CANARAIL uses various commercialized computer software packages such as AutoCAD 2007, Civil 3D 2007, Mathcad 14.0, Planimate,
Raster Design 2007and SAP 2000 and customized Excell Visual Basic Applications. CANARAIL has also developed numerous spreadsheet-based
models that facilitate the analysis work that it does in designing the most efficient rail-based transport systems possible for its
clients. The following provides a brief description of some of these key models.
AutoDesk® platform
Canarail uses the AutoDesk design platform which harnesses AutoCAD, AutoCAD Raster Design and AutoDesk Civil3D. Data used to generate surfaces
which create railway profiles and cross sections, is soured from field or aerial surveys, satellites or map images converted to 3D digitized
topography. Topography, images and GIS data are overlaid to visually identify design constraints imposed from inhabitants, civil infrastructure,
watersheds, geography, and environmentally sensitive sites. Real time alignment design iteration considers construction costs; cut and fill
volumes, rolling stock operations constraints and overall environmental impact. |
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Graderok
Designed to calculate earthwork quantities for railway alignments laid out on topographic mapping for all levels of studies - pre-feasibility
through preliminary engineering - but not for final design. It is especially useful on projects where digital mapping is not available, yet
there is a requirement to develop a profile for the alignment. In addition to assisting in the calculation of the earthwork quantities, the
spreadsheets are of assistance in designing a low-cost profile. Through spreadsheet graphics capabilities, the designer can view the
mass-haul diagram resulting from a profile and can make revisions to try to balance the cut and fill quantities. |
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Opsmodel
Uses queuing theory to model train operations over a single track railway. CANARAIL uses this model to assess maximum line capacity and to
quantify the delays resulting from train meets and their impact on overall running and train cycle times. This analysis helps to assess the
point where it is financially advantageous to construct additional passing loops to reduce train delays and cycle times rather than procure
additional rolling stock. |

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Planimate®
CANARAIL uses the Planimate® software application to design dynamic system models. These models can be applied to a wide range of
activities and industries including manufacturing, mining, rail systems, logistics and distribution, service industries, etc.,
thus enabling the simulation and animation of system processes for the present or the future or any chosen situation. Analyzing
such dynamic models allows CANARAIL to more realistically assess a business plan or a development proposal taking into account the
client’s targets in terms of for instance production capacity.
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TPC
CANARAIL’s Train Performance Calculator (TPC) program simulates the operation of a train over a specific length of a railway line in order to evaluate its
speed, travel time, and energy consumption. The TPC operates in a spreadsheet and takes full advantage of this environment to analyze the
characteristics of the train segment by segment over the length of any run. This approach allows the user to easily modify characteristics
of the train or the track and recalculate the simulation with the new characteristics and see the results immediately. TPC produces graphical
results for:
- Instantaneous train speed and track speed limit
- The above speed graphs superimposed with the track profile
- Distance-time graph
- Instantaneous energy consumption
- Running time by segment
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Trackdes
Used by CANARAIL to analyze the stresses occurring in the railway track structure resulting from a single or multiple axle
load configurations. It was developed to assess any track gauge (narrow, standard, broad, and even dual-gauge), in view of
the variety of situations that the company encounters in its international work. The model compares the calculated stresses
against recommended or generally accepted values and allows rapid analysis of multiple combinations of rail size, sleeper
spacing, and ballast depth. This permits optimization of the track structure with respect to the specific loading conditions
and local costs of materials (for instance, at a location where suitable ballast is expensive, the design would be modified to
decrease sleeper spacing and reduce the ballast depth). |
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