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Documents authored by Engels, Stefan

Document
Short Paper
DOI: 10.4230/OASIcs.ATMOS.2024.12
Towards an Optimization Pipeline for the Design of Train Control Systems with Hybrid Train Detection (Short Paper)

Authors: Stefan Engels and Robert Wille

Published in: OASIcs, Volume 123, 24th Symposium on Algorithmic Approaches for Transportation Modelling, Optimization, and Systems (ATMOS 2024)

Abstract
Increasing the capacity of our railway infrastructure will become more and more essential in coping with the need for sustainable transportation. This can be achieved by intelligently implementing train control systems on specific railway networks. Methods that automate and optimize parts of this planning process are of great interest. For control systems based on hybrid train detection, such optimization tasks simultaneously involve routing and block layout generation. These tasks are already complex on their own; hence, a joint consideration often becomes infeasible. This work-in-progress paper proposes an idea to tackle the corresponding complexity. To this end, we present a pipeline that allows to sequentially handle corresponding optimization tasks in a less complex fashion while generating results that remain (close to) optimal. Results from an initial case study showcase that this approach is, indeed, promising. A prototypical implementation is included in the open-source Munich Train Control Toolkit available at https://github.com/cda-tum/mtct.
Cite as

Stefan Engels and Robert Wille. Towards an Optimization Pipeline for the Design of Train Control Systems with Hybrid Train Detection (Short Paper). In 24th Symposium on Algorithmic Approaches for Transportation Modelling, Optimization, and Systems (ATMOS 2024). Open Access Series in Informatics (OASIcs), Volume 123, pp. 12:1-12:6, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2024)

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@InProceedings{engels_et_al:OASIcs.ATMOS.2024.12,
  author =	{Engels, Stefan and Wille, Robert},
  title =	{{Towards an Optimization Pipeline for the Design of Train Control Systems with Hybrid Train Detection}},
  booktitle =	{24th Symposium on Algorithmic Approaches for Transportation Modelling, Optimization, and Systems (ATMOS 2024)},
  pages =	{12:1--12:6},
  series =	{Open Access Series in Informatics (OASIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-350-8},
  ISSN =	{2190-6807},
  year =	{2024},
  volume =	{123},
  editor =	{Bouman, Paul C. and Kontogiannis, Spyros C.},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/OASIcs.ATMOS.2024.12},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-212002},
  doi =		{10.4230/OASIcs.ATMOS.2024.12},
  annote =	{Keywords: ETCS, MILP, Design Automation, Hybrid Train Detection}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/OASIcs.ATMOS.2023.6
A Symbolic Design Method for ETCS Hybrid Level 3 at Different Degrees of Accuracy

Authors: Stefan Engels, Tom Peham, and Robert Wille

Published in: OASIcs, Volume 115, 23rd Symposium on Algorithmic Approaches for Transportation Modelling, Optimization, and Systems (ATMOS 2023)

Abstract
The European Train Control System (Hybrid) Level 3 (ETCS Hybrid Level 3) allows for introducing Virtual Subsections (VSS) into existing railway infrastructures. These VSS work similarly to blocks in conventional block signaling but do not require installation or maintenance of trackside train detection. This added flexibility can be used to adapt a given railway network’s (virtual) layout to the changing demands of new schedules. Automated methods are needed to properly use this flexibility and design such layouts on demand and avoid time-intensive manual labor. Recently, approaches inspired by design automation of electronic hardware have been proposed to address this need. But those methods - which are particularly well suited for inherently discrete problems in electronic design automation - have struggled with modeling continuous properties like train positions, time, and acceleration. This work proposes a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) formulation that, for the first time, can accurately model design problems for ETCS Hybrid Level 3 by including essential, continuous constraints, e.g., for train dynamics or braking curves. The formulation is designed to be flexible and extendable, allowing the user to include/exclude certain constraints or simplify the model as needed. By this, the user can decide whether he/she wants to quickly generate a less accurate solution or a more accurate one at the expense of higher runtimes - basically allowing him/her to trade-off accuracy and efficiency. A case study showcases the potential of the proposed approach and sketches examples to analyze which trade-offs are worthwhile and which simplifications can be safely made. The resulting tool and the benchmarks considered in this work are publicly available at https://github.com/cda-tum/mtct (as part of the Munich Train Control Toolkit, MTCT).
Cite as

Stefan Engels, Tom Peham, and Robert Wille. A Symbolic Design Method for ETCS Hybrid Level 3 at Different Degrees of Accuracy. In 23rd Symposium on Algorithmic Approaches for Transportation Modelling, Optimization, and Systems (ATMOS 2023). Open Access Series in Informatics (OASIcs), Volume 115, pp. 6:1-6:17, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2023)

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@InProceedings{engels_et_al:OASIcs.ATMOS.2023.6,
  author =	{Engels, Stefan and Peham, Tom and Wille, Robert},
  title =	{{A Symbolic Design Method for ETCS Hybrid Level 3 at Different Degrees of Accuracy}},
  booktitle =	{23rd Symposium on Algorithmic Approaches for Transportation Modelling, Optimization, and Systems (ATMOS 2023)},
  pages =	{6:1--6:17},
  series =	{Open Access Series in Informatics (OASIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-302-7},
  ISSN =	{2190-6807},
  year =	{2023},
  volume =	{115},
  editor =	{Frigioni, Daniele and Schiewe, Philine},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/OASIcs.ATMOS.2023.6},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-187676},
  doi =		{10.4230/OASIcs.ATMOS.2023.6},
  annote =	{Keywords: ETCS, MILP, design automation, block signaling, virtual subsection}
}
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