Abstract
The analysis of systems' modelling methods, means of models' description and research of software technologies as well, all of those combined led to development of railroad automatic and control simulation models. The complexity of these simulation models is due to the inherently high-tech and multi-level system control technology of the railway stations. The models allow for research of equipment functionality and facility testing. Based on thorough evaluation of implemented algorithms, the simulation model is able to provide practical recommendations pertaining to the improvement of workplace safety. The main concept of simulation model and its artificial world design is creation of multi-layered inter-linked data structure of complex system. This structure consists of such modeling data types as landscaping (textures, altitude maps-either fictional or actual ones, obtained from Geographic Information System), railroad sectors and stations (railway lines and splines, incline maps, signals etc.), railway traffic (facilities and traffic maps), and systems of centralized traffic and dispatch controls. The AutoCAD system was chosen as the main design tool for the development of a railway segment simulation model. CAD is very user-friendly and easy to interact with as it supports OLE (object linking and embedding) and COM (Component Object Model) and contains a rich libraries of component files and prototypes. The training simulator software module uses AutoCAD graph data and creates a database for the imitation model. Other modules adapt the data to the specific systems being modeled. The automation of data structuring, along with a multi-level approach to models' composition, has allowed for more flexibility in the modelling process and eliminated routine procedures associated with data configuration. It has simplified and quickened the process of preparation and tuning the models of those particular railway sections and their tech systems, which really require to be studied and researched.
