Review of integrated full life cycle data management and application of the slab tracks

Abstract The full life cycle data management and application of high-speed railway slab track has multiple benefits. While serving as the basis for scientific periodic and predictive maintenance, it is also the key to extending the service life of the track structure and improving train safety and smoothness. The paper provides a comprehensive review of the multi-source data collection methods, the integrated data management, and the multi-dimensional data applications for slab tracks from a full life cycle perspective. The data detection and monitoring methods across the design, construction, and O&M (Operation and Maintenance) phases of slab tracks are summarized, offering a potential direction for better refinement and intelligent data collection. In addition, the paper reviews the data management system at different life cycle stages of the slab track, and a integrated full life cycle data management framework is proposed. Also considered is the application of related complex mass data, in which we summarize the maintenance indexes to evaluate and predict the current and future quality of slab tracks. This study aims to lay a foundation for future scientific maintenance and repair strategies of slab tracks in high-speed railways.