We started out by identifying the most important data variables that affect the ride. Aside from speed, acceleration, deceleration, and distance between stations there are also the slow platform speed before stop, the open time for doors, and the train’s total dwell time at each stop.

Questions that needed to be answered were, for example – how far before the next station must the message be presented? At 375 meters? 350? It depends on the vehicle speed and the length of the message.

After identifying the needs, we decided the next step was to build a digital twin, a practical tool that could simulate a passenger information system. It’s software that models and simulates a network-based subway system, with multiple start and endpoints for each line.

Building the information simulator was a little tricky and very fun. It’s a convenient and helpful tool that fits any subway system and that we think is a true aid in real life situations. –Gustav Hallberg, Business Developer Stratiteq

The simulator uses the real-life variables mentioned above to simulate a ride. It’s like a simple “physics engine” where, depending on the settings, the ride takes different lengths of time.

The solution was created using Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), .NET

Together with the message editing software, the simulator enables the operators to quickly and accurately pre-test the messages under realistic circumstances on their laptops before publishing the information to the production environment.