A Java-based information system for wayside sensing and control

The advent of Java-based information systems is causing a new network system structure to replace the custom designed client/server architecture traditionally used at ARL/PSU for wayside sensing and control. Java applets provide the man-machine interface allowing access and control of the wayside system from multiple locations over a dedicated intranet or dial-up modems. The only user software required is a Web browser with Java providing the graphical user interface. ARL/PSU is implementing a Java-based information system in an experimental wayside rock slide detection system. To determine the location of the rock slide relative to the tracks, the sensor array provides both direction finding and range estimation. A digital signal processing board in the computer at the sensor site (wayside server) records the sensor data and performs the function of impact detection and localization. The wayside server provides a Java-based graphical display of system information on a remote PC monitor via a telephone modem.