Categorization of the Condition of Railway Embankments Using a Multi-Attribute Utility Theory

Abstract

In the current economic climate, it is crucial to optimize the use of all resources regarding railway infrastructure maintenance. In this paper, a multi-attribute decision support framework is applied to categorize railway embankments in order to prioritize maintenance activities. The paper describes a methodology to first determine the current condition of embankments using a combination of ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys, visual inspection, and historical data about maintenance activities. These attributes are then used for the development of a multi-attribute utility theory model, which can be used as a support for decision making process for maintenance planning. The methodology is demonstrated for the categorization of 181 km of railway embankments in Croatia.