The AMME (Asset Management & Maintenance Engineering) research group at the University of Twente is involved in several projects aimed at addressing sustainable asset management challenges, developing environmentally friendly practices and technologies, and advancing digital automation in the rail industry.
One of the collaborations is with Liander and the University of Twente to resolve sustainable asset management challenges for distribution system operators in the Netherlands called the SAMEN project.
In Flagship Project 4, Rail4Earth, the AMME research group focuses on developing and implementing environmentally friendly practices and technologies in the rail industry to create sustainable and green rail systems.
Another flagship project, Project 2: R2DATO (Rail to Digital Automated up to Autonomous Train Operation), also involves the AMME research group. This project aims to leverage digitalization and automation to develop and implement advanced train operation systems, ranging from digital automation to autonomous operation.
The AMME research group is also engaged in the AMICO project, a collaborative research effort between the University of Twente and the Netherlands Railways. AMICO focuses on two main areas. Firstly, investigating the convergence of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) in rolling stock. Secondly, applying augmented reality (AR) technology for maintenance operations on digitized trains, contributing to railway resilience.
PrimaVera is a project focused on developing cross-level optimization methods. It aims to overcome the limitations of existing predictive maintenance techniques, which are currently effective only for small-scale systems and difficult to scale up. The project acknowledges the critical influence of decisions made within the chain on other processes and seeks to enhance the quality of predictions by considering the type of sensors and measurements used.
IDLEC (Increasing the dynamic load capacity of electricity cables), Liander manages and maintains a wide range of interconnected subsystems in the electricity grid, from transformers and substations to underground cables (see Figure 1). Increased, decentralized, and fluctuating demand for electricity transport is causing congestion in existing medium and low voltage and distribution grids. Therefore, fully utilizing existing networks is of paramount importance to enable the energy transition and to alleviate immediate congestion in the coming years.
Through these various projects, the AMME research group at the University of Twente plays a significant role in advancing sustainable asset management, environmentally friendly practices, digital automation, cross-level optimization and maintenance operations in the rail industry.