Track surveying: faster, more efficient and more accurate

New measuring sensor: AMU 1030 (Amberg Measuring Unit)

• Based on IMU technology (Inertial Measurement Unit)
• Integrated microcomputer
• Surveying of track alignment with AMU instead of a total station

Track surveying: faster, more efficient and more accurate. Amberg Technologies is expanding the well-established rail surveying system GRP System FX with the new Amberg IMS 1000 and Amberg IMS 3000 system configurations.

These configurations provide reliable and highly precise geometry information during the construction and maintenance of railway track systems – while achieving unparalleled productivity. IMS 1000 and IMS 3000 measure the inner and outer rail geometry of ballast tracks and slab tracks using a new, high-performance sensor – the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). Measuring 4000 metres of track per hour, the system’s performance is twice as high as of devices available on the market today. It furthermore ensures that the track will be measured reliably by providing a typical positional accuracy of ±1mm.

The IMS 1000 / IMS 3000 software processes the measurement data, analyses the quality of the track and reports the deviations to a design centreline. Correction data for tamping machines can also be generated directly. Advantage for the system’s users: the greater productivity and accuracy during track measurement reduces costs, enables efficient track maintenance and thus contributes significantly to the quality and safety of railway lines.

General Principle

• Similar to current long chord / VMS method (VMS 1000 / 3000)
• Relative position changes acquired by AMU 1030 instead of TPS
• Geo-referencing by given absolute / relative control points (CPs)

 



 

Single CP Mode – Long-chord High Speed Mode

• Speed up to 4 km/h
• Long-chord principle
• Off-set measurement at Start / End LP
• Highest relative precision

 



 

Accuracy [mm]	Accuracy [mm] CP Interval [m]
+/- 3	< 100m
+/- 5	< 200m
+/- 10	< 500m

Multi CP mode – Geodetic Long-chord Precision Mode

• Geodetic Long-chord method
• Geodetic set-up at Start / End LP
• Highest absolute and relative precicion

 



 

Accuracy [mm]	Accuracy [mm] CP Interval [m]
+/- 1	< 100m
+/- 2	< 200m
+/- 5	< 500m

 

Technology	Slab Track	Ballasted Track
System Configuration	IMS 1000	IMS 3000
Modus	Multi CP	Single CP
Accuracy Absolute position Relative geometry at 300m chord length	+/- 1 mm 1.5 mm	+/- 2-5 mm 1.5 mm
Measuring speed Maximum Typical average	4 km/h 1’000 m/h	4 km/h 2’500 m/h
Line of sight	Required for setup	No requirements
Refraction Absolute position Relative position	During setup No	No No
Staff	1 Operator 2 Assistants	1 Operator 1 Assistant

 

Performance table - System comparison
System	Absolute Accuracy [mm]	Performance Shift [8 hours]	Performance per hour	Survey Crew
GRP 1000	+/- 1	4'800	600	4
VMS 1000	+/- 5	10'400	1'300	2-3
VMS 3000	+/- 5	9'200	1'150	2-3
IMS 1000	+/- 3	20'000	2'500	2