Live Map by HaCon shows Belgium’s rail traffic at a glance

Smart map services of Belgian Railways visualise information on punctuality of trains

Hannover (2011-01-20). The dispatchers in the control centre of the Belgian Railways (SNCB / NMBS) had a good start into the New Year with new map services of the software specialist HaCon. The focus of the so-called Live Map is real-time information on all the trains of SNCB.

The aim of the SNCB was to provide their employees with an overview of the punctuality and the status of all passenger rail traffic in Belgium. They should get all the information quickly and easily with only a few clicks. “The Live Map, which HaCon has developed according to the requirements of the SNCB, enables our dispatchers to evaluate very easily the visualised real-time information which can then be exploited best for our passenger information, "says Emmanuelle Biebuyck, Project Manager at SNCB.

The web-based map application is an essential part of the solution. A chart on the map shows the percentage of trains which are currently delayed and the extent of those delays. The colour coding allows the user to easily identify individual delay categories on the map and to show and hide them. All delays and cancellations can also be detected at a glance.

With the new application, each dispatcher can best monitor his area of responsibility. He is immediately aware of any changes. If he moves the mouse over a train, the train details, the exact position, and delay information are listed. It is also explained how the delays were measured: in transit, on arrival at a station or on departure. When clicking on the link Traininfo the user sees a station list with details on the train-run.

Particulars of the infrastructure of Belgium are presented on the maps. Thus, all tracks according to SNCB-data are recorded accurately. Even all crossings with location coordinates are shown. The map display is intelligent enough to adjust to the level of detail of zooming – as the users zooms in, more details are presented. In this way, the presentation always remains clear. How detailed the presentation should be at each specific level of zooming is customisable.

The Live Map has been designed according to the specifications of the SNCB, so that the work of the dispatchers will be facilitated by familiar elements. Basically, the application operates on all customer requests flexibly.

HaCon has introduced its expertise in real-time data to the application. The basic map data was supplemented with details on the Belgian railway infrastructure such as tracks and crossings.

Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Belges (SNCB) or Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS) is the official name for the national railway in Belgium. Since 2007 they use HAFAS as their national timetable information system for all modes of public transport. HAFAS is also deployed for publishing printed timetables and Print2Web-media (online calculation of pdf-timetables). Since 2009, NMBS/SNCB offers an SMS notification service for delays and disruption for commuters.

Please contact for further information: HaCon Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH, Lister Straße 15 | 30163 Hannover | Germany | Phone: +49 (0) 511 3369 9-0, www.hacon.de

About HaCon
Right from the start in 1984 HaCon has focused its activities on traffic and logistic solutions. A team of more than 130 experienced employees in the ranges of IT and transport planning have turned the company into one of the leading players in the field of planning, scheduling and information systems.

HaCon has developed and implemented the timetable information system of Deutsche Bahn (German Railway). Furthermore, numerous European railway companies, transport enterprises and/or groups use the timetable information system HAFAS. In addition, HAFAS serves as a universal information system. Therefore, it can be applied in the flight and goods traffic as well. Another successful product developed by HaCon is the Train Planning System TPS for timetable construction and network capacity management. It convinces more and more customers across Europe.

HaCon Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH, Lister Straße 15, 30163 Hannover, Germany, info@hacon.de, www.hacon.de
Press Contact: Amelie Dettmer | Phone: +49 511 33 69 9-226 | Fax: +49 5 11 33 69 9-99 | E-Mail: presse@hacon.de
Thordis Stefanie Gooßes | Phone: +49 511 33 69 9-224 | Fax: +49 5 11 33 69 9-99 | E-Mail: presse@hacon.de

This release was published on openPR.