Skip to main content

Safer rail crossings with ESA satellites

Germany-headquartered Berner and Mattner is to carry out a feasibility study, SafeRail - Improving Safety at Railway Level Crossings, on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA). The objective of the study, which is to be carried out within ESA’s Integrated Applications Promotion Program, is to determine the technical feasibility and economic viability of a space-based service using an integrated solution which employs different types of space assets in combination with already existing terrestrial techno
March 21, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Germany-headquartered Berner and Mattner is to carry out a feasibility study, SafeRail - Improving Safety at Railway Level Crossings, on behalf of 6780 The European Space Agency (ESA).  

The objective of the study, which is to be carried out within ESA’s Integrated Applications Promotion Program, is to determine the technical feasibility and economic viability of a space-based service using an integrated solution which employs different types of space assets in combination with already existing terrestrial technologies.

Technical methods to be considered range from determining railroad vehicles’ position using relative measurements carried out by the railroad company and by satellite navigation to redundant terrestrial and satellite communication and integrated traffic information systems that provide the driver with suitable information.

The potential risk of railway level crossings as an intersection of two different traffic modes is very high. A quarter of all railroad fatalities are caused by accidents at railway level crossings. Due to the high variety of existing technical safety systems, efficient modernisation of the current systems is difficult.

Support agreements with several relevant European users and stakeholders have been established during preparation of the study. The results of the study will be presented to the user community during an awareness event.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • A revisited framework for ITS in Europe
    November 9, 2023
    Following the newly-adopted European Directive on ITS, Joost Vantomme of Ertico – ITS Europe, shares his insights on the legislation and its opportunities for the entire industry
  • Econolite keeps an open mind
    May 11, 2021
    If we’re going to take advantage of new technologies to improve safety, collaboration at the traffic management cabinet edge is vital, thinks Eric Raamot of Econolite
  • C-ITS in the EU: ‘A little tribal’
    April 1, 2019
    As the C-ITS Delegated Act begins its journey through the European policy maze, Adam Hill looks at who is expecting what from this proposed framework for connected vehicles – and why some people are insisting that the lawmakers are already getting things wrong here are furrowed brows in Brussels and Strasbourg as European Union legislators begin to consider the rules which will underpin future services such as connected vehicles. The idea is to create a regulatory framework to harmonise cooperative ITS
  • C-ITS in the EU: ‘A little tribal’
    April 1, 2019
    As the C-ITS Delegated Act begins its journey through the European policy maze, Adam Hill looks at who is expecting what from this proposed framework for connected vehicles – and why some people are insisting that the lawmakers are already getting things wrong here are furrowed brows in Brussels and Strasbourg as European Union legislators begin to consider the rules which will underpin future services such as connected vehicles. The idea is to create a regulatory framework to harmonise cooperative ITS