Spatiotemporal variability of lightning activity over the railway network in Sri Lanka with special attention to the proposed suburban railway electrification network

This study is oriented towards the investigation of the spatiotemporal variability of the lightning activity over the railway network in Sri Lanka using -lightning data from 1998 to 2014 that were downloaded from the database of Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) onboard NASA’s Tropical Rainfall Measuri...

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Main Authors: Maduranga, U. G. D., Edirisinghe, M., Alahacoon, Niranga, Ranagalage, M.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: MDPI 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/120380
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author Maduranga, U. G. D.
Edirisinghe, M.
Alahacoon, Niranga
Ranagalage, M.
author_browse Alahacoon, Niranga
Edirisinghe, M.
Maduranga, U. G. D.
Ranagalage, M.
author_facet Maduranga, U. G. D.
Edirisinghe, M.
Alahacoon, Niranga
Ranagalage, M.
author_sort Maduranga, U. G. D.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This study is oriented towards the investigation of the spatiotemporal variability of the lightning activity over the railway network in Sri Lanka using -lightning data from 1998 to 2014 that were downloaded from the database of Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) onboard NASA’s Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). The study has also been extended to study the lightning activity over the proposed suburban railway electrification network. GIS was used to conduct an annual and seasonal analysis of the railway network, which consists of nine major railway lines, to identify vulnerable stations and segments. The average annual lightning flash density over a 1447 km-long railway network of Sri Lanka varies between 5.08–16.58 flashes/(km2 year). The railway lines run across the western and southern regions of the country have been identified as being in areas with higher lightning activity. In comparison to other railway lines, the Kelani Valley line in the Colombo district and Colombo-Maradana to Polgahawela segment of the Mainline are particularly vulnerable to lightning activity. These areas have also been recognized as regions with higher population density. The proposed 102 km long railway electrification network in Sri Lanka is also within higher population density segments, with higher lightning flash density values between 10.55–16.53 flashes/(km2 ·year). As a result, to improve the operational efficiency of the proposed electrification network, a fully coordinated lightning protection system in accordance with the findings of this study is strongly suggested.
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spelling CGSpace1203802025-12-08T10:29:22Z Spatiotemporal variability of lightning activity over the railway network in Sri Lanka with special attention to the proposed suburban railway electrification network Maduranga, U. G. D. Edirisinghe, M. Alahacoon, Niranga Ranagalage, M. lightning railways spatial variation transportation safety protection electrification weather hazards vulnerability population density This study is oriented towards the investigation of the spatiotemporal variability of the lightning activity over the railway network in Sri Lanka using -lightning data from 1998 to 2014 that were downloaded from the database of Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) onboard NASA’s Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). The study has also been extended to study the lightning activity over the proposed suburban railway electrification network. GIS was used to conduct an annual and seasonal analysis of the railway network, which consists of nine major railway lines, to identify vulnerable stations and segments. The average annual lightning flash density over a 1447 km-long railway network of Sri Lanka varies between 5.08–16.58 flashes/(km2 year). The railway lines run across the western and southern regions of the country have been identified as being in areas with higher lightning activity. In comparison to other railway lines, the Kelani Valley line in the Colombo district and Colombo-Maradana to Polgahawela segment of the Mainline are particularly vulnerable to lightning activity. These areas have also been recognized as regions with higher population density. The proposed 102 km long railway electrification network in Sri Lanka is also within higher population density segments, with higher lightning flash density values between 10.55–16.53 flashes/(km2 ·year). As a result, to improve the operational efficiency of the proposed electrification network, a fully coordinated lightning protection system in accordance with the findings of this study is strongly suggested. 2022-07-13 2022-07-31T22:50:34Z 2022-07-31T22:50:34Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/120380 en Open Access MDPI Maduranga, U. G. D.; Edirisinghe, M.; Alahacoon, Niranga; Ranagalage, M. 2022. Spatiotemporal variability of lightning activity over the railway network in Sri Lanka with special attention to the proposed suburban railway electrification network. Infrastructures, 7(7):92. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures7070092]
spellingShingle lightning
railways
spatial variation
transportation
safety
protection
electrification
weather hazards
vulnerability
population density
Maduranga, U. G. D.
Edirisinghe, M.
Alahacoon, Niranga
Ranagalage, M.
Spatiotemporal variability of lightning activity over the railway network in Sri Lanka with special attention to the proposed suburban railway electrification network
title Spatiotemporal variability of lightning activity over the railway network in Sri Lanka with special attention to the proposed suburban railway electrification network
title_full Spatiotemporal variability of lightning activity over the railway network in Sri Lanka with special attention to the proposed suburban railway electrification network
title_fullStr Spatiotemporal variability of lightning activity over the railway network in Sri Lanka with special attention to the proposed suburban railway electrification network
title_full_unstemmed Spatiotemporal variability of lightning activity over the railway network in Sri Lanka with special attention to the proposed suburban railway electrification network
title_short Spatiotemporal variability of lightning activity over the railway network in Sri Lanka with special attention to the proposed suburban railway electrification network
title_sort spatiotemporal variability of lightning activity over the railway network in sri lanka with special attention to the proposed suburban railway electrification network
topic lightning
railways
spatial variation
transportation
safety
protection
electrification
weather hazards
vulnerability
population density
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/120380
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AT alahacoonniranga spatiotemporalvariabilityoflightningactivityovertherailwaynetworkinsrilankawithspecialattentiontotheproposedsuburbanrailwayelectrificationnetwork
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