A representative KHEERAN ballast investigation — the scope and deliverables a typical engagement provides.
Scope. Continuous substructure survey of mainline trackage: track centre and both ballast shoulders captured in a single pass from a hi-rail vehicle at normal hi-rail speeds, with GPS positioning and video asset mapping throughout. No excavation, minimal possession time.
Method. Multi-frequency GPR — 2 GHz horn antennas for fouling detection via void-scattering analysis, 400 MHz antennas for deep substructure layering — cross-checked against targeted calibration samples with sieve analysis, so fouling classifications reflect the client’s actual ballast.
Deliverables. Fouling categories (clean through highly fouled) by chainage for centre and shoulders, clean-ballast thickness profiles, trapped-water and ballast-pocket flags, GIS condition mapping, statistical summaries by segment, and prioritized recommendations for undercutting, shoulder cleaning and drainage remediation. First-pass results within 24 hours of survey completion.