IN2CLOUD: A novel concept for collaborative management of big railway data

In the EU Horizon 2020 Shift2Rail MultiAnnual Action Plan, the challenge of railway maintenance is generating knowledge from data and/or information. Therefore, we promote a novel concept called “IN2CLOUD,” which comprises three sub-concepts, to address this challenge: 1) A hybrid cloud, 2) an intelligent cloud with hybrid cloud learning, and 3) collaborative management using asset-related data acquired from the intelligent hybrid cloud. The concept is developed under the assumption that organizations want/need to learn from each other (including domain knowledge and experience) but do not want to share their raw data or information. IN2CLOUD will help the movement of railway industry systems from “local” to “global” optimization in a collaborative way. The development of cutting-edge intelligent hybrid cloud-based solutions, including information technology (IT) solutions and related methodologies, will enhance business security, economic sustainability, and decision support in the field of intelligent asset management of railway assets.