Patent ID: 9175998
Filing Date: 2015-11-03
Classification: E01B,G01F,G01S

Abstract:
1. A method, performed by a computer having a processor and system memory, for calculating a missing ballast volume on a section of railroad track, comprising: scanning a calibration section of railroad track using a remote sensing system upon a rail vehicle, and determining a calibration tie height relative to the rail vehicle, the calibration tie height representing a distance from the remote sensing system to a top surface of a railroad tie there beneath; scanning an existing section of railroad track using the remote sensing system to produce a set of data points representing an existing surface of the existing section of the railroad track; adjusting the scan set of data points representing the existing surface based upon the determined calibration tie height; registering an ideal surface with reference to the existing surface to create a volume, the ideal surface defining a full volume level; determining a number of scan points that fall within the volume and lie below the full volume level; obtaining an incremental cross-sectional area by multiplying a coordinate for each scan point that lies below the full volume level by a magnitude below the full volume level and a weighted factor associated with the volume, wherein the weighted factor is a point weighting factor or a variable weighting factor; and accumulating a total missing ballast volume by multiplying the incremental cross-sectional area by an incremental distance between scan locations and adding all results.