System innovation perspective for intelligent railway asset management

Developing a challenge-driven framework for implementing intelligent asset management in railways.

Goal

To develop a challenge-driven framework for implementing intelligent asset management in railways.

New technology is expected to create the potential for major benefits and improvements in the railway industry, for example through more efficient management of assets throughout their entire life cycle through the use of digital technology and artificial intelligence. Implementing new technology and working methods in complex industrial environments characterized by a large number of interacting stakeholders with different areas of responsibility, business models and regulations is challenging. Successful initiatives are highly dependent on systematic change efforts to adapt, implement and integrate technology and working methods.

This project builds on previous research on what is required to achieve system innovations from the following aspects: technology, infrastructure, business models including procurement and maintenance contracts, regulations and culture and values.

Projects status and results

A system-level innovation roadmap for implementing innovations has been proposed. To achieve the aim of the research, barriers and enablers for implementing innovations have been explored, identified, and analysed. Two interview studies and a workshop have been conducted. The innovation is a decision support system enhancing knowledge regarding effects of climate change on railway infrastructure and suggesting climate adaptation measures. The barriers and enablers concerning the implementation of the innovation are related to technology, business models, procurement, infrastructure, regulations, policy, and culture, values, and behaviour. Procurement processes and business models are vital enablers for the introduction of new solutions for a more climate-change-resilient infrastructure. Tendering documentation must include a broader scope of climate-change risk management indicators. A conclusion is that climate adaptation action has a multi-dimension aspect which require various stakeholders to be engaged.

Results from this project were presented at the Nordic Seminar in Railway Technology at KTH in June 2024.