A UK ORIENTATED DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR EFFECTIVE TRACK MAINTENANCE AND RENEWAL

Modern data collection techniques produce a considerable amount of useful information, which, if made use of, can assist the engineer in the correct diagnosis of failure and in determining the most effective method of remedial action. However, despite developments in data collection and subsequent research into the correct interpretation of this data, little has been done to draw the two together and produce a vehicle to aid the engineer. The paper considers how this might be achieved through the use of a decision support system and discusses the development of such a system to assist the engineer in making effective maintenance and renewal decisions on the U.K. rail network.