MRT Trains Mobility Tracking Using LoRa Network

This study aims to develop a smart monitoring sys-tem for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) system in the Philippines using the LoRa network. A sensor node consisting of the Arduino MKR1300, NEO6M GPS module, and the A3144 hall effect sensor were developed to achieve this. This sensor node sends packets containing the train’s position and speed to the RAK7246 gateway. To test the system, two automotive vehicles were utilized that resemble trains. The authors measured the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values at increasing distances to determine the capabilities of LoRa when implemented in the MRT system. From here, they found out that the maximum distance with an RSSI value between -30 dBm to -120 dBm is approximately 700 m. Additionally, they also measured the RSSI values for different train simulations, such as when two trains are stationary, two trains are going past each other, and one train is leaving a station while the other is parked or stationary. The results show that adjacent nodes do not cause interference with each other, as there is no effect on the RSSI values for both. Furthermore, a Passenger Information Display System (PIDS), which shows information about the trains, such as their speed, position relative to the stations, and the estimated time of arrival to their destination, was also developed. The PIDS incorporates different algorithms for different train scenarios, such as switching lanes or going underground and losing GPS signals. The delay between the actual arrival of the train and the indicated arrival on the app was also measured; the results showed that the average delay was only 3.9 seconds indicating that the system was responsive.