IoT based Smart Railway Track Crack Detection and Monitoring System

Train accidents, though less frequent than road accidents, often result in severe injuries and fatalities. Factors such as unexpected turns, damaged tracks, and undetected cracks contribute to these incidents. The limitations of manual inspections make it difficult to identify faults in a timely manner, increasing the risk of derailments and collisions. To address this issue, an Internet of Things (IoT)-based system for automatic railway track crack detection is proposed. The suggested solution employs a robot equipped with ultrasonic sensors to detect irregularities in the rails, such as cracks or gaps. These sensors emit high-frequency sound waves to identify discontinuities in the track structure. When a fault is detected, the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) module is triggered and sends the data to an Arduino UNO circuit board for processing. The system then uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) to determine the defect’s precise location and transmit an alert to the control room.By automating fault detection and reporting, this technology enhances railway safety, reduces reliance on manual inspections, and enables quick maintenance responses. The integration of IoT ensures continuous monitoring, offering a cost-effective and efficient solution to prevent accidents and improve the reliability of railway infrastructure.