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ISRO’s GAGAN to provide navigational support to Railways

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Updated: June 17, 2015 16:22 IST
ISRO’s GAGAN to provide navigational support to Railways - The Hindu
GAGAN was jointly developed by the ISRO and Airports Authority of India (AAI) with a view to assist aircraft in accurate landing.

ISRO has said it will provide navigational support to the country’s Railways through ‘GAGAN’ (GPS-aided geo-augmented navigation) system.

“ISRO will provide satellite-generated information to the railways through space technology-based tools that will provide safety at unmanned level crossings,” ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar told reporters in reply to a question on how will ISRO help the Railways in using the navigational support system.

“There are host of requirements for using GAGAN in railways. We are providing some solutions,” Mr. Kumar said.

GAGAN is an indigenous navigational guide system developed by ISRO on the lines of GPS system of the U.S.

Elaborating on it, Mr. Kumar said “At some places the railway tracks are under stress. If water accumulation happens, then based on digital elevation model data, other host of information which they generate, can be given.”

“There is specific information provided for aligning the railway tracks, particularly in mountainous regions, and also identifying tracks which are most stable when you are going through tunnels. In all these things, space technology is useful,” he said.

“We are trying to provide space technology-based tools for enabling them to deal with unmanned level crossings,” he said.

GAGAN was jointly developed by the ISRO and Airports Authority of India (AAI) with a view to assist aircraft in accurate landing.

The GAGAN signal is being broadcast through two Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites — GSAT8 and GSAT10.

With the use of GAGAN software system, a tr ain would know the location of any unmanned level crossing and soon a a warning signal can be given.

As soon as the warning signal will be given, the train’s hooter will automatically start when it comes near an unmanned crossing.
 
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The technology will help Railways in developing solutions for safety at unmanned level crossings with remote sensing facility.

Updated: September 6, 2015 15:52 IST
Railways, ISRO tie-up for improving safety - The Hindu

The tie-up will facilitate getting images for mapping and communications to introduce Wi-Fi through the satellite system.
Indian Railways will join hands with ISRO to get online satellite images for improving safety and enhancing efficiency.

“We will undertake a massive exercise of GIS [geographical information systems] mapping of the entire rail route and assets including buildings, land, workshops and other facilities in the network using geospatial technology,” said a senior Railway Ministry official involved with GIS mapping project.

GPS and Remote sensing

Geospatial technology involves GPS (global positioning systems), GIS, and RS (remote sensing).

The official said geospatial services will be available from satellite-assisted navigational support through the GPS aided geo-augmented navigation (GAGAN) system of ISRO.

“We will sign an MoU with ISRO shortly to avail the online satellite images to create a GIS platform,” said the official.

The MoU will facilitate getting images and communications through the satellite system. While the images will help in mapping the area, communications will enable the introduction of Wi-Fi service in trains in a larger way.

The technology will come in handy at the time of accidents when it can be used to ascertain the exact location of trains and the topography.

Besides, it will also help Railways in developing solutions for safety at unmanned level crossings with remote sensing facility.

Geo-fencing capabilities

The satellite images will also be used for geo-fencing of stations for paperless ticketing system.

Geo-fencing is a virtual barrier which uses GPS or radio frequency identification (RFID) to define geographical boundaries.

The technology is also expected to be used for tracking trains for disseminating information about their movement on real time basis which will be a great help to passengers. Currently, train movements are tracked manually.
 
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