DRAINAGE EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS MODEL

The paper deals with the application of microcomputer equipment in the planning and design of railway drainage systems. The aim of the project is to create a mathematical model that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of different types of railway drainage systems. When implemented the model will be run on parameterized data to obtain a set of results which will be used as a means of choosing the most effective drainage system as a design decision. The complete model will include interactive tools enabling non professionals to use it. Mathematical modelling of a complex system requires definition of submodels which describe certain elements of the modelled system and a data base serving all purposes. The paper presents a mathematical description of the basic parts of the model and some details of the data base structure. When considering the effectiveness it is also important to specify the criteria whereby effectiveness is evaluated. There may be a number of approaches and the subject is discussed in the last part of the paper. The full structure of the model is discussed in a previous article by the author which was published in the August/September 1986 issue of Rail International. The description of the basic elements of the model presented in the paper is not a classical optimization or simulation model. Neither is it a CAD system. The aim is to analyze the problem and to show the designer a wide range of feasible solutions pointing out the elements which influence effectiveness. The designer has to make the final choice, but this choice must be based on sound information on the performance of the designed system. He can also analyze the effects of the design upon an environment and the performance of the system after a few years. The basic aim is to provide the possiblity to choose the most effective drainage system. The model is being prepared on IBM PC compatible microcomputers. This type of computer equipment is now commonly available in the design offices in Poland. The relative data base using dBase 111 Plus data format and Clipper 87 code can be applied together with other systems which require similar data. The models may be written in any programming language provided that the programs are compiled and run on the DOS 3.3 system. (TRRL)