LIDAR Security Applications Impress at Optex Open Day

One of the world’s leading manufacturers of detection systems hosted an open day to showcase its wide range of innovative technology solutions for applications in the securities industries.

Among Optex’s partners attending was our team from L.B. Foster Control & Display Solutions, showcasing LIDAR obstacle detection. Dr Mark Aston is L.B. Foster Europe’s Chief Technical Officer. He explains: “Our partnership with Optex is an opportunity to showcase our innovative LIDAR obstacle detection solution to a whole new area of the security market.

“We apply LIDAR technology to railway level crossings to enhance safety for level crossing users, operators, network owners and train operators. Hitting an obstacle on a level crossing can cause major disruption, adding to costs and delays.

“Early warning using laser technology means collisions can be avoided. When the barriers are down, the laser sensor scans the area to detect if any object or person is trapped on the crossing area and might be hit by an oncoming train. The detection system is linked to the signalling system and automatically stops the train if an obstacle is detected.

“We use well-proven technology that is now being developed to enable reliable obstacle detection down to 115mm from the ground. That’s absolutely cutting-edge.”

Causes of collisions at level crossings can be very different, but it is recognised that human behaviour is the main factor. A survey by the EU Agency for Railways found that 48% of all level crossings are ‘passive’, with no barriers or obstacle detection. Level crossings account for the second highest cause of total accidents on the UK’s railways.

Masaya Kida, Managing Director, Optex EMEA Headquarters, says: “What L.B. Foster offers with its LIDAR obstacle detection is exceptional. The work it is doing to develop its next-generation SIL-3 solution for the European market is a game-changer. The company has already secured over 100 railway level crossings in the UK and has undertaken field trials in Germany, which have delivered positive results.”

Ends

Editors notes

LB Foster delivers world-class engineering solutions in rail, energy and industrial automation. What we do keeps our world moving.