The Cloud (and Cloud Computing)
What is it
“The Cloud” refers to a global network of remote servers that provide computing services – such as storage, processing and analytics – over the Internet.
Rather than keeping data on a local computer or USB drive, organisations upload it to data centres hosted by providers such as AWS, Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud. These centres handle everything from security to scalability, allowing complex systems and connected devices to share, process and store massive amounts of information in rapid time.
In rail applications, Cloud computing forms the digital backbone for advanced infrastructure monitoring systems such as One Big Circle’s AIVR (Automated Intelligent Video Review). Trains equipped with cameras and sensors send thousands of gigabytes of condition-monitoring data via 4G/5G to AIVR’s data centre in the Cloud, where it is processed and made accessible to engineers across the network.
Why it matters
Modern rail systems generate extraordinary volumes of data. The Cloud gives engineers the tools and bandwidth to manage that data efficiently, eliminating the need to move data around via manual downloads and physical transfers. Cloud computing enables near-instant access to imaging, video and diagnostic information from anywhere, supporting safer and quicker decision-making.
In effect, the Cloud transforms trains into rolling data centres – continuously capturing, transmitting and refining information that helps to prevent faults, predict failures and maintain track health more precisely than ever before.
Where it is used
Beyond passenger services, Cloud computing underpins a wide range of rail infrastructure applications:
- Track and overhead line monitoring through systems such as AIVR Focus and AIVR Forward Facing Video units.
- Thermal imaging to detect overheating electrical components.
- Predictive maintenance platforms that monitor equipment health.
- Asset databases and digital twins, allowing engineers to visualise the state of assets remotely.
The same approach is also used in transport control systems, logistics networks, and rolling-stock management.
Who uses it
Rail infrastructure companies such as Network Rail, rolling-stock owners, and suppliers such as One Big Circle rely on Cloud platforms to manage operations and analyse network-wide data. Engineers, maintenance teams, and data scientists all access data from the Cloud to identify defects, confirm repairs, and improve AI models used for automated inspection.
How AIVR uses the Cloud
On a monitoring train, data from AIVR sensors and cameras is transmitted via 4G or 5G antennas to the Cloud. Edge computing – where onboard devices process some data locally – reduces network load and ensures continued operation even when connections drop. Within AIVR’s data centre in the Cloud, intelligent “agents” coordinate uploads, manage quality, and request new data as needed, assembling a complete, up-to-date picture of the rail network (see dynamic demand). This fusion of Cloud and Edge technology allows continuous, resilient, and adaptable rail monitoring systems that evolve as the network itself changes.