If you constantly keep pace with everything transpiring, you might already know that some companies are already in the process of procuring a synthetic environment (SE) for the development of future control command and signaling (CCS). But what is a synthetic environment, and how will it transform the shape of CCS developers in the years to come?

Way before the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of renewing an ageing signaling infrastructure was expected to become unaffordable without a significant change in approach to the traditional technologies and process. And the move towards radio-based (ETCS) signaling technology formed a major part of this.

After all, it brough down up-front capital requirements for each renewal, not forgetting reducing the whole life cost through reduced lifestyle infrastructure. A great element of the cost lies in implementing a new signaling scheme, but is the process of specifying, designing, developing, and implementing the tech, whether using conventional lineside signals or replacing these with in-cab systems.

But that’s where the Synthetic Environment tends to offer a radically different approach. In the design phase, new tools will be brought together in an integrated design platform, allows for greater use of machine intelligence to automate design process. Of course, this is using proven building blocks based on the appropriate technologies for radio-based signaling solutions.

Thanks to the close design integration and simulation at this stage, it will certainly simplify and accelerate the design cycle, while at the same time reducing the amount of expensive customized design characterizing current processes.

Keep in mind synthetic environment platforms leverage a combination of technologies such as virtual simulators, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to create immersive and realistic simulations.

By taking advantage of what synthetic environment platforms, organizations can now be able to simulate complex scenarios that would otherwise be quite difficult or impossible to replicate in real life. If this is not enough, synthetic environment platform enable the evaluation of different strategies and tactics in real-time, providing valuable insights and feedback to decision-makers.

Among the most notable benefits accompanying synthetic environment platforms include reduced costs, increased safety, and improved efficiency, to mention a few. As technology keeps changing, synthetic environment platforms will most like become even more sophisticated, enabling organizations to train and plan for increasingly complex and dynamic scenarios.

So, what are you waiting for before you finally take advantage of a synthetic environment platform?