Train detection and alert system

A train detection and alert system, comprising one or more mapping devices and one or more detector devices operably connected over a network to a computer comprising a memory and a processor, the system further configured to:

• monitor train status data;
• detect, by the one or more detector devices, a presence of a train based on the train status data;
• capture, in response to the detecting of an indication of a train, current train data;
• convert, in response to the capturing, the current train data and mapping device location data from the one or more mapping devices into train metrics;
• estimate in further response to the converting, an arrival time of the train at a railroad crossing and a duration of the train at the railroad crossing;
• check the current train data for errors;
• apply rules to the current train data and to the mapping device location data, wherein a rule of the rules comprises that a particular mapping device has not elected to receive alerts;
• generate an alert in response to none of the rules being violated, wherein the alert comprises a visualization of a direction the train is moving with respect to the railroad crossing;
• send the alert to one or more mapping devices whose rules have not been violated;
• and
• display the alert on the one or more mapping devices to notify one or more corresponding users of the one or more mapping devices of the presence of the train.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodied with software for providing train detection and alerts, the software when executed is programmed to:

• network a computer comprising a processor and a memory with one or more mapping devices and one or more detector devices;
• data;
• monitor train status data;
• detect, by the one or more detector devices, a presence of a train based on the train status data;
• capture, in response to the detecting of an indication of a train, current train data;
• convert, in response to the capturing, the current train data and mapping device location data from the one or more mapping devices into train metrics;
• estimate in further response to the converting, an arrival time of the train at a railroad crossing and a duration of the train at the railroad crossing;
• check the current train data for errors;
• apply rules to the current train data and to the mapping device location data, wherein a rule of the rules comprises that a particular mapping device has not elected to receive alerts;
• generate an alert in response to none of the rules being violated, wherein the alert comprises a visualization of a direction the train is moving with respect to the railroad crossing;
• send the alert to one or more mapping devices whose rules have not been violated;
• and
• display the alert on the one or more mapping devices to notify one or more corresponding users of the one or more mapping devices of the presence of the train.