A new approach to military logistical reconnaissance of railway infrastructure

A key factor in successful military operations is proper reconnaissance of the theater of operations, which includes mapping transport infrastructures to ensure the accurate location of materials, troops, and supplies. The aim of this research is to facilitate the success of logistical reconnaissance using unmanned aerial vehicles to be able to get more accurate information of the state of transport infrastructure. Rail transportation is well suited to carry out this experiment. As a result of an empirical research, an extended visual checklist is defined, which can be used as a basis for investigating the parameters of the elements of the railway infrastructure, including operation possibilities. The elements of the list have been examined by drones and their effectiveness has also been verified. The three-dimensional (3D) model could be created based on the drone-records, provides information on the condition of the tracks and their surroundings. The drawn conclusions will be used to define general requirements for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for logistical reconnaissance. The application of the presented methodology can significantly improve the effectiveness of military logistical reconnaissance.