Software specialist Enable My Team (EMT) is set to begin work on a groundbreaking project with HS2 after being announced as a winner of the First of the Kind (FOAK) competition in December 2023.
EMT (which is part of Mobibiz Ltd) won ‘SBRI: FOAK 2023 High Speed Rail Systems Installation Demonstrations’ with its ATLAS solution. Spearheaded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and funded by High Speed 2 (HS2) Limited, the FOAK competition aims to enhance cost efficiency and maximise value for money within the railway sector.
With a specific focus on HS2, it is dedicated to fostering innovation in the delivery of the railway’s comprehensive rail systems, namely the Installation of ERTMS (European Railway Traffic Management System) related equipment.
In addition to HS2, Network Rail has already expressed an interest in Enable My Team’s ATLAS solution, with support from Alstom and Siemens.
The award-winning proposal aims to enhance balise siting efficiency. Enable My Team explained that designers typically assume the chosen site for a new balise installation is suitable, relying on ETCS rules and parameters. However, the physical appropriateness of the selected sleeper, considering factors like damage and existing equipment, remains unknown.
The firm’s ATLAS solution – a web-based platform for data collection and visualisation – addresses this challenge. It integrates the latest survey data, forward-facing video, aerial imagery, and LiDAR scans, federating them within ATLAS. Designers can overlay the new ETCS design within ATLAS, gaining insights into existing equipment and potential site issues.
Enable My Team added that the ATLAS Field app, utilised by on-site engineers, captures crucial data like accurate positions, photos, asset IDs, and notes. This information is seamlessly transmitted back to ATLAS, creating a comprehensive digital record and enhancing site-related details.
The FOAK project will focus on:
- Improving design planning accuracy.
- Improving installation speed by removing rework.
- Accuracy of component position finding and setting (As-built vs Design).
- Validation & On-site verification.
- Removing the number of site visits required by personnel.
- Improving data quality and auditability.
To expedite ERTMS adoption in the UK and Europe, this initiative focuses on innovative solutions for faster and cost-effective installation of ETCS (European Train Control System) and GSM-R (Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway) equipment. The introduction of ETCS necessitates redesigning signalling schemes, emphasising the crucial role of enhanced coordination between design and on-site installation through improved planning.
The worldwide market size of ETCS equipment installation in 2023 was estimated to be USD 5.5 billion. This is according to a report by Market Research Future, which forecasts that the market will grow at a CAGR of 6.5 per cent from 2023 to 2030, reaching a value of $9.2 billion by 2030.
Sandeep Jain, CEO of Enable My Team, said: “This groundbreaking project signifies a pivotal moment for our industry, harnessing the power of AI to seamlessly streamline ETCS installation. The anticipated outcomes include substantial time and cost savings, reinforcing our commitment to delivering significant benefits and driving innovation within the sector.”
The project provides a unique chance for FOAK innovations in ETCS installation, incorporating advanced planning, faster implementation, real-time mapping of as-built vs design, and AI optimization. Leveraging AI, Enable My Team aims to significantly improve the efficiency of ETCS installations, minimising both time and costs
The company added that it is thrilled and eagerly anticipates its work on the project alongside HS2, as well as partners Network Rail, Alstom and Siemens.
0113 2082620
info@railbusinessdaily.com
15 Mariner Court, Wakefield WF4 3FL
