Norfolk Southern Railway is building a new car inspection facility on Old Lee Highway west of Tuscumbia. Called a Digital Train Inspection Portal, cameras at this location will relay images to a centralized server where AI will process the data to perceive any safety issues with the trains.
The large structure straddles the rail line, holding stadium lighting and high-speed cameras to photograph trains as they pass through. According to NS, up to one thousand pictures will be taken of each passing car from all angles, including underneath.
One year ago the company announced its plans to construct many of these facilities across its system, helping to provide multiple sets of “eyes” to supplement human inspections and electronic sensors. NS partnered with the Georgia Tech Research Institution to develop the system, and Tuscumbia is one of the first dozen locations to be installed.
Photos courtesy Norfolk Southern Corporation