The RTFMS Rail Track Flood Monitoring System is an advanced family of smart flood monitoring systems designed to deliver accurate, dependable, real-time flood level monitoring for railway locations vulnerable to flooding, capable of both reducing costs and improving safety, with data delivered to any smartphone.

The units are totally non-evasive, deployed trackside outside the four-foot. There are sensors to detect blockages in culverts, headwalls, pipes, plus the option of an 80GHz radar level gauge, backed up by a single or multiple smart cameras, designed to take pictures at increasing rates deepening upon the level of criticality.

Cost savings can be significant, as the data and camera images can be used to direct maintenance gangs proactively, eliminating the need for hours of inspections. Equally the system is a perfect audit tool to enable managers to evidence that trash and debris screens have been cleared, siphons and pipes emptied when they say they have.

Equally, sensor plus image data can be used to keep a line open with a high degree of safety during poor weather conditions, thereby eliminating the costs associated with delays and blanket cancelations.

Each RTFM system is designed and manufactured in the UK and can be configured like “Lego bricks” to meet the specific requirements of the local rail infrastructure and/or drainage network. There can be up to three smart sensors to trigger the warnings, an optional radar level sensor and the smart camera for verification.

Installation is simple, there is no need for mains power, and often can be undertaken in under an hour, with systems delivered fully pre-tested with batteries installed ready to go and optional solar panels pre-wired to simply plug in.

For improved resilience there is the option of dual redundant communications option, where in the event of a cellular outage the high-level alerts can still be received by using the Iridium satellite network.

In summary, the RTFM is the perfect tool for deployment in trouble spots up and down the rail network.  There is no need for mains power and no installation required within the four-foot. Where cellular coverage is poor or non-existent a level only system can be provided using the Iridium satellite network.