Erik Pinter
Technical expert and data scientist at the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG)
Presentation title:
Playing with data: automatic tree hazard detection as a by-product of a bigger picture
Summary:
Erik will give an insight into the development and implementation of the analysis he has built for the automatic detection of trees that pose a possible threat to rail services. The analysis is based on existing in-house laser scanning-data, which is available for the complete route network of about 4800 km of the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG).
The results allow the tackling of potential problem trees which improves safety and reduces the likelihood of damaged overhead lines by fallen trees or branches, time-consuming and costly inspections can be avoided, route interruptions due to tree windthrow events reduced. The results are currently being implemented for use by the route asset managers and maintenance teams. For his idea he received the ÖBB Award “Innovation of the Year” in 2018.
Speaker biography:
Erik Pinter is working as a technical expert and data scientist in the department of Geotechnics and Natural Hazard Management at the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG). After he studied Civil Engineering and Water Resource Management in Vienna, Austria, he spent two years in East Africa working in local water supply projects in rural areas and has worked on transport and infrastructure at the European Commission. Since 2006 he works for the Austrian Federal Railways.
Two years ago he attended a one-year course on Data Science, as he wanted to unleash the potential of the many sources of data within the track system engineering department. He initialised the “Innovationsplattform Digitalisierung” where a group of innovators develops data solutions for efficient operation and maintenance of railway infrastructure.