Arc Infrastructure is committed to enhancing its asset management capability, leveraging innovative technology to further advance its Digital Twin – a sophisticated virtual representation of the Western Australian freight rail network.
One of the ways the business is enhancing its asset management capability is through the integration of cutting-edge imaging systems. Arc has invested in expanding our existing drone fleet and procuring a mobile mapping pod.
These tools are being deployed as part of the new asset management strategy, which leverages the use of AI as well as the detailed imagery to expand on our dataset to assess the health of the network.
Mobile mapping pod
The mapping pod, which can be attached to a road rail vehicle or similar, creates high resolution 360° imagery, and LiDAR, a sensing method that utilises pulsed laser light to measure distances and create precise 3D models of the environment. The imaging created with the use of the pod will allow Arc to undertake detailed study of structures and clearances, as well as perform detailed corridor inspections.
A trial undertaken in the Kenwick Yard and Kenwick-Forrestfield line section during October 2025 demonstrated the low time input required by crews for high value imaging outputs. Arc’s new pod has since arrived, with its commissioning taking place through March.
Expanded drone fleet & operator capability
In addition to Arc’s current fleet of drones, the Asset Management team has recently acquired sub 2-kg mapping drones. Opting for a lighter drone lowers the barriers for individuals to perform mapping tasks, by reducing the licensing requirement from a Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) to a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) operator accreditation. This change creates an exciting opportunity for more people across the business to undertake training and gain hands-on experience with aerial mapping, expanding our in-house capability and flexibility in this space.
Aerial mapping allows Arc to undertake more complex assessments, mapping and modelling activities, including 3D bridge inspections, centreline mapping and elevation assessments. In very remote locations along the network, accurate information captures is often difficult. The system overcomes many of the constraints, providing up-to-date information for the Asset Management Teams assess assets and the respective conditions, and also initiate early design activities in a shorter timeframe.
Leveraging the power of AI
The drones and laser pod are also providing inputs into an artificial intelligence system.
AI can be used to perform initial assessments when completing work scopes, changing the way in-field assessments are conducted. Outputs from the AI can be visualised within the Digital Twin platform, and concise briefing notes provided to field teams as a validation tool, creating efficiencies during the scope process.
Evolving the Digital Twin
Head of Asset Management Rob Kirby said the use of these technologies was the next logical step to enhance the capability and usage more broadly across the business of the Digital Twin platform.
“Having invested in the development of Digital Twin, our new strategy identified ways to expand its capabilities for further insights and data enriched decision making.
“Not only does the range of data available in the Digital Twin help improve our understanding of asset health, now, in combination with AI, we are able to do detailed field assessments and analysis using aerial imaging and LiDAR to support our engineers, scopers, maintainers and planners from the office, reducing our safety exposure hours in the field.
“The integration of the expanded data available to the business, along with AI, AI has increased efficiencies during the scoping of work and allowed Arc to develop a detailed bank of asset data which can be used in planning and decision making,” Rob said.
Arc will continue to focus on implementing new technologies which support data-driven decision making.
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