I find it hard to believe but this morning's (Dec 31 2006) news reports of yet another collision between a passenger train and a tractor this time on the Jerusalem - Tel Aviv line. Luckily there were only minor injuries to some 30 some odd passengers. Over the past two years Israel has seen 2 fatal accidents with multiple fatalities at at-grade train intersections and numerous other clashes in the train's right of way.

After the first big accident some two years ago I decided to make a mock-up of an RDV scene to show how you can visualize the sight-distance problems associated with train/roadway at grade intersections: http://www.rdvsystems.com/samples/infra ... /index.htm

I as well took the time to go and visit with some of the leading rail engineers here in the country to better understand why the simple principles we apply to road design and sight distances doesn't apply to trains. While I have listened intently to their explanations of how a train can't possibly stop in time when sighting some type of hazardous situation on the rail in front of them - I still don't get it. Shouldn't the driver of a train have some sort of ability to see what is going on and be able to make a decision to stop the train safely (without hurting or killing people) if the unexpected happens? As many of you know I am also deeply involved in aviation, and I can't think of a similar type of situation where passenger safety is left to sheer luck as it seems to be in the local rail industry.

I went to the rail authority as well and talked with them about how visual analysis may in fact help them better plan for these types of situations. In fact there was some agreement on that matter and we even put together for them a simulation for an experimental system that they are working on which can detect intrusions at at-grade crossings and send a signal down the line far enough in advance for the driver to stop safely before the crash:
http://www.rdvsystems.com/samples/infra ... /index.htm

As well, as a result we are actually doing many more projects for the Israel Rail Authority helping them visualize new proposed rail corridors and long term projects, the results of one such project you can view here:
http://www.rdvsystems.com/samples/infra ... /index.htm

While I am happy that our solutions are in fact being used by the rail authority,(hey who doesn't want to sell their professional services), I am still bothered by the fact that decision makers still aren't able to see the benefits of 3D visualization, not just to make an effective presentation but to actually use the virtual models as safety planning tools to improve design and operational standards of transportation systems. I know they are going in the right direction, but it just kills me every time I hear another report of an accident that we could have predicted and possibly avoided or planned for in a better manner were we to use visualization tools more effectively.


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