The role of mapping in future railway infrastructure development

Published on 25-05-2023 at 06:56

In a rapidly digitalising world, the railway industry's infrastructure mapping needs are evolving at an unprecedented pace. Shutterstock

In the complex field of rail infrastructure mapping, French firm Arkance is developing a number of new solutions to streamline the development process. Through a range of collaborations, the firm is expanding its comprehensive suite of software and applications to deliver the railway industry with efficiency, precision, and insight.

“We offer a wide range of solutions regarding positioning in, on and around the rail network,” said Glenn Dooms, Marketing Manager for AllTerra Belux, a subsidiary of Arkance. “We specialise in surveying equipment and mapping systems for various sectors, including construction, hydrography, hydraulic engineering, industry, and governmental and forensic uses. Our mission is to empower our clients to measure, map, and manage the natural and built environment.”

AllTerra Belux acts as the exclusive dealer of Trimble Geospatial Solutions in Belgium and Luxembourg, utilising the lightweight Trimble DA2 receiver based on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to offer precision mapping, navigation, and measurements via a mobile app.

A clear example of these advantages in practice is the partnership with sister company and technology firm Arkance Systems, which utilises an array of tools and methodologies, including Building Information Modelling (BIM), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), and Computer-Aided Design (CAD). Additionally, the firm makes extensive use of big data, cloud computing, and analytics tools, all aimed at enhancing project predictability, reducing risks, and promoting sustainability in infrastructure development.

Arkance Systems boasts a European network of 470 collaborators, with 18,344 active users in Belgium and Luxembourg, providing 18,891 training hours per year. This underscores the depth and breadth of Arkance Systems’ engagement in the region.

The company’s workforce of around 470 includes over 250 application engineers. These experts support a user base of approximately 70,000 spread across France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Poland, Finland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. The firm has emphasized its commitment to continuous investment as a key part of its strategic development.

In a rapidly digitalising world, the railway industry’s infrastructure mapping needs are evolving at an unprecedented pace. The expertise and solutions of AllTerra Belux and Arkance Systems are meeting these challenges head-on, driving progress, and enabling a new era of railway infrastructure development.

Interested in the work Arkance and AllTerra Belux carry out? Come and meet them on the exhibition floor of RailTech Belgium 2023 on June 7 in Brussels. The exhibition if free of charge, but you do need to register. Want to learn more about the rail infrastructure sector in Belgium? Sign up for our in-depth conferences that day.