Simulation-based evaluation of dependability and safety properties of satellite technologies for railway localization

Satellite-based localization technologies are strategic opportunities in railway applications because they offer new possibilities of service and have advantages that current technologies relying mainly on infrastructures deployed along tracks cannot equal. GNSSs (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) can, in particular, offer localization services in ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System), the system developed within the European railway community to harmonize, at European scale, railway signalling and control/command systems. However, using GNSS in such safety applications is slowed down when trying to comply with railway standards. Indeed, demonstrations of RAMS properties (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Safety) are required on new solutions embedded in trains. They aim at verifying if all dependability (RAM) and safety aspects are controlled over the lifecycle of the solutions before using them operationally. No RAMS evaluation technique exists for systems based on signal propagation and subject to failures provoked by environment effects. The major challenge is so to develop proof methods that will give means to fulfil the railway certification process. In this article, we propose a procedure to work in that direction after having presented the advantages, the possibilities and the challenges to use GNSS in rail transportation. The procedure is based on experiments for the evaluation of RAMS properties related to satellite-based localization units. We apply the method to different position measurements obtained in several typical railway environments. The obtained results are discussed according to the dependability and safety points of view. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.