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NYC Subway Using Pixel Phones and AI to Find Track Defects

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Feb 28, 2025, 12:24 PM by Rich Brome @rbrome.bsky.social

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) of New York City is working with Google Public Sector to use the sensors in off-the-shelf smartphones, combined with AI, to find defects in its train tracks faster, earlier, and more cost-effectively than existing methods. Google Public Sector developed this TrackInspect system using Pixel smartphones, with an attached microphone and built-in vibration sensors, mounted to operating subways cars. A custom AI system was trained to identify the sounds and/or vibrations associated with track issues that would require maintenance. Compared against traditional track inspections, TrackInspect found 92% of confirmed defect locations in its own. Google Public Sector developed the prototype system at no cost to the MTA, and the MTA is now proceeding to a larger pilot program to deploy TrackInspect.

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