Project description and its impacts​

PRISMA is a research project aimed at advancing the monitoring and maintenance of railway infrastructure through the adoption of photonic sensing technologies, with particular emphasis on fiber optic sensors.​

The project originates from the recognition that current maintenance approaches, primarily based on manual inspections and scheduled interventions, are often inefficient and not fully representative of the actual condition of the infrastructure. In this context, PRISMA introduces a predictive maintenance paradigm, enabling interventions based on the real-time condition of components and thereby improving safety and network reliability.​

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To achieve this objective, PRISMA develops an integrated solution combining both hardware and software innovation. On the hardware side, six different sensing modules based on composite materials are designed, in which fiber optic sensors are embedded and protected, enabling their simple, rapid, and non-invasive installation at critical points of the railway infrastructure. On the software side, the project includes the development of data processing tools, algorithms, and predictive diagnostic strategies capable of transforming the acquired signals into reliable information on the structural health of the system.​

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This approach enables continuous, remote, and real-time monitoring without interfering with railway operations. The expected outcomes include a significant improvement in safety, a reduction in maintenance costs, and enhanced operational efficiency, while also supporting the digitalization of railway infrastructure.​

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DAER​ Key contributions

• Conception, design and construction of sensor prototypes​
• Development of predictive diagnostic algorithms​

SDGs Covered

#9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

#17 - Partnerships for the goals