On May 19, 2025, Slovenian Railways presented the results of their participation in the SUNRISE project at the 16th International Conference “Days of Corporate Security,” held on 19th and 20 th of May at the Brdo Congress Center in Kranj, Slovenia.
The “Days of Corporate Security 2025” conference is a prominent scientific and professional gathering focused on security risk management in contemporary environments, with a particular emphasis on corporate and information security. This year’s theme, “Resilience as an Important Key Paradigm in the Modern Digitized Security Environment,” highlighted the importance of adaptability and proactive strategies in safeguarding critical infrastructure, attendet by more than 20 lecturers and discussants and over 150 paticipants.
UAV-Based Inspection of Railway Infrastructure
As part of the SUNRISE project, Slovenian Railways conducted a pilot inspection of railway infrastructure using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The Slovenian railway network, classified as critical infrastructure, spans approximately 1,200 kilometers and is integrated into the broader European rail system.
Early detection of anomalies and potential threats on railway infrastructure is essential for accident prevention and public safety. It reduces the risk of injuries, property damage, and fatalities, while also minimizing disruptions and delays caused by infrastructure failures. Moreover, targeted anomaly detection enables more efficient maintenance planning, optimized resource allocation, and reduced operational costs.
Current Challenges in Railway Maintenance
Traditional maintenance of the railway network faces several limitations:
- Work at height under all weather conditions
- Track closures during routine maintenance
- Track closures during regular inspections
- Detection of anomalies only during train operations
These constraints highlight the need for innovative and remote inspection solutions.
Promising Results from UAV Implementation
The UAV-based inspection tools demonstrated high precision in anomaly detection and provided real-time data crucial for incident prevention and damage mitigation. This approach contributes to more cost-effective and proactive infrastructure maintenance.
Financially, the pilot project remained within expected cost parameters, while delivering substantial benefits in operational efficiency and workforce optimization.
The results indicate strong potential for broader adoption of UAV-based inspections across the Slovenian railway network in the near future.
Written by: Tomaž Ramšak, Slovenske železnice, d.o.o
