1st International Railway Symposium
Digitalization in railway transport is to increase safety and reliability with new operating concepts for vehicles and infrastructure.
Between November 28 and 30, the 1st International Railway Symposium Aachen, IRSA for short, will take place at RWTH Aachen University. The event is hosted by the Research Center Railways, RCR, which has been recently established by three research departments from the Faculties of civil engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. The international symposium is unique in bringing together experts from research and industry to discuss current develpoments in this interdisciplinary, highly topical field.
Railway transport places the highest demands on the interplay of vehicle, infrastructure, and operation. The demanding activities in these areas are increasingly performed by interdisciplinary teams of engineers and natural scientists. Current challenges include digitalization and its potential to increase the safety and reliability of rail vehicles and rail infrastructures as well as to establish assisted, automated, and autonomous driving. Progress in these fields makes it possible to develop new or improved operating concepts.
Another challenge is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, to which railway transport contributes to a significant extent. With the help of new ideas in the areas of power electronics, powertrain technology, storage technology, and innovative lightweight construction, further potential to reduce energy consumption and emissions can be uncovered. Last not least, there is the important topic of noise reduction in rail transport. Both industry and research strive hard to develop new concepts and strategies to reduce railway noise.
Supported by twelve companies from the railway industry, the organizers expect to welcome about 200 attendees from more than 15 countries. Aside from 50 expert talks, the conference offers an interesting framework program in Aachen, including a visit to the Aachen Christmas market.
The joint organizers of the conference, professors Rik De Doncker, Nils Nießen, and Christian Schindler, are looking forward to interesting expert discussions. NRW State Secretary Dr. Hendrik Schulte will deliver a welcome address to the attendees at the opening ceremony on November 28.
For further information, please visit the IRSA conference website.
Source: Press and Communcations