KMUTNB Int J Appl Sci Technol, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp.

15–19, 2018

Research Article
Selected Paper from the International Conference on Engineering Innovation 2016 (ICEI 2016)

Automated Railway Crossing System Using ZigBee/IEEE 802.15.4 Standard

Muhammad Mansattha*
Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Princess of Naradhiwas University, Naradhiwas,
Thailand

Watit Benjapolakul
Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

* Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] DOI: 10.14416/j.ijast.2017.12.005

Received: 8 December 2016; Accepted: 1 May 2017; Published online: 15 December 2017
© 2018 King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok. All Rights Reserved.

Abstract
This paper presents a development of an automatic railway crossing system using a wireless sensor network
based on ZigBee/IEEE802.15.4 standard. The existing works on automatic railway crossing system apply
some technologies such as Fiber Optic, Coaxial Cable, and General Packet Radio Services (GPRS). However,
they require high cost in their operation and complex installation. ZigBee allows us to develop a system with
low power, low price that is suitable for automatic railway crossing system. We develop a new system that
consists of four main parts, i.e. railway detector, ZigBee Wireless Communication Device, railway crossing
gate, and monitor system. We propose an optimal recovery path routing algorithm based on ZigBee protocol in
API (Application Programming Interface) mode to ensure the reliable data transmission from the source node
to the destination node. Each node has two paths connecting to the neighboring nodes, where the transmission
probability to the closer neighboring nodes is higher than that to farther nodes. The data are sent by the sensor
node to monitor system and are displayed as the status of network link, status of the train detection, status of
the railway crossing gate, and status of the sensors node in real time. From the data displayed in the monitor,
we can also detect if there are any malfunctions on the sensor nodes. So we can fix the problem immediately.
Moreover, the hardware system consists of solar cell panel, charger control unit, and battery storage designed
for self- energy management and low power consumption. These features are suitable for installation in real
environment. As a prototype of an automatic railway crossing system, the developed system in this project is
very useful for further development and application in railway crossing system management in Thailand.

Keywords: ZigBee/IEEE802.15.4, Protocol, API mode, Railway crossing system

1 Introduction railway crossing system is major reason for accidents

for railway-road accidents. Currently in Railway state
Road accidents are the most prevailing cause of death of Thailand, railway crossing system is manual thus
in Thailand and one reason leading to these deaths are prone to errors in addition to the cost associated with
the manual traffic monitoring/control system. Railway the workers on the site.
Signaling System (RSS) is no exception to it. The place Automated monitoring and control systems are
where track and highway/road intersects each other at in high demand have their application in various ways
the same level is known as “level crossing” Absence of of life. This paper presents railway crossing signal

Please cite this article as: M. Mansattha and W. Benjapolakul, “Automated railway crossing system using
ZigBee/IEEE 802.15.4 standard,” KMUTNB Int J Appl Sci Technol, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 15–19, Jan.–Mar. 2018.

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M. Mansattha and W. Benjapolakul, “Automated Railway Crossing System Using ZigBee/IEEE 802.15.4 Standard.”

equipment remote monitoring system is used for

automatic monitoring of railway signal equipment
running status, through the remote wireless transmission 1
mode, the railway crossing signal equipment running
status real-time monitoring, remote monitoring, remote
record of dynamic data management, remote analysis 6
of a set of monitoring system [1]. 2
This study analyses the reliability of an in-vehicle 7
warning system. The system is based on the positioning 3
of trains using GPS, calculation of the states of level
8
crossings on a server and in-vehicle equipment that 4
retrieves information about the states of level crossings 9
from the server [2]. 5
The existing works on automatic railway crossing
system apply some technologies such as Fiber Optic Figure 1: Control unit and power supply.
[3], Coaxial Cable [4], and General Packet Radio
Services (GPRS) [5]. However, they require high monitoring of communication link, railway crossing
cost in their operation and complex installation. This gate status, light control in every sensor module,
paper presents a development of an automatic railway information about the train and maintenance signals.
crossing system using a wireless sensor network based We propose an optimal recovery path routing
on ZigBee/IEEE802.15.4 standard. ZigBee allows us algorithm based on [6] ZigBee protocol in API
to develop a system with low power, low price that is (Application Programming Interface) mode to ensure
suitable for automatic railway crossing system. the reliable data transmission from the source node
to the destination node. Each node has two paths
2 System Overview connecting to the neighboring nodes, where the
transmission probability to the closer neighboring
We develop a new system that consists of four main parts, nodes is higher than that to farther nodes. The data
i.e. railway detector, ZigBee Wireless Communication are sent by the sensor node to monitor system and are
Device, railway crossing gate, and monitoring system. displayed as the status of network link, status of the
The detector is used to detect the arrival and departure train detection, status of the railway crossing gate, and
of the train. Two Infrared sensors are used to perform status of the sensors node in real time. From the data
this action. One sensor is attached to the source for the displayed in the monitor, we can also detect if there
detection of the arrival of the train. Upon detecting the are any malfunctions on the sensor nodes. So we can
train, instructions for closing of the railway crossing fix the problem immediately.
gate will be passed. The detector attached to the
destination will respond to the presence of the object. 2.1 Hardware design
Sensor will transmit the signal and if the signal is not
bounced back, it implies that no object is present. In The hardware used in the nodes is shown in Figure 1
case the train is approaching then the transmitted signal and details are explained as under. Solar cells are used
will be reflected back and received by the sensor. If for energy conservation and design is done is such a
there is no reflected signal, it is assumed that there is no way to ensure easy installation in addition to energy
train on the path and instructions to open the gate will efficiency
be passed to the railway crossing gate. A relay is used 1. Solar panel having 5 Watt power and provides
to connect the source and destination. ZigBee Wireless 12 Volts.
Communication Device is used to send and receive 2. ZigBee Communication Module which works
the data from source, relays and destination node. in ISM band at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. Data transfer
Monitoring system is very crucial and it performs a rate is 250 kbps and consumes 50 mW power [6].
number of tasks namely: working of detector sensors, Arduino SMD microcontroller unit is used [7].

