{"id":5725,"date":"2023-08-22T10:57:18","date_gmt":"2023-08-22T09:57:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.prover.com\/?p=5725"},"modified":"2025-01-08T16:01:36","modified_gmt":"2025-01-08T15:01:36","slug":"reference-model-implementation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.prover.com\/modeling\/reference-model-implementation\/","title":{"rendered":"Why every rail control project should start with a digital twin"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you\u2019re tasked with the mission of procuring a new rail control solution, taking time to clearly specify your needs, requirements, and expectations is a critical first step.<\/p>\n

Doing so helps you avoid common project roadblocks\u2014 like long and unpredictable delivery schedules, tender specification issues, or errors discovered too late in the production process. It also gives suppliers a fair chance to develop the system they need in a time and cost-efficient manner. Furthermore, having clear specifications makes it easier, for infrastructure managers, to evaluate with accuracy how well systems comply with quality, safety, and other important requirements.<\/p>\n

However producing specifications can be a challenge in itself. How can you be certain that your specifications actually correspond to your needs? Or that they will be interpreted correctly by all stakeholders? Our recommendation is to take a formal approach to develop a prototype, or a digital twin, that you can use to validate your specifications with simulation and formal verification.<\/p>\n

What is a digital twin?<\/h3>\n

A digital twin is a virtual, interactive replica of an actual physical system, asset, or process. Applied to the railway sector, a digital twin could cover the entire infrastructure \u2013 from stations, rolling stock, switches, and signals to supporting IT systems.<\/p>\n

It helps infrastructure managers to formulate and evaluate precise requirements for their system, and to ensure that these requirements are verifiable. The result will be precise and clear test and safety specifications for the supplier to deliver against.<\/p>\n

Suppliers can then use the digital twin as input for the detailed design, using automation tools for code generation, testing, and verification, further shortening project schedules and reducing costs. The digital twin will be used throughout the lifecycle of the system, reducing costs related to upgrades and adding new features during the maintenance phase.<\/p>\n

Ensure you get the system you need at the best price<\/h3>\n

There are multiple benefits to starting off your next rail control project with a digital twin. With help from automation and stronger verification and validation tools, you reduce risks and resource needs while, ultimately, allowing high-quality software to be delivered in a more predictable way.<\/p>\n

Main benefits of a Digital Twin:<\/p>\n