PULSim: User-Based Adaptable Simulation Tool for Railway Planning and Operations

Simulation methods are widely used in the field of railway planning and operations. Currently, several commercial software tools are available that not only provide functionality for railway simulation but also enable further evaluation and optimization of the network for scheduling, dispatching, and capacity research. However, the various tools are all lacking with respect to the standards they utilize as well as their published interfaces. For an end-user, the basic mechanism and the assumptions built into a simulation tool are unknown, which means that the true potential of these software tools is limited. One of the most critical issues is the lack of the ability of users to define a sophisticated workflow, integrated in several rounds of simulation with adjustable parameters and settings. This paper develops and describes a user-based, customizable platform. As the preconditions of the platform, the design aspects for modelling the components of a railway system and building the workflow of railway simulation are elaborated in detail. Based on the model and the workflow, an integrated simulation platform with open interfaces is developed. Users and researchers gain the ability to rapidly develop their own algorithms, supported by the tailored simulation process in a flexible manner. The productivity of using simulation tools for further evaluation and optimization will be significantly improved through the user-adaptable open interfaces.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/7284815
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/5121625
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2018 Yong Cui et al.
• Authors:
  • Cui, Yong
  • Martin, Ullricih
  • Liang, Jun
• Publication Date: 2018

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Pagination: 11p
• Serial:
  • Journal of Advanced Transportation
  • Volume: 2018
  • Issue Number: Article ID 7284815
  • Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0197-6729
  • EISSN: 2042-3195
  • Serial URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)2042-3195
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Dispatching; Optimization; Railroad vehicle operations; Scheduling; Simulation; Software
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01673861
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 27 2018 4:53PM