Making Data Available for End Users in an Agile Way

Neeraj Koul, Chief Data Officer at the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), speaks with Ranyah Salous, Director of Digital Solutions, Data and AI at Guidehouse, in a video interview about the major challenges in enhancing FRA’s data capabilities, hurdles in accessing data and how to resolve that, and the potential of data and technology in transforming rail safety.

Koul discusses the major challenges in enhancing FRA’s data capabilities, noting that the organization comprises various offices, such as the Office of Safety, which focuses primarily on safety, and the legal department. From a data management perspective, this structure has often led to siloed data sets, he adds.

This means that the data is not integrated, making it difficult to gain holistic insights, says Koul. For example, the lack of integrated data creates obstacles when evaluating safety, whether through grant-making, ensuring railroad compliance, or conducting research.

Additionally, Koul notes that FRA has a significant grant-making and research portfolio, funding projects related to AI and other technologies to show the art of the possible. FRA has supported AI-related projects for several decades to advance the field before such technologies are fully operationalized.

Watch the full interview below.