Data Analytics in Rail Transportation: Applications and Effects for Sustainability

Advanced integrated technology and big data are current and growing industry concerns. We evaluate applications of big data analytics, especially with implications for sustainability, to rail transportation. We compare various findings to our exploratory case study. Data was collected from partners in a buyer-supplier relationship. The case considers one of the largest railroad network operators in North America and an Internet of Things (IoT) provider that supplies specialized sensors, digital video recorders, and hardware platforms. Practical managerial and organizational lessons are presented.