Project Overview

Together with GeoNext — an innovative Dutch surveying and engineering firm specialized in rail and road infrastructure — we deployed TotaLite for track monitoring in Amsterdam.

The stability of railway embankments is critical to ensure safe rail operations. In this project, GeoNext was tasked with post-construction deformation monitoring of newly built rail and embankments to better understand settlement behavior.

Dutch rail standards for monitoring geometry are among the strictest in the world. They require real-time measurement of numerous optical targets along the track. Traditionally, these measurements are performed by automated total stations (ATS), which, while accurate, are costly and vulnerable to theft. GeoNext explored how TotaLite could complement or extend these systems — either embedded within ATS networks or applied stand-alone to monitoring adjacent structures, bridges, overhead lines, or buildings.

Our Solution

For this pilot, GeoNext tested a beta prototype of TotaLite Sensor A2.0, as part of the product validation program ahead of its September launch. TotaLite was installed next to an automated total station for comparison, with both systems monitoring the stability of two tracks.

The sensor was mounted with a simple magnetic bracket on a rail mast, allowing quick and easy installation. Dutch standards require optical targets on both sides of sleepers every 3 meters, which posed a challenge for TotaLite since its optical field of view requires at least 2° degrees of separation between targets. This was achieved at approximately 20 meters, enabling TotaLite to monitor 20 points in total. A second mast served as a reference point, ensuring TotaLite could correct for its own potential movements, such as those caused by sun or heat on the metal mast.

The results

The pilot delivered valuable insights for both GeoNext and the TotaLite development team. TotaLite’s performance closely matched the automated total station, with noise levels remaining below 0.5 mm and providing very clean data.

During a maintenance round, a tamping machine accidentally shifted several optical targets. This created an ideal test scenario in which TotaLite demonstrated its accuracy by detecting the shifts immediately. Long-term operation also provided important learnings for the TotaLite Shield, the system’s mechanical cleaning device, which have since been integrated into the final product design.

The impact

This project proved that TotaLite is a reliable and accurate addition to railway monitoring networks. While not a full replacement for ATS in the most demanding rail geometry applications — due to the density of targets required — TotaLite has shown to be an excellent tool for:

• Extending ATS networks to cover adjacent structures or remote track sections

• Reducing costs and operational effort for simpler monitoring tasks

• Providing continuous, real-time movement data with minimal setup

For GeoNext and rail asset owners, this means greater flexibility, reduced costs, and increased safety assurance in rail infrastructure monitoring.