Re4Rail: AI and digital twin-based automated technology to real-time repair, reuse, recycle and repurpose railway granular media

Re4Rail项目旨在为铁路颗粒介质（RGM）整个生命周期的可持续资产管理建立新的技术支持。技术推动因素包括健康监测系统（在服务期间进行维修）和循环管理（通过寿命结束后的再利用、回收和再利用），旨在实现RGM的零碳排放，其中铁路镇流器和副镇流器为轨道系统提供关键支持。Re4Rail将通过建立一种创新的基于人工智能和数字孪生的实时RGM缺陷诊断和预测自动化技术（Re4Tech）来实现。申请人将在伯明翰大学（UoB）的世界知名科学家的监督下进行Re4Rail，并在Loram Finland Oy（非学术）和伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-香槟分校（学术）的跨部门借调导师。Re4Rail不仅将彻底改变RGM的智能维护和循环经济，还将体现申请人在人工智能、数字转型和地球物理方面的新能力，并支持我在英国和欧洲学术界和工业界的就业技能。它还为使用新颖的数据科学工具（人工智能和数字孪生）解决具有挑战性的工程问题（RGM数字化和可持续性）打开了一扇新的大门，以实现全球共同目标（零碳排放）。Re4Tech将通过以下改进将rgm相关成本降低55%（预期）：(i) Re4Tech将分类和指导材料循环优化，这将减少80%的检查和维护频率（预期）；（ii）将RGM的使用寿命延长50%（预计）；（iii）减少40%的颗粒原料的使用（预计）。Re4Rail将在其整个生命周期内减少70%的碳排放（预计），并减少检查和维护频率。Re4Rail将使欧洲成为铁路数字化维护的世界领导者，到2030年实现净零。

Re4Rail project aims to build new technological enablers for sustainable asset management throughout the life cycle of railway granular media (RGM). The technological enablers include a health monitoring system (during service for repair) and circularity management (through end-of-life reuse, recycle and repurpose) aiming for zero carbon emissions of RGM, of which railway ballast and sub-ballast provide crucial support to track systems. Re4Rail will be achieved by establishing an innovative AI & digital twin-based automated technology for real-time RGM defect diagnosis and prognosis (Re4Tech). The applicant will conduct Re4Rail under the supervision of world-renown scientists at University of Birmingham (UoB), and secondment supervisors across sectors at Loram Finland Oy (non-academic) and at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (academic). Not only will Re4Rail revolutionise the smart maintenance and circular economy for RGM, but it will also enact the applicant's new competency in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and geophysics, and endorse my employability skills in both academia and industry within UK and Europe. It also opens a new door of using novel data science tools (AI and digital twin) in solving challenging engineering issues (RGM digitalisation and sustainability) towards accomplishing global common goal (zero carbon emissions). Re4Tech will reduce RGM-related costs by 55% (expected) through the following improvements: (i) Re4Tech will classify and guide materials circularity optimisation, which will reduce the inspection and maintenance frequencies by 80% (expected); (ii) increase RGM operational life by 50% (expected); and (iii) reduce usage of raw granular materials by 40% (expected). Re4Rail will reduce carbon emissions by 70% (expected) throughout its life cycle, plus reducing inspection and maintenance frequencies. Re4Rail will empower Europe to certainly become a world leader in digital maintenance of railway towards net zero by 2030.