Integration of intelligent transportation systems in rail passenger transport : a digital twin approach for passenger flow management

Abstract

The introduction of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) aims to revolutionize our way of travelling with real-time interconnectivity of transportation modes. This thesis investigates methods to give rail-based passenger transport characteristics of an ITS. For this purpose, a systematic literature review with respect to an implementation assessment of current studies about Passenger Flow Management (PFM) is conducted. The results are presented in a three-layered Digital Twin (DT) system which mirrors passenger flow and vehicle movements in the railway infrastructure. Further, simulations on the DT propose bottleneck optimization methods which are visualized for relevant stakeholder to provide decision support for capacity adjusting measures and passenger guidance. The results demonstrate the applicability of DT systems in terms of their data sources, simulation objectives and implementation guidance, and as a framework for the intelligent elimination or avoidance of bottlenecks. Furthermore, findings highlight the importance of passenger guidance to translate operational measures into passengers travel plans.