VIC Rail Overpasses - Missing Height Data

Priority: HIGH - Critical for caravan route safety Status: Identified, Manual Data Collection Required

Problem

45 Victorian rail overpasses lack height clearance data. These are critical structures because:

• Rail overpasses typically have lower clearances (3.0-4.5m range)
• Pose significant collision risk for caravans
• Often located on major arterial routes and metro Melbourne

The 45 Structures

All structures are tagged in the database as:

• data_source: vic_transport
• layer_name: Contains "RAIL OVER ROAD"
• max_height_meters: NULL

Sample Structures (First 10):

1. SN0325 - Under Railway Line, Taylors Rd
2. SN1425 - Rail Overpass
3. SN1228 - Rail Line
4. SN7093 - Railway over McIvor Hwy
5. SN1637 - Railway Line
6. SN7095 - Railway Line over Eastern Hwy/Fwy (Major arterial)
7. SN8363 - Railway over Johnston Street Rd (Melbourne metro)
8. SN8376 - Railway over Victoria St (Melbourne CBD)
9. SN8398 - Railway over Queens Pde (Busy suburban)
10. SN8416 - Railway Line over Hoddle Hwy (Major Melbourne route)

Location Pattern: Mix of metro Melbourne (SN8xxx series) and regional Victoria

Data Source Options

1. VicRoads Official Data (Recommended)

Structure Height Clearance Layer:

https://data.vicroads.vic.gov.au/arcgis/rest/services/AGOL_Opendata/HVR_AGOL_OpenData/MapServer/46

Features:

• Official VicRoads height clearance data
• Includes structure heights for arterial roads
• Supports up to 3,000 records

Access Issue:

• API protected (Cloudflare WAF)
• Requires manual download or API credentials

Solution:

1. Visit VicRoads Open Data Portal: https://vicroadsopendata-vicroadsmaps.opendata.arcgis.com/
2. Search for "height clearance" or "bridge structures"
3. Download dataset (GeoJSON or CSV format)
4. Import using custom script

2. OpenStreetMap (Supplementary)

Advantages:

• Community-maintained data
• 617+ bridges with maxheight tags in Melbourne metro
• Free and open access

Limitations:

• API rate limited (HTTP 429 for bulk queries)
• Varying accuracy
• Manual verification required

Recommendation:

• Use for spot-checking and verification only
• Not suitable for bulk automated import

3. Google Street View Triage

For High-Priority Structures:

1. Use Google Street View to look for height restriction signs
2. Record visible clearances
3. Flag structures needing field verification

Priority Structures (Metro Melbourne):

1. SN7095 - Eastern Hwy/Fwy
2. SN8363 - Johnston St
3. SN8376 - Victoria St
4. SN8398 - Queens Pde
5. SN8416 - Hoddle Hwy

Time Required: ~4 hours for 5 highest-priority structures

4. Field Verification (Last Resort)

Professional Survey:

• Cost: $200-500 per structure
• Accuracy: High
• Time: 2-3 weeks

DIY with Laser Meter:

• Cost: ~$100 (laser distance meter)
• Accuracy: Medium-High
• Time: 1-2 days

Recommended Approach

Step 1: Manual VicRoads Download (2 hours)

1. Visit VicRoads Open Data Portal
2. Download height clearance dataset
3. Save to project data directory
4. Create import script to match structures

Step 2: OSM Cross-Reference (1 hour)

1. Use OSM Overpass API for specific metro Melbourne structures
2. Manual verification via OpenStreetMap website
3. Record any matches for verification

Step 3: Google Street View (4 hours)

1. Check 5 highest-priority metro structures
2. Look for visible height restriction signs
3. Document findings

Step 4: Contact Transport Victoria (30 minutes)

Email Template:

To: ptdataprogram@transport.vic.gov.au
Subject: Request for Rail Overpass Height Clearance Data

Dear Transport Victoria Data Team,

We are developing a caravan route planning application (VanSafe) to help
recreational vehicle operators avoid low-clearance structures.

During our data collection, we identified 45 rail overpasses on Victoria's
road network that lack height clearance measurements in our dataset. These
structures pose significant safety risks for caravan travelers.

We respectfully request:

1. Height clearance data for these specific 45 structures, OR
2. Access to the complete Structure Height Clearance dataset, OR
3. API credentials for automated access to this data

We would be happy to:
- Acknowledge VicRoads/Transport Victoria as a data source
- Share any corrections or updates we identify
- Assist with data quality improvements

[Attach list of 45 structure IDs]

Thank you for your consideration.

Implementation Scripts

Phase 1: Manual Lookup Helper (Created)

Script: scripts/phase1-osm-manual-lookup.ts

Generates:

• CSV tracking file for manual OSM lookup
• Markdown checklist with OSM URLs
• Auto-generated import script template

Command:

npm run osm:phase1-generate

Phase 2: Automated Import (Created, Blocked)

Script: scripts/phase2-osm-tourist-areas.ts

Features:

• Automated OSM import for tourist hotspot areas
• Found 22 bridges in test areas
• Rate limiting implemented

Status: ⚠️ Blocked by OSM API rate limits

Command:

npm run osm:phase2-dry-run  # Test mode
npm run osm:phase2-import   # Live import

See OSM Integration for detailed guide.

Timeline

Task	Time Required	Priority
Manual VicRoads download	2 hours	HIGH
OSM cross-reference	1 hour	MEDIUM
Google Street View check	4 hours	MEDIUM
Contact Transport Victoria	30 min	HIGH
Field verification (if needed)	2-3 weeks	LOW

Total: ~7-8 hours for manual data collection, 2-3 weeks if field verification required

Expected Outcome

• Height data for most/all of the 45 rail overpasses
• Critical gaps filled for caravan route planning
• Improved safety for caravan travelers in Victoria
• Complete coverage of high-risk structures

Related Documents

• Overview - Complete implementation status
• Data Quality Improvements - VIC missing heights analysis
• OSM Integration - OpenStreetMap cross-reference guide