Improvement of the Control Method for Unguarded Railway Level Crossings Based on Wireless Technologies

Abstract

This paper presents the development and justification of a method for monitoring unguarded railway level crossings based on the integration of modern wireless technologies. Key deficiencies of existing control systems are identified: high transmission latency, limited bandwidth, and the absence of secure real-time video connectivity to the locomotive cab. A comprehensive architecture is proposed, combining: the MINT (Mesh Interconnection Networking Technology) wireless protocol using Mobile Units (MU) and Base Stations (BS); an SDH/SHDSL transport infrastructure based on ASMi-54/D multiplexers for video streaming; a PF-Ring fiber-optic ring topology with PF-2 devices for connecting PLC sensors and wheel passage detectors; a CCTV video monitoring system with Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) on board the train; and a CypherPlug cryptographic module implementing the IPSec ESP protocol to secure the transmitted data. The proposed solution achieves an end-to-end transmission latency of no more than 50 ms, 1+1 channel redundancy, and compliance with GOST R ISO/IEC 27001 information security requirements. A comparative analysis with conventional wired systems confirms a 35-40% reduction in capital expenditure alongside improved functionality and reliability.