Case

Supporting Sporveien’s journey to a data-driven and future-proof workshop.

The Norwegian public transport organisation Sporveien is on a digitalisation journey. The aim is a fully data-driven workshop, utilising the power of simulation, data analysis and condition-based monitoring to work more efficiently, challenge existing maintenance cycles to increase uptime and use less resources. Semcon is supporting Sporveien with expertise ranging from strategic planning, to software development and hardware analysis. And the cooperation is already paying off.

Children walking on a train platform with a train on the side

ClientSporveien

IndustryPublic

ServicesSoftware & Cloud DevelopmentHardware DevelopmentProject & Change ManagementEmbedded & Electronics Development

This project case was carried out by Semcon, before Semcon and Knightec joined forces 2024, forming Knightec Group.

Background

A data-driven set-up enables the transition from periodic maintenance to condition-based monitoring. Most of us are used to periodic maintenance – after a predetermined number of miles or years, your car or machine signals that it needs service. However, condition-based monitoring is based on real-time data from sensors that track the condition of the product. The difference? Maintenance is enabled when needed rather than when scheduled.

Challenge

In a first joint project, Sporveien wanted to investigate if they could extend the life of the gearboxes in their underground carriages. This is a component that requires complex maintenance, regarding both specific tools and competencies. Would it be possible to prolong their maintenance cycles? Using sensor technology, the Semcon team collected data from the Oslo Metro traffic, which was then correlated with other measurements to create a simulation to understand the wear of gearbox bearings.

Forecasting maintenance cycles.

Based on the simulation outcome, the maintenance cycle of the gearbox bearings could be prolonged from 16 to 57 years and the use of materials and resources could be reduced significantly. Not having to replace the gearbox bearings of the underground carriages as scheduled is estimated to save Sporveien somewhere between NOK 200-300 million.

New opportunities in a data-driven era

There are many benefits to a data-driven workshop set-up. It is a means to upgrade and streamline ways of working as well as challenge traditional maintenance cycles. Just imagine all the different components that could be monitored in a single underground train or tram! In the case of Sporveien, there are many more great possibilities ahead.

Besides challenging the lifespan of gearbox bearings, Semcon and Sporveien are also investigating

Oil purity with the help of advanced acoustic technology and machine learning algorithms
The condition of underground carriage doors, a component that typically needs a lot of maintenance due to wear. In this project, acoustic technology is used to assess the condition of each set of doors.