Efficient data acquisition for track databases
An improved method of rail survey deploys feature identification tags along an inner edge of a train track rail. Each tag includes a unique identifier to identify a respective feature along the train track. Each tag includes a reflector to reflect light to a sensor on a track surveyor. The sensor reads track feature tags without the need for stopping at each feature. A track database is provided that is capable of storing tables that associate track features with geo-locations. As each tag is deployed or read during a rail survey, it can be paired with geo-location data and stored in the track database.
1. A method comprising:
reading, with a first sensor from a vehicle moving along a train track, an identifier from a tag that is attached to a rail of the train track near a feature along the train track;
sensing, with a second sensor while moving along the train track, a reflection from an optical reflector on the tag, wherein the optical reflector is physically distinct from the identifier; and
recording
(i) an indicium of the identifier, and
(ii) an indicium of a geo-location that is reported at the time that the reflection is sensed.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising retrieving a description of the feature from a data store that associates identifiers with features of the train track.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising presenting at a user interface the description and a prompt for a user to confirm the description.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the tag comprises an optical bar code that encodes the identifier.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the tag comprises an optical reflector, and wherein the reflection is from the optical reflector.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising recording an indicium of another geo-location that is on the train track but is not situated near the feature.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the feature is one of a grade crossing and a milepost.
8. A method comprising:
attaching to a rail of a train track, at each of a plurality of features along the train track, a respective tag;
reading, with a first sensor from a vehicle moving along the train track, identifiers from the respective tags;
sensing, with a second sensor while moving along the train track, reflections from optical reflectors on the respective tags; and
recording associations between
(i) indicia of the identifiers, and
(ii) indicia of geo-locations that are reported when the reflections are sensed.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the attaching of the respective tags is performed without being on the train track.
10. The method of claim 8 further comprising retrieving descriptions of one or more of the features from a data store that associates identifiers with features of the train track.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising presenting at a user interface the descriptions and one or more prompts for a user to confirm the descriptions.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein at least one of the respective tags comprises an optical bar code.
13. The method of claim 8 further comprising recording an indicium of another geo-location that is on the train track but is not situated near any of the features.
14. The method of claim 8 wherein at least one of the features is a traffic signal.
15. A method comprising;
attaching a tag to a rail of a train track near a feature along the train track, wherein the tag comprises an optical bar code and an optical reflector that is physically distinct from the optical bar code, and wherein the optical bar code encodes an indicium of the feature;
reading the optical bar code by a first sensor moving along the train track; and
sensing light from the optical reflector by a second sensor moving along the train track.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the attaching of the tag is performed without being on the train track.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the indicium of the feature is a key of a table in a database that stores information about features along the train track.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein the feature is a switch.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein the feature is a spur.