Having a bit of a look into the bridge strike detection and prevention opportunity, the historic article below which details how in Brisbane they have spent $1m to lower the strike rate of 6 bridges puts things in perspective.
Spectur with a solar CCTV camera, gps, accelerometer and LIDAR can solve this problem for much less than $165k/bridge. Imagine the LIDAR set to detect the height of the oncoming vehicle, speaker cranked up a little for audible alarm and the lighing LED replaced with an amber or red flashing light to warn drivers of excessive heights?
Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
16/08/2010
Height gauges to stop bridge strikes
Work to reduce the number of vehicle strikes and improve safety at low level rail bridges begins across Brisbane today.
Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said the $1 million Low Level Bridge Protection program would see the installation of height gauges at six of the most frequently hit low level rail bridges.
"A careless truck or bus driver hitting a bridge can cause inconvenience to thousands of commuters if it happens at peak time," Ms Nolan said.
"When a bridge is hit, it must be structurally assessed before trains can run over it again. If it happens during a busy period, a whole line can be shut and that means major delays for commuters.
"In the past eight years, rail bridges have been struck by over-height vehicles 332 times on the South East Queensland network.
"But these delays have been happening for as long as I can remember so building gantries at key locations will now minimise disruptions."
Ms Nolan said height gauges would be installed at the following six locations by early October:
· Pine Street, Wynnum (Cleveland line)
· Park Road, Woolloongabba (Gold Coast/Ipswich lines)
· Sherwood Road, Rocklea (interstate rail line)
· Long Street East, Graceville (Ipswich line)
· Sylvan Road, Toowong (Ipswich line)
· Pickering Street, Gaythorne (Ferny Grove line).
"Height gauges will be built over the roads leading to the bridges and will chime loudly when an over-height vehicle hits them, warning the driver of the low level bridge ahead," Ms Nolan said.
"The six bridges targeted by this project have been struck repeatedly in the past, with each one causing disruption to the rail network. This program will significantly improve protection measures for those bridges.
Ns Nolan said that while the gantries could improve the integrity of the rail network, the first responsibility for safety would always lie with drivers.
"Every bridge has a clearance height sign and drivers have an obligation to know how high their truck or bus is," she said.
"Drivers who fail to do that and hit a bridge can face a court-imposed fine of up to $4,000."
In addition to the Low Level Bridge Protection program, the State Government is rolling out a new bridge strike prevention system for trial at two sites on the Ipswich line - Allwood Street, Indooroopilly and Oxley Road, Corinda.
The Bridge Impact Detection System will use a combination of infrared laser detectors, CCTV and active signage to warn drivers about low rail bridges.
Trials of this system will begin later in the year.
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