Leveraging geospatial data to modernize Germany’s rail network

With ten years of experience in digital data acquisition, Maximilian Reitzel bridges innovation and practice in rail infrastructure as head of construction management at DB Engineering & Consulting, part of Germany’s national railway company Deutsche Bahn. In this Q&A, he provides insight into capturing reliable geodetic data in complex environments like stations, tunnels or busy corridors. He also discusses the challenges of unlocking the full potential of geodata to create lasting added value – not only to support individual large-scale infrastructure projects, but also to accelerate transformation across the entire rail network.

Geospatial data is becoming a cornerstone of modern railway planning, construction and maintenance. How central is it to DB Engineering & Consulting’s work today, and where do you see its biggest impact?

Geodata is essential to the work of DB Engineering & Consulting (DB E&C), playing a key role across the entire rail infrastructure lifecycle. Accurate planning and efficient project execution depend on geodetic data, which form the foundation for digital twins and building information models (BIM). These models integrate relevant information and enhance collaboration across specialist departments. Geodata also enables predictive maintenance by providing precise, up-to-date data. To maximize value, a central and open database is crucial.

Which strategies do you use to capture reliable geospatial data in complex or constrained environments?

We apply innovative digital methods to capture reliable geodetic data, even in complex environments like stations, tunnels or busy corridors. By combining different measurement techniques, we create near-complete digital as-built models of infrastructure. Mobile mapping systems and 360° imagery generate large-scale 3D point clouds and panoramas, supporting project planning and communication. Georadar adds valuable insights through detailed subsoil investigations. This integrated approach ensures efficient, precise and comprehensive data acquisition, and also reduces the impact on rail operations and thus on passengers.

How do you ensure that geospatial data is accessible across disciplines so that planners, engineers and project managers can all work from a common source of truth?

Geodata must be easily and continuously accessible to employees while complying with legal requirements. High data quality is the foundation of effective geodata management. Our goal is a unified approach to recording, providing and using geodata. Geographic information systems (GIS) integrated into existing processes and data management structures support this. A robust, future-ready IT infrastructure ensures availability, security and scalability in storage and performance. Open, standardized interfaces enable seamless cross-system data exchange.

How do you align geospatial data with BIM and digital twin workflows, and what challenges do you face in ensuring interoperability and consistency across projects?

Our project organization is aligned with the full data value chain, from acquisition and processing to visualization and planning. With in-house tools like our X2BIM platform, we meet client requirements and drive innovation, ensuring efficient, quality-assured workflows from data capture to model delivery. By combining internal and external geodata services, we create robust, consistent base models.

The greatest challenge lies in integrating diverse data sources and formats. Continuous validation and adaptation to project needs guarantee uniform, reliable models, keeping all departments supplied with consistent, up-to-date information and maintaining lasting model quality.

Germany’s railway network is facing well-documented challenges and requires significant investment in the coming decade. From your perspective, how can geospatial data be leveraged not just to support individual projects, but also to accelerate transformation across the entire network?

Effective geodata management is key to accelerating the modernization and digitalization of Germany’s rail network. A precise infrastructure inventory creates digital models that support strategic planning and efficient project delivery. But the real value lies in bundling and enriching this data throughout the asset lifecycle. We integrate master data, sensor outputs and monitoring information into digital twins that reflect the current plant status and drive transformation. Consistent openness and availability of data are essential to break down silos and unlock the full potential of geodata, creating lasting added value.

Looking ahead, which emerging technologies or approaches in geospatial data do you regard as most promising for the future of railway infrastructure management?

The combination of hardware and software technologies offers huge potential for modernizing rail infrastructure. Advanced sensors provide precise, large-scale data with minimal impact on operations, while cloud platforms like X2BIM enable efficient, location-independent data access. AI-supported object recognition allows automatic processing of growing datasets, improving speed and accuracy in planning, construction and maintenance. High automation – such as transferring GIS data to BIM systems – ensures fast, consistent delivery of information where it’s needed.

About Maximilian Reitzel

Maximilian Reitzel, head of construction management at DB Engineering & Consulting (DB E&C), bridges innovation and practice in rail infrastructure with ten years of experience in digital data acquisition. As part of Deutsche Bahn, DB E&C delivers customized, sustainable infrastructure and mobility solutions worldwide, drawing on decades of expertise, thousands of projects and a diverse team of over 6,100 employees from 89 nations.