Real-Time Asset Tracking and Monitoring Using Low-Cost Cellular Networks

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Office of Research and Development has sponsored the development of an asset tracking and mapping system designed to help the short line railroad industry improve safety and railroad operations. The Asset Tracker system was developed in conjunction with the Railroad Traffic Planner scheduling tool with the goal of researching improvements to overall operational safety and efficiency by reducing unnecessary voice communications with locomotive personnel. Fulcrum Corporation’s development of the Asset Tracker system demonstrates the first cost-effective, real-time tracking solution for short line railroad assets. The Asset Tracker is built using off-the-shelf cellular phone technologies and displays locomotive and maintenance-of-way (MoW) vehicle positions and status information through any Internet web browser.