OceanWise Ltd have completed an environmental data project with Network Rail helping to ensure that they have a reliable and effective tidal monitoring solution to meet their operational needs.
Ian Martin, Operations Manager for Network Rail commented “It has been a pleasure working with OceanWise in the deployment of this bespoke tidal monitoring package. As a rail infrastructure operator, the requirement for real time tidal data is rather niche, and the OceanWise eam has made the entire process from design to commissioning absolutely seamless. The Port-Log system has been customised to our specifications, and the data presented is providing us with powerful real-time data to assist in operational decision making for our low-lying railway lines in the Norfolk Broads area.”
The historic Reedham Bridge based in Norfolk is a swing bridge which crosses the river Ware near to Reedham railway station. Originally commissioned by Sir Samuel Morton Peto in the 1840s is operated from the 1904 Reedham Swing Bridge signal box, and carries the railway line between Norwich and Lowestoft.
The project required several key instruments to be installed including a Valeport TideStation, fitted with an OceanWise ip.buffer, a Valeport VRS20 radar and a Gill meteorological sensor.
GNSS levelling was also undertaken at the unique site, allowing for all water level data to be accurately referenced, and a comparison undertaken against the nearby Environment Agency river level gauges. All data are made available in real-time via OceanWise’s Port-Log data platform, combined with a bespoke threshold alert system, ensuring that Network Rail have the right data, at the right time, to make safety critical decisions.
Ralph Bostock, Monitoring Business Manager for OceanWise comments: “The ongoing development of marine environmental monitoring has led to many exciting new challenges for OceanWise. Working with Network Rail is a perfect opportunity for us as it not only allows us to further develop our expertise with a new customer, it also allows us to deploy our systems and services in a new type of marine environment.”
Above image: An annometer (measuring wind) at Reedham bridge with the stunning Norfolk countryside in the backdrop