Design and Prototyping of a Real-Time Location Tracking System for Railway Track Maintenance Personnel

Accurate real-time location tracking of railway maintenance personnel is crucial for ensuring safety and operational efficiency. However, Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) network lacks a system that provides real-time location tracking of maintenance personnel for safety purposes. This paper introduces the RailTime Tracking System (RTTS), a solution that integrates Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and LoRa technologies to address this gap. Using a zone-based tracking strategy, the RTTS employs strategically placed BLE and LoRa devices for precise location tracking in complex environments. The system includes a user-friendly web application with a customizable tracking dashboard, analytics tools, and a book-in/book-out page for efficient personnel management. Field tests confirm the system's effectiveness, demonstrating its potential to enhance safety and efficiency in railway track maintenance.