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Case Studies

Gautrain Rail

Gautrain Rail

The conventional methods used for railway monitoring of geohazards, such as slope stability and sinkholes, along the extensive Gautrain network from Johannesburg to Pretoria, were time-consuming, costly, and often dependent on subjective assessments. To overcome these challenges, the integration of InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) analysis with a comprehensive GIS platform has proven to be an effective solution.

InSAR technology significantly accelerates the process of detecting and identifying geohazards along railway lines, providing a more objective and reliable assessment than traditional methods. By utilising InSAR data, displacement across the railway network can be visualized on a color-coded scale, which clearly indicates areas at the most immediate risk and those requiring future monitoring. This visual representation allows stakeholders to quickly prioritize areas that need in-depth local assessment, enhancing the overall efficiency of railway monitoring.

By integrating InSAR data into the GIS platform, field operatives can more effectively target specific areas of concern, enabling a proactive approach to geohazard management. This method not only improves safety and operational efficiency but also results in substantial cost savings by addressing potential issues early on.

Highlights 

  • Monitoring the condition of the whole rail network was time-consuming and subjective. 

  • InSAR analysis provided historical and current displacements for the whole network. 

  • Outputs were presented on an accessible GIS platform of the railway corridor.  

  • Problematic locations for further targeted investigation were identified easily and objectively. 

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