The use of GPS in a mobile data acquisition system

Mechanical defects in a conventional overhead power distribution system do not give rise to the same consequences as may occur in the case of the overhead system of an electrified railway. Because of the interactive nature of the trains with the overhead line, even a minor misalignment of the contact wire can eventually lead to a malfunction causing significant disruption of traffic. The author describes how British Rail research has developed two interrelated monitoring systems, known as Panchex (pantograph checks) and OLIVE (overhead line inspection by vehicular equipment) whose purpose is to prevent major failures by detecting defects in the overhead line or pantograph before serious incidents occur