OPTIMA

A new Communication platform demonstrator will be developed within the OPTIMA project as part of the Shift2Rail initiative Traffic Management Evolution Technology Demonstrator 2.9, aims to overcome all of these disadvantages and bring additional benefits to the system. This is to be achieved through the implementation of standardised and scalable data structures and processes to manage current and future interfaces which will enable a TMS and TMS modules to be developed and tested on an isolated platform before moving towards implementation. This encourages and enables a system with seamless access to heterogeneous data sources, both internal and external to the railway ecosystem, to be developed which will improve the ability of nowcast and forecast network asset status, improving the operation of TMS dispatching systems. The uniting element of implementing standardised and scalable data structures and processes to manage current and future interfaces is to develop an Integration Layer to handle the interfaces between the TMS processes and data sources and consumers. One of the main benefits of the Integration Layer is its modularity which brings a reduction of the costs derived not only from the disruption of the system but also from the total replacement of it. Each time that a module needs to be upgraded, replaced or added into the system, it could be easily performed, as long as they comply with the standards, elements and modules, not requiring an entire replacement of the TMS. Another benefit is the increase in the potential market for TMS and TMS modules, since they will be able to interface with, and therefore applicable to, more than one system, enabling development costs to be shared. OPTIMA will contribute to the Shift2Rail initiative Traffic Management Evolution Technology Demonstrator 2.9 through the specification, design and development of a communication platform (Integration Layer) using standardised data structures and processes to manage the Communication/Data exchange between different services/clients and supporting TMS (Traffic Management System) applications connected to other multimodal operational systems. It will also implement a demonstration platform for the Integration Layer enabling TMS modules developed in other projects to be tested.