Case Studies
Fieldwork Case Studies
Survey, recording and photographing station equipment and facilities
We have been involved in a number of rail franchise bids providing a range of support services. For one bid there was no knowledge of the facilities provided at any of the stations the bidder was interested in or the general state of passenger facing signage or equipment; about 150 stations were involved and the only way of getting the information in a timely fashion was to visit all of them.
We consulted on what information was required (and what was already known) and on the basis of a trial site devised a suitable form for recording all the information required in a way which facilitated later analysis. Objective measurements were devised wherever possible. We then trained six staff who went out and gathered the necessary information and we subsequently analysed the results to produced a summary which was later widely used by the bid team to provide objective up-to-date information. For a different rail bid we objectively sampled a number of stations to identify passenger information shortcomings to gain an idea of where improvements were possible, and this fed directly into the transport information plan. We also looked at some other franchises to see how they handled the same issues, and took photographs that were later very useful.
For London Underground it was necessary to visit about fifty stations to investigate certain types of plant room, access arrangements, compare what we found with station plans, photograph equipment and equipment access and make certain recommendations about opportunities these presented for taking forward a large project. This was all accomplished by trained staff who were familiar with the environment and with the issues facing local staff, and the job was accomplished in just six weeks, which would not have been achievable with people not intimately familiar with that environment.
London Underground Fan Surveys
Fifth Dimension monitored operational status of London
Underground’s mid-tunnel and station ventilation fans at
a number of locations across the network over a three
year period. Regular inspection supported TFL Cooling
the Tube Programme objectives to improve ventilation at
key locations by a more consistent and efficient use of
existing ventilation assets.
From inspection data collated Fifth Dimension produced
survey reports for each operational ventilation fan.
This documentation has been utilised by TFL Cooling the
Tube Programme as baseline data within a familiarization
initiative by which LU Operational staff are informed as
to the location and means of accessing ventilation
assets, and their correct and most efficient operation.
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