Applications of automatic equipment identification to studies of rail noise and vibration in North America

When conducting studies of noise and vibration impacts of existing rail lines, it is useful to identify and log train movements. Since the early 1990s, all railcars and locomotives in North America have been outfitted with automatic equipment identification (AEI) tags. AEI is an RFID system that allows for automated electronic identification of passing equipment with unattended trackside readers. These data reveal the makeup, direction, length, speed, and other useful parameters of each passing train. In order to assess the feasibility of using AEI readers in noise studies, a field study was conducted using a temporary trackside reader and correlated sound and vibration monitors. This paper will present a technical overview of the AEI system and the results of the field study.