Next-Gen Dispatching: Establishing Critical Communication

Client Challenge

Complete the development of the state-of-the-art automated dispatching system, ensuring fast and reliable data processing capabilities. 

Project Objective

Implement flawless data exchange between the dispatching application and the management information system.

PSA developed a powerful communication bridge connecting two critical system components. This integration enabled real-time processing of all the operation events, such as train arrivals or dispatcher updates – allowing the system to issue commands swiftly and accurately.

Smooth management has been established for all dispatching functions, including:

• Schedules – their creation and cancellation, providing train route data;

• Trains – their addition, cancellation, termination and monitoring, providing train consist, location, locomotive, and crew data, delays and unusual occurrence;

• Authorities – granting permissions to occupy the rail network;

• Bulletins – issuing and voiding the restrictions on rail network traversal;

• Security – verifying user access rights to the system;

• Signal maintenance – notifying of communication defects with the signal communication system;

• Hotbox and AEI detectors – notifying of equipment overheating and tracking railcars.

To achieve this, the PSA engineering team developed XML-based messaging mechanisms, and refactored all the subsystems to support enhanced data exchange functionality. Working closely with the client, we configured outbound messaging, ensuring immediate and reliable data transfer to the information center once an event occurs.

Given the complexity of dispatching operations, our team conducted thorough analytical work to identify all possible scenarios, trigger points, and data sources to establish information transfer.

As a result, the dispatch system operates as a fully integrated solution, flawlessly exchanging all operational data.

• Requirements Analysis & Enhancement
• Design & Implementation
• Unit & Functional Testing
• Documentation Creation