Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41755072›Full record

ReviewSensors (Basel, Switzerland)2026

From Point Clouds to Predictive Maintenance: A Review of Intelligent Railway Infrastructure Monitoring.

Yalin Zhang, Peng Dai, Mykola Sysyn, Yuchuan Hu, Lei Kou, Haoran Song, Jing Shi

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Yalin ZhangInfrastructure Inspection Research Institute, China Academy of Railway Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
Peng DaiInfrastructure Inspection Research Institute, China Academy of Railway Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
Mykola SysynInstitute of Railway Systems and Public Transport, Technical University Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-6893-0018
Yuchuan HuSchool of Qilu Transportations, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China.
Lei KouSchool of Qilu Transportations, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China.ORCID 0000-0001-5372-6305
Haoran SongInfrastructure Inspection Research Institute, China Academy of Railway Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
Jing ShiInfrastructure Inspection Research Institute, China Academy of Railway Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.

Funding

Development Plan of China Academy of Railway Sciences Corporation Ltd. 2024YJ031National Natural Science Foundation of China 52272427Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rail Infrastructure Durability and System Safety R202401Technology Research and Development Program of China National Railway Group K2022T006
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Point cloud technology, characterized by its high-precision 3D geometric acquisition in complex railway environments, has become a cornerstone for the intelligent detection, monitoring, and maintenance of railway infrastructure. This paper provides a systematic review of point cloud applications across critical railway scenarios, encompassing track geometry extraction, infrastructure component identification, tunnel and bridge modeling, clearance and encroachment analysis, and structural condition monitoring. We evaluate various mobile and stationary acquisition platforms alongside their typical data processing workflows. Furthermore, this review synthesizes cutting-edge advancements in processing algorithms, with a focus on feature extraction, semantic segmentation, and the transformative impact of deep learning and artificial intelligence on data fusion. Notably, the paper explores the synergy between point clouds and computational mechanics, specifically the construction of high-fidelity digital twins through multi-physics coupling to enable real-time simulation of structural stress distribution and damage evolution. We critically analyze persistent technical bottlenecks, such as acquisition efficiency, monitoring precision, data fragmentation, environmental interference, and the complexities of multi-modal data fusion. Finally, the paper outlines future research trajectories, focusing on autonomous intelligent sensing, multi-sensor integration, and the comprehensive digital transformation of railway infrastructure management, aiming to provide a robust theoretical framework and technical roadmap for the sustainable intelligentization of global railway systems.

Indexed as

data acquisition and processingmonitoring and detectionmulti-domain fusionpoint cloud technologyrailway

Identifiers

PMID41755072
PMCPMC12944166

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.