iDaDiS – Deriving the ideal data requirements for a digital rail network

Dimitri Grybanov / Bahnkonzept Dresden

The overarching aim of the project is to support the development of a realistic digital representation of the federal government’s rail infrastructure and the operations carried out on it, known as the ‘Digital Rail Network’. The study examines how data requirements, data management and data analysis might be optimally implemented, without necessarily having to integrate existing approaches. The aim is to develop a concrete understanding of which existing and future tasks of the authorities can be supported by which data.

The German Aerospace Centre (DLR) has set itself the overarching objective in this project of supporting the creation of a realistic digital representation of the German federal government´s rail infrastructure and the operations carried out on it, known as the ‘Digital Rail Network’. As part of this, the project aims to investigate what data requirements, data management and data analysis might look like in an ideal implementation, without being compelled to integrate existing approaches. It also aims to provide operators, construction companies and public authorities – the relevant stakeholders – with the best possible level of information to support decision-making. At the heart of this project are the regulatory responsibilities of the authorities, primarily the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMDV) and the Federal Railway Authority (EBA), which are often confronted with inadequate data sets and highly heterogeneous data structures.

The aim is to gain a clear understanding of which existing and planned future tasks of the authorities can be supported by which data. The provision of the required data and the options for its analysis are to be described. In addition, a basic framework is to be developed to show how this data can, where possible, be stored in a common data model or linked to one. An assessment is also to be made of the effort involved in each use case and the synergies that can be expected with other use cases.

Project title: iDaDiS – Deriving the ideal data requirements for a digital rail network

Duration: 05/2025 to 04/2027

Projektvolumen: 249.669,45 €

Contracting authority: Deutsches Zentrum für Schienenverkehrforschung (DZSF)

Project coordinator: Bahnkonzept GmbH Deutschland

Project participants: Bahnkonzept GmbH Deutschland, DLR-Institut für Verkehrssystemtechnik

Other projects on this topic:

IDX4rail – Consolidation and standardisation of the infrastructure data model and interface landscape in the rail sector

The IDX4rail project aims to develop a sustainable baseline standard with a focus on achieving a high level of acceptance within the tram and railway sectors.

Other websites relating to the project:

Website: Project description by the German Centre for Rail Transport Research (DZFS)

March 3, 2025

Announcement from the Institute of Transport Systems Engineering on the launch of the project

Announcement from Bahnkonzept GmbH Germany on the launch of the project

This project is managed by the department:

Digitalized Rail Transport and Operations

In the department Digitalized Rail Transport and Operations, we develop and evaluate innovative technologies for a future-proof rail system – digital, robust, economical and sustainable. The railway network in Germany and Europe is facing major challenges: It needs to accommodate more traffic and become more reliable at the same time – without [...]

Contact

Dr.-Ing. Christian Meirich

Head of Department
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Institute of Transportation Systems
Digitalized Rail Transport and Operations
Lilienthalplatz 7, 38108 Braunschweig