A software tool being developed by Frazer-Nash and the University of Hull’s Logistics Institute has been shortlisted for The Engineer magazine’s Collaborate to Innovate (C2I) Awards.
Selected as a finalist in the Information, Data and Connectivity category sponsored by digital technology company, PTC, the Rapid Evaluation and Planning Analysis Infrastructure for Railways (REPAIR) tool set uses data analytics and machine learning techniques to predict and mitigate the propagation of delays on the rail freight network.
Funded by RSSB under its Data Sandbox+ competition, REPAIR brings together Frazer-Nash’s skills and expertise in Machine Learning with the University of Hull’s powerful NR+ suite – the first geospatial digital platform of UK rail infrastructure.
Frazer-Nash Rail Business Manager, Ashley Stower said:
“We’re really enjoying collaborating on this project with our colleagues at the University of Hull’s Logistics Institute, and grateful for the insight and support provided by our advisory board, which includes the biggest freight-operating companies in the UK.
“REPAIR is exploring how innovative technologies can help to address one of the rail sector’s key challenges, clarifying and informing decision-making and driving efficiencies. Its predictive engine for the propagation of delays on the rail network is complemented by the functionality to offer alternative routing to mitigate the impact of these delays.”
The REPAIR tool is no stranger to recognition – it won the Railway Industry Association’s (RIA’s) Rail Industry Supplier Excellence (RISE) ‘Unlocking Innovation’ Award in 2020.
The Engineer’s Collaborate to Innovate awards, now in their sixth year, aim to uncover and celebrate great examples of technology-led engineering collaboration across a range of different disciplines and sectors, showcasing the UK’s strength and breadth in cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Winners will be revealed in early 2022 during a week-long virtual celebration and – COVID restrictions permitting – at a live event in central London.
