Tended has launched a project with the European Space Agency (ESA) to further develop the digital Virtual Worksite Marker Board (VWSMB), which replaces physical boards used to demarcate work areas on the track. Building on the Digital Worksite programme, the project aims to improve the system’s accuracy and reliability under real-world operating conditions. VWSMB uses geodata to define virtual boundaries for construction sites and integrates satellite-based positioning technologies. Options for locating and dispatching equipment on construction sites will also be investigated. A device in the driver’s cab of work machines tracks its location and immediately triggers warnings if the authorised area is exceeded. This eliminates the need to transport and collect physical barriers. Test applications on the UK network were trialled with Siemens Mobility and infrastructure operator Network Rail on the East Coast Main Line (ECML). The results indicate savings of over EUR 150,000 (GBP 130,000) due to fewer instances of working time overruns, as well as a reduction in working time of around 45 minutes per closure window.
