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AUTHOR | Ivan Ristić, M.Sc.E.E.

Stay on track with railway signalling and telecommunications professionals!

AUTHOR | Ivan Ristić, M.Sc.E.E.

Newsletter No.7 - Signalling Design Automation

7th issue, December 2023

In the ever-evolving landscape of transportation, the railway industry stands at the forefront of innovation, with companies like PROVER leading the way.

PROVER, a dynamic software company, has carved a niche for itself in the realm of railway signalling through its state-of-the- art automation tools. This article explores how PROVER is revolutionizing the railway sector, ensuring efficiency, safety, and reliability in railway operations.

Signalling Design Automation

PROVER’s suite of software solutions addresses the complexities inherent in railway signalling, streamlining processes and enhancing overall system performance.
The development of these software-based systems is critical in rail transport projects. Delays in delivery, acceptance and safety approvals of rail control solutions negatively impact schedules and costs.

Prover Trident is a complete process and tool suite that reduces engineering efforts and life cycle costs, provide prompt time- to-market and ensures certification to the highest available safety standards. This software suite contains the following solutions:

  • Prover Studio® – represents an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Formal Specifications which helps to develop, manage and maintain formal specifications;
  • Prover iLock® – the desktop tool for producing fully documented, tested and verified application software for railway interlocking systems, used for the creation of signaling systems code meeting the highest safety requirements according to CENELEC EN50128 SIL4;
  • Prover Certifier® – the leading sign-off verification tool that allows you to automatically produce complete safety evidence for CENELEC EN50128 SIL 4 projects using formal verification. It has been approved by TÜV NORD as a CENELEC EN50128-compliant T2 tool for SIL 4 applications, meaning that it fulfills the toughest requirements for verification and validation tools for safety-critical systems with railway applications in the European Union and worldwide.

Digital Twins

The digital twin is developed using formal methods that utilize automated simulation and can test and validate every step of your rail control project.
With a digital twin infrastructure managers can formulate and evaluate precise requirements for their new system and avoid costly mistakes, and ensure the right system is built in the first place. Creating a digital twin before a tender is a practical way to get to a point where requirements are more precise, and systems can be verified.
Suppliers can use the Digital Twin as input to the detailed design, using automation tools for code generation, testing, and verification, further shortening project schedules and reducing costs. It gives them a better chance at meeting expectations.

Formal Methods

Railway signalling systems have always been complex, with high demands on RAMS, which created an opportunity to introduce Formal Methods (FM) in large scale, from the early phases of system definition/specification and applied throughout the lifecycle. FM have been used in railway signalling for more than 25 years. Huge amounts of requirements can be maintained and automatically checked using formal methods. While considerable “know-how” about FM exists, it is not generally widespread or available.
Formal analysis can use different classes of consistency and correctness properties, such as:
Safety properties
Liveness properties
Mathematical consistency Reachability analysis
Non-functional properties
Distributed system properties Security properties
The generic process for FM application that aims to be independent of purpose, life cycle phase, notations and tools, or other characteristics is illustrated on the picture below, encompassing six generic steps (activities).

EXPERT SMALL TALK | exclusively for New In Signal

Khaled Daher, Railway Installation
General Manager at CAF

Our next guest is Khaled Daher, Railway Installation General Manager at CAF, a railway signalling expert, and smart cities/Mobility Lecturer with Zigurat Global Institute of Technology

Khaled, thank you for joining us today. You have great experience in major railway implementation projects, including metro and monorail systems. Please introduce yourself and provide an overview of the role of an Installation General Manager at CAF and the key responsibilities associated with managing of signalling installation projects.

My name is Khaled Daher. I am a railway installation General Manager at CAF- Jerusalem Light Rail projects on implementation of developing sustainable transport solutions to improve people’s quality of life.
I joined CAF in 2022, following over 7 years at Alstom Transport, where I worked on various railway projects, including the Riyadh Metro and Cairo Monorail—both driverless turnkey Projects as head of signalling installation.
My expertise lies in implementing and installing power supply, electrification, telecommunication, and new signalling systems, including technologies such as CBTC, GoA2, and GoA4 systems.

Currently, I am working on a complex (brown and green) field project; my responsibilities include overseeing all installation phases of the project, from initiation and planning to execution and closure, in accordance with project specifications, developing sustainable transport solutions to improve people’s quality of life and meeting client expectations.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of smart cities and transportation, what are the current challenges and opportunities you see in smart mobility for railway projects as part of smart cities’ vision of driverless (metro, monorail) and tram projects? How does CAF stay ahead in addressing these challenges?

Driverless signaling railway projects are part of smart mobility, playing a crucial role in the development of smart cities by providing efficient, sustainable, and interconnected transportation solutions driven by technology. However, there are some key challenges associated with integrating smart mobility into railway networks within smart cities:

1 – Public Acceptance and Education:

Introducing new technologies and changes to traditional commuting patterns may face resistance from the public.
CAF invests and engage with the community through education and awareness campaigns to build public understanding and acceptance of smart railway initiatives, addressing any concerns or resistance.

