Statistical Study on a Method of Assessing Wind Speed for Use in Train Operation Control

In order to secure running safety of trains in strong winds, JR East implements operation control such as speed control and operation suspension at prescribed wind speeds. As a method to more appropriately assess wind speed, the authors have introduced to some lines in advance use of the spatial average of instantaneous wind speed observed by three anemometers. On the other hand, in the fields of meteorology and wind engineering, the internationally accepted method is to use the time average of instantaneous wind speed of observations over a few seconds by a single anemometer. If the authors can apply the new method to train operation control, it could be significant in terms of conforming to international standards and effective in reducing installation and maintenance costs of anemometers as well. In this study, the authors analyzed the time average wind speed observed by an anemometer with performance almost equal to the spatial average wind speed observed by three anemometers, and the authors results show that such time average wind speed is the average of wind speed observed for three seconds.