Freight rail transport is the lifeblood of America’s industry; everything from raw coal and iron ore to finished computers, steel rails, and toys travels on rail to its interim and often final destinations. Often, components and objects to be transported push the very limits of the rail system not merely with mass, but with overall size. Any object to be transported must fit through every bridge, every tunnel, under overhead obstructions and fit by things mounted trackside all along the route. In theory, this is easily dealt with: measure the cargo before it’s on the train and add the appropriate height, and you’ll know if it can fit. In actuality, especially with objects that are close to the limits, it is not nearly so easy. Cargo can shift slightly, bounce or roll in transit, and otherwise vary its “envelope”. Historically, determining the actual dimensions of a train in motion has been extremely difficult.

IEM’s High and Wide Load Detector uses advanced stereo imaging, high-efficiency lighting, and unique proprietary image analysis to produce highly accurate measurements of trains and their cargo as they pass through a structure based on a standard signal bridge. The size and dimensions are determined in effective real-time, allowing this system to be used as a gateway and routing tool to determine that it is safe or not to send the cargo through as loaded, prior to departing from a yard.