Smart Rail Transit

智能轨道交通

Urban rail transit includes various types such as subways, light rail, trams, and maglev trains. Smart urban rail transit systems include the Integrated Monitoring System, Passenger Information System, Integrated Security System, Communication System, Automatic Fare Collection System, and Signaling System.

I. Integrated Monitoring System

It is a large-scale computer integrated system based on modern computer technology, network technology, automation technology, and information technology. The system integrates and interconnects multiple specialized subway automation subsystems, primarily integrating the Environmental and Equipment Monitoring System, Power Monitoring System, and Automatic Fire Alarm System, and interconnecting with other subsystems. With the support of an integrated platform, it provides unified monitoring for all specialties, achieving information sharing among various specialized systems and inter-system linkage control functions, improving operational efficiency, and providing an information-based foundation for achieving modern operational management of urban rail transit.

II. Integrated Security System

It generally consists of security network subsystems, security integrated management subsystems, integrated video surveillance subsystems, access control subsystems, electronic fence systems, and station emergency alarm subsystems. It provides functions such as access management, registration, real-time video surveillance, and intrusion detection for key areas like stations, depots, parking lots, main substations' equipment and management rooms, entrances/exits, ticket offices, and banks, effectively ensuring the operational safety of the subway. The Integrated Security System interconnects with the Integrated Monitoring System at both central and station levels, receiving mode control information from the Integrated Monitoring System, which then coordinates the linkage between the Integrated Security System and other systems such as the Fire Alarm System and Environmental Equipment Monitoring.

III. Passenger Information System

Under normal circumstances, it can provide real-time multimedia information such as train schedule information, announcements, travel references, stock information, media news, and advertisements; in cases of fire, congestion, or terrorist attacks, it provides dynamic emergency evacuation instructions. This significantly enhances the overall service level and quality of subway or light rail operations.

IV. Automatic Fare Collection System

Abbreviated as the AFC system, it is a widely adopted ticketing management model in subways/light rail systems worldwide. The Automatic Fare Collection System (AFC system) adopts a fully enclosed operational mode and a distance-based and time-based charging model. Using contactless IC cards as ticket media, it completes the entire process of ticketing operations, including ticket sales, validation, fare calculation, collection, and statistics, as well as multi-task automated management in subway/light rail operations, all through a highly secure, reliable, and confidential automatic fare collection computer network system.

V. Communication System

It generally consists of subsystems such as transmission networks, public telephones, dedicated telephones, broadcasting, wireless communication, clocks, power supply, and grounding, forming an integrated services communication network for transmitting various types of information, including voice, data, and images. Under normal circumstances, the communication system transmits voice, data, and image information for systems such as operational management, train dispatch, equipment monitoring, and fire alarms. In abnormal and emergency situations, the communication system also serves as a means of communication for disaster relief and rescue.

VI. Signaling System

It is a critical system equipment for ensuring train operational safety, modernizing train dispatch and operation, and improving transportation efficiency. Urban rail transit signaling systems typically consist of an Automatic Train Control system (abbreviated as ATC). The ATC system includes four subsystems: Automatic Train Supervision (ATS), Automatic Train Protection (ATP), Automatic Train Operation (ATO), and Computer Interlocking (CI). The subsystems form a closed-loop system through an information exchange network, combining ground control with on-board control, and local control with central control, forming an Automatic Train Control system that is based on safety equipment and integrates functions such as train dispatch, operation adjustment, and automated train driving.

Advantages of Smart Urban Rail Transit Systems:

I. High-Tech Aspects

It adopts advanced computer network technology to achieve automatic tracking and management of trains and vehicles, thereby improving transportation efficiency, and facilitates better communication with railway users to enhance transportation services. It employs advanced information transmission technology to replace traditional track circuits, meeting the need for efficient, high-capacity information transmission between the dispatch center and train groups. It utilizes advanced train positioning and speed measurement technologies to accurately determine the train's precise location and status.

II. Intelligent Aspects

This means a transformation from traditional control and management models to knowledge engineering models, capable of simulating human behavior to manage trains and train groups. The former refers to smart trains, which achieve train assistance and autonomous driving through on-board microcomputers, while the latter completes functions such as train scheduling, operational management, and information services through intelligent workstations at the dispatch center.

III. Integrated Aspects

In recent years, with the advancement of science and technology and the development of computer integration technology, the idea of integrating multiple specialized subsystems through a unified platform has become a reality. During the current period of large-scale urban rail transit construction in China, through the unified hardware and software platform provided by integrated systems, monitoring information of concern to central dispatchers and station staff is brought together. Supported by a powerful integrated software development platform, end-users can conveniently and effectively monitor and manage the operation of specialized subsystems across the entire line through a graphical human-machine interface. It also enables information sharing and coordinated interaction between systems.

智能轨道交通