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 KMUTNB Int J Appl Sci Technol, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 15–19, 2018

2 Start

1 3 5

Destination Relay 2 Relay 1 Source

Destination node send ‘start
frame’ to source node
4

Figure 2: Optimal recovery path routing. Destination node No

request data (detection train)
from source node ?
3. Two relays associated with green and red lights
for opening and closing the gates [8]. Yes

4. Solar charge control unit for converting the No

solar energy to electrical energy. Have a train detection
at source node ?
Railway crossing
gate open
5. 12 Volt and 5.5 Ampare battery to store the
Charg. Yes

6. Motor driver circuit [9]. Close railway crossing gate

and switch on yellow light
7. Red Light LED panel.
8. Green Light LED panel. Destination node send status of railway
gate to every node and turn on green
9. Voltage regulator circuit. light

2.2 Software design

Destination node read the IR Sensor to
open the railway crossing gate
2.2.1 Optimal recovery path routing
Have a train detection
Keeping in view the severity of perfect functionality No at destination node ?
of railway crossing system, we proposed an optimal
recovery path routing algorithm based on ZigBee Yes

protocol in API (Application Programming Interface) Delay 10s for opening railway crossing
gate
mode to ensure the reliable data transmission from the
source node to the destination node. Each node has
two paths connecting to the neighboring nodes, where Open railway crossing gate and turn on
red light
the transmission probability to the closer neighboring
nodes is higher than that to farther nodes. Relays in
between the source and destination are placed in such Destination node send status of railway
gate to every node a nd turn on red light
a way that every node can transmit its information to
next two nodes. In case the first node is not working,
Destination node send
still message can be passed to the second node. This data to the monitoring
redundancy is used to bring reliability into the system. unit

Figure 2 shows the above mentioned scenario. Figure 3: Flowchart of control system.

2.2.1 Flow Chart status of railway gate to every node and turn on green
light. Thirdly, Destination node read the IR Sensor to
Software design details are shown in Figure 3 Firstly, open the railway crossing gate if have a tain detection
Destination node sent start frame to source node for at destination node the gate will delay time 10 second
beginning operations. Secondly, Destination node and openning railway crossing gate and turn on red
request data (detection train) from source node if have light. Finally, Destination node send status of railway
a train detection at source node the gate will close and gate to every node and turn on red light and then the
switch on yellow light. After that destination node send destination node send data to the monitoring unit.

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M. Mansattha and W. Benjapolakul, “Automated Railway Crossing System Using ZigBee/IEEE 802.15.4 Standard.”

332 m Destination
Gate Open 207 m Destination Gate Open
Gate Close Gate Close
Warning Relay 2
Warning
Relay 2 663 m
996 m 207 m
332 m

1796 m 1463 m
Relay 1 Relay 1
332 m 249 m

Source Source

800 m 800 m

102 105
Percentage of Received Packet (%)

Percentage of Received Packet (%)

100
100 (414,100) (663,100)
(664,100) (996,100) 95
(456,100)
98 90
(664,100)
96 85
Des, R1 80 Des, R1
94 R2, Src R2, Src
75
Des, R, R1, Src Des, R, R1, Src
92 70

90 65
60
88 55
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
0 200 400 600 800
Distance (Meter) Distance (Meter)

Figure 4: Packet loss rate in case of straight line of sight. Figure 5: Packet loss rate in case of straight non-line of sight.
Gate Open
3 Testting Results Gate Close
Warning

3.1 Packet loss rate

Destination

Keeping in view the diversity of railway lines, we 192

m

tested our system for three cases. Relay 2

1. Straight Line of Sight, Case 1 refers when a 19

2m
Relay 1

transmitting node can see the receiving node. This Source

m

800 m
0

scenario is shown in Figure 4.

25

2. Straight Non-Line of Sight, Case 2 refers to 105

Percentage of Received Packet (%)

when both the nodes are in the straight line but there is 100
(634,100)
(442,100)
some object (for example tree) is blocking their way. 95
(384,100)

This scenario is shown in Figure 5. 90

Des, R1
3. Curve. Case 3 refers to the area of the railway 85 R2, Src
which is curve in shapes for helping the train to change 80 Des, R, R1, Src

its direction. This scenario is shown in Figure 6. 75

Our test results are summarized in Table 1. From 70
the table we can see that our sensor nodes can work 0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance (Meter)
best if the nodes are line of sight as it can go to farther
distance as compared to other cases. Figure 6: Packet loss rate in case of curve.

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 KMUTNB Int J Appl Sci Technol, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 15–19, 2018

in this system consists of solar cell panel, charger

Applying Wireless Sensor Network Based on Zigbee/
IEEE802.15.4 Standard for Railway Crossing System control unit, and battery storage designed for self-
energy management and low power consumption.
These features are suitable for installation in real
environment. As a prototype of an automatic railway
crossing system, the developed system is very useful
for further development and application in railway
crossing system management in Thailand.
Destination Relay 2 Relay 1 Source

References

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