17 Years on the Tracks: Sourav Kumar Talks Rail, Innovation & Leadership

My name is Sourav Kumar, and I currently serve as an Engineering Product Manager II at Harsco Rail, based in Columbia, South Carolina. I bring over 17 years of experience in the industry, with a strong background in Systems Engineering, New Product Development, and Certification processes, particularly within the Rail and Aerospace sectors.

I hold master’s degrees in both Project Management and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, along with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. My professional focus includes Product Strategy and Vision, Safety and Automation, Innovation, Certification, and Quality Assurance—areas in which I’ve led and contributed to numerous successful initiatives.

Throughout my career, I’ve been dedicated to delivering high-impact engineering solutions, aligning technical innovation with strategic goals to drive performance, reliability, and compliance in complex systems and equipment.

Innovation has always been at the heart of my professional journey. The motivation behind this achievement stemmed from a desire to solve real-world problems with meaningful, scalable solutions. I identified a gap in improving Collision Avoidance, and that became the spark for developing something that not only pushed boundaries but delivered measurable impact.

This initiative aligned perfectly with both my personal values and the company’s vision. Personally, I’ve always strived to drive change through technology and challenge the status quo. At the same time, our organization encourages forward-thinking, user-centric innovation that contributes to long-term value—be it through efficiency, customer experience, or operational excellence. This achievement stands as a testament to that shared mission.

The system is an AI-driven multi-sensor fusion to deliver highly accurate obstacle detection and reduce false alarms through intelligent object classification. It operates reliably in all weather conditions and supports decent detection ranges up to 600 feet.

My expertise played a critical role in shaping both the strategic direction and the technical execution of the project. With over 17 years of experience in product development and cross-functional team leadership, I was able to bridge the gap between vision and delivery.

I prioritized clear communication and stakeholder alignment, which helped us navigate challenges with agility. Ultimately, it was a combination of technical depth, strategic foresight, and people-first leadership that drove the success of this project and helped us achieve this recognition.

Unmatched Safety & Risk Reduction – Prevents costly accidents, saves lives, and enhances worker safety through advanced detection, multi-event tracking, and intelligent alarm management.

Cutting-Edge Technology & Reliability – Utilizes multiple sensors, remote accessibility, rail track detection, and configurable alarm zones for precise, weather-resistant performance in real-world rail conditions.

Operational Efficiency & Cost Savings – Reduces maintenance costs, minimizes operational disruptions, and provides comprehensive data logging for post-incident analysis and continuous improvement.

It has sensor fusion, cutting edge technology, With configurable safety zones, real-time audible alerts, and remote access capabilities, it ensures proactive protection for rail workers and assets. Its robust data logging enables post-incident analysis and continuous improvement. This innovation not only enhances safety but also reduces operational costs and downtime across Class 1 railroads.

Our organization encourages forward-thinking, user-centric innovation that contributes to long-term value—be it through efficiency, customer experience, or operational excellence. This achievement stands as a testament to that shared mission.

During development, one major challenge was ensuring accurate object detection in harsh and variable rail environments, which initially led to frequent false positives. Integrating multiple sensor technologies and real-time AI systems added further complexity. I applied my problem-solving skills and QA experience to fine-tune algorithms, eliminate noise, and validate performance in the field.

Strong cross-team collaboration helped accelerate iterations and align technical goals with real-world safety needs. These efforts resulted in a reliable, intelligent system that enhances safety and reduces operational risk.

We hope this innovation sets a new safety benchmark for the rail industry, drastically reducing the risk of collisions and saving lives—especially for trackside workers. By delivering real-time, intelligent alerts and enabling proactive decision-making, the system can minimize costly operational disruptions and maintenance incidents.

More broadly, we aim to inspire a shift toward AI-driven safety technologies across industrial sectors, proving that smart, scalable solutions can enhance both safety and efficiency. Ultimately, our goal is to foster a culture of zero compromise on safety through technology.

Winning this award reinforces our vision of leveraging AI and smart technologies to drive meaningful, real-world impact—in this case, saving lives and transforming rail safety. It validates our belief that technological progress isn't just about innovation—it's about solving critical problems with purpose and precision.

This recognition motivates us to continue pushing boundaries, scaling our solution, and inspiring broader adoption of intelligent systems across safety-critical industries. It's a proud milestone on our journey toward building a safer, smarter future through innovation.

I'm particularly excited by the rapid advancements in AI-driven automation, sensor fusion technologies, and edge computing. The growing role of IoT integration also opens up new opportunities to create more interconnected, adaptive systems that can learn and evolve in real time.

My advice is to embrace failure as part of the innovation process and stay persistent through the ups and downs. Focus on solving real-world problems and align your solution with practical needs, while fostering collaboration and continuous learning. Finally, remember that transformative ideas take time—stay adaptable and committed to refining and evolving your solution.