Expanding Digital Twin Technology for Sustainable Rail Operations
ScotRail has taken significant steps to enhance its operational efficiency by expanding the use of digital twin technology. This move comes in collaboration with OptimiseAI, an energy intelligence firm that specializes in leveraging advanced AI solutions for energy management. The initiative is part of a broader effort to achieve sustainable operations across 25 stations and depots.
Many railway facilities have access to data but often face challenges in integrating it effectively for automated and optimized energy use. A centralized view of energy consumption can simplify the identification of inefficiencies and highlight investment opportunities. OptimiseAI’s solution addresses these administrative hurdles by employing sophisticated semantic AI that integrates and interprets various data streams through a digital twin.
This approach enables real-time, responsive, and effective energy management throughout the entire railway system. One of the key tools introduced as part of this partnership is OptimiseAI’s Predict, an artificial intelligence-based forecasting tool. It modernizes the energy management system at ScotRail by creating instant digital replicas for 25 of its stations. The tool allows for straightforward benchmarking of current performance against UK and net zero energy standards, highlighting existing consumption levels and potential efficiency improvements.
Poul Wend Hansen, head of sustainability at ScotRail, emphasized the importance of reducing the carbon footprint and improving energy efficiency. He stated, “By expanding our partnership with OptimiseAI with this further rollout of digital twins, we can gain a deeper understanding of our energy use and take meaningful steps to reduce emissions across all our stations and depots. It will help us build a greener future for Scotland’s Railway.”
In addition to the initial rollout, eight major stations and depots are set to undergo more comprehensive scrutiny and enhancement using the Optimise platform. By incorporating additional sub-metering and Internet of Things (IoT) technology into major stations, and developing intricate models of different areas and rooms within each station and depot, ScotRail can gain immediate insights into the patterns and reasons behind energy usage throughout their facilities.
OptimiseAI can enhance these virtual replicas, offering detailed assessments for eight train stations. This allows for more accurate forecasts of energy needs and the development of optimization algorithms that improve efficiency and reduce costs. By refining current models and broadening the scope of the OptimiseAI system, ScotRail can transition from basic tracking to an active, data-led approach to managing energy consumption.
ScotRail has also engaged OptimiseAI to improve its online systems at various locations, including Glasgow Queen Street station, and depots at Corkerhill, Shields, Yoker, Haymarket, and Inverness. Digital twins at the Aberdeen and Inverness train stations are also being upgraded. This includes adding more sensors to manage each room and area better, enabling efficient operations. Other stations will receive real-time notifications for issues such as heating or lighting left on when areas are unoccupied.
A new dashboard will show the performance of the entire network via a Red-Amber-Green (RAG) map, making it easier for energy management teams to spot and fix areas that are not running efficiently. Additionally, OptimiseAI will conduct audits, build computer models, and add data from new monitoring devices.
Space data is emerging as an essential tool for the insurance sector as it grapples with the reality of climate change, and Scotland is providing leadership in this specialist new frontier. These upgrades will update virtual replicas of the buildings that help predict future performance, track results, and figure out the financial benefits of upgrades to the buildings.
Nick Tune, CEO of OptimiseAI, said, “We’re proud to be working with ScotRail on their plans to reduce their station and depot energy emissions. By expanding the use of digital twins, ScotRail is deploying an intelligent energy management system that will reduce energy costs across its buildings. This kind of scalable approach represents the future we’re heading toward: where efficient building estates will be the backbone of resilient cities.”
In May, ScotRail partnered with Clarus Networks Group to install what is reportedly the world’s first rail-approved Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite antenna, which will link trains to Starlink’s internet service. The initiative aims to provide fast internet connectivity on board trains traveling through some of the most isolated regions in the UK.