2 – Legacy Infrastructure:

Retrofitting existing railway infrastructure with smart technologies can be challenging due to the presence of legacy systems. For CAF to upgrade or integrate new technologies may require significant investments and careful planning.

3 – Funding and Investment:

Implementing smart railway solutions requires substantial financial investment. Securing funding for developing and integrating smart systems can be challenging, especially in cities with budget constraints.
Regarding the 2nd part of the questions about opportunities for railway signalling for smart cities, it is given in the following text.

A – Signaling and Control Systems:

Upgrade signaling systems to digital platforms for better control, accuracy, and real-time responsiveness, reducing delays and improving the overall efficiency of train operations.

B – Predictive Maintenance Using IoT:

Adopt Internet of Things (IoT) technologies for predictive maintenance, leveraging sensors and data analytics to monitor the condition of railway infrastructure and proactively address installation needs.

C – Innovations in Train Design:

Explore innovations in train design, including lightweight materials, aerodynamics, and energy-efficient propulsion systems, to improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

D – Public-Private Partnerships ( PPPs):

Explore collaboration opportunities through public-private partnerships to secure funding and resources for the development and implementation of smart railway initiatives.

E – Innovations in Railway Infrastructure:

Investigate innovative solutions for railway infrastructure, including smart tracks, energy-efficient stations, and advanced maintenance facilities to enhance overall system performance.
By actively engaging with the challenges of smart mobility, CAF company contributes to the creation of more efficient, sustainable, and interconnected smart cities. Collaboration with various stakeholders, including government authorities, technology providers, and the public, is key to achieving comprehensive and successful smart mobility solutions.

In such a big project, you are working on a brown and green field; how do you ensure effective coordination and communication between teams working on installations in different sites, and how do you try to avoid rework?

In the railway installation and construction sector, the coordination and communication processes play a pivotal role in ensuring that teams commit to the planned schedule, design drawings, and method statements.
To facilitate this, weekly planning to be shared with subcontractors and our teams through meetings involving all relevant parties, including subcontractors and supervisors.
Each supervisor assumes has a set of responsibilities, including material preparation, acquiring necessary permits, overseeing installation tools, and confirming the availability of subcontractors. This role is designed to ensure that the work progresses as outlined in the plan and maintains high- quality standards.
At the conclusion of each workday, supervisors must compile and share a detailed daily report with their respective managers. This reporting mechanism is a vital tool for tracking progress, promptly addressing challenges, and maintaining transparent communication between the on-site teams and management.

With the increasing emphasis on sustainability and innovation in transportation, how does CAF incorporate environmentally friendly practices and cutting-edge technologies in installing signalling equipment? Can you share any recent examples or projects that highlight this commitment?

The environment, our great value

CAF considers the environment one of the key factors of its business strategy. In its commitment to collaborating to achieve a sustainable world, it aims to contribute to its development and provide new solutions that allow us to offer more efficient and environmentally friendly means of transport.
The CAF Group’s Mission is to strike a balance between accomplishing our Mission and satisfying Stakeholders requirements and expectations for creating long-term value.

Smart mobility

The growing amount of travel in urban areas, as well as increasing atmospheric pollution, calls for a sustainable means of public transport for this point CAF recently started testing of FCH2RAIL project: First hydrogen train on the Spanish railway network, CAF is confirming again its commitment to the development of zero-emission.

Considering the dynamic nature of technology and the industry, how do you prepare students at Zigurat Global Institute of Technology for emerging challenges and opportunities in the field of railway signalling? Are there specific skills or competencies that you emphasize in your teaching approach

Fortunately, I completed a master’s degree in Smart Cities Global Management in 2021. Subsequently, I seized the opportunity to become a lecturer at Zigurat Global Institute of Technology, specializing in Smart cities management and smart Mobility—a critical component of Smart Cities.
In my role, I teach and guide students in the realms of Smart Cities, Smart Mobility, and Driverless Signalling. This curriculum includes courses on autonomous vehicles, where I consistently emphasize the importance of understanding the developments in the railway sector. The goal is to provide our students with insights into the dynamic landscape around us, considering the anticipated growth in demand for professionals with expertise in these domains. Students under my guidance are well-informed about how Smart Railway Mobility integrates features that contribute to environmental sustainability.

This integration involves optimizing train schedules, promoting energy-efficient operations, and reducing emissions. Educating students about these aspects not only imparts valuable skills but also fosters an awareness of the environmental impact associated with transportation choices.
By offering a comprehensive education in these cutting-edge fields, I aim to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in a future job market that increasingly values expertise in Smart Mobility and related technologies.
Finally, new urban models that pay more attention to the needs of citizens and the planet must be conceived.
Zigurat smart cities master trains professionals from a wide range of backgrounds to become practitioners who can bring inter-disciplinary coherence to city projects, informed by strategic frameworks that integrate smart and sustainable approaches.

Khaled, thank you for sharing your insights and thoughts on these issues. It’s been a pleasure talking with you!

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