration of thermal EO data and the novel use of SAR for dynamic and predictive analyses. By synthesizing existing research and addressing knowledge gaps, the presented review underscores the potential of EO data to transform railway infrastructure management. Enhanced spatial resolution, frequent revisit cycles, and advanced AI-driven analytics are highlighted as key enablers for safer, more reliable, and cost-effective solutions. This review provides a framework for leveraging EO data to drive innovation and improve railway monitoring practices.https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/10/3/66railway infrastructurerailway infrastructure monitoringsatellite dataearth observation satellite data |
| spellingShingle | Milan Banic Danijela Ristic-Durrant Milos Madic Alina Klapper Milan Trifunovic Milos Simonovic Szabolcs Fischer The Use of Earth Observation Data for Railway Infrastructure Monitoring—A Review Infrastructures railway infrastructure railway infrastructure monitoring satellite data earth observation satellite data |
| title | The Use of Earth Observation Data for Railway Infrastructure Monitoring—A Review |
| title_full | The Use of Earth Observation Data for Railway Infrastructure Monitoring—A Review |
| title_fullStr | The Use of Earth Observation Data for Railway Infrastructure Monitoring—A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Use of Earth Observation Data for Railway Infrastructure Monitoring—A Review |
| title_short | The Use of Earth Observation Data for Railway Infrastructure Monitoring—A Review |
| title_sort | use of earth observation data for railway infrastructure monitoring a review |
| topic | railway infrastructure railway infrastructure monitoring satellite data earth observation satellite data |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/10/3/66 |
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