Applications of digital ground models to support the maintenance and upgrading of rail infrastructure

The development of digital conceptual and observational ground models has become more widespread over the last few years. This paper describes the construction and use of a 3D geological model for the Leeds-York North Trans Pennine Electrification project (TPE), which was created by the British Geological Survey (BGS) and commission by TSP (Technical Solutions in Partnership). The model covers 28 km of railway line and represents the bedrock and superficial geological units to a depth of 30 m below track level. It was created using BGS’s cross-section based methodology (GSI3D) utilising high resolution LiDAR data and 1:10,000 scale digital geological map data. Of the 804 borehole and pits available in the area, 102 borehole logs were used in the model, however, they were generally clustered, of variable quality and, in some areas, sparse, which provided a particular challenge for the modelling process.