Skip to main content

Upgrade for Miami-Dade Transit metro control system

US-based B&C Transit has completed a state-of-the-art modernisation of Miami-Dade Transit's (MDT) Metrorail control system to enable MDT to streamline day-to-day operations and improve reliability of the system, while using fully customisable and long-term design solutions. B&C's Nucleus control system software was implemented to provide a single interface to view and control train control, SCADA, traction power, public address, variable message signs, scheduling, elevators, escalators, and other facilit
March 24, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
US-based B&C Transit has completed a state-of-the-art modernisation of Miami-Dade Transit's (MDT) Metrorail control system to enable MDT to streamline day-to-day operations and improve reliability of the system, while using fully customisable and long-term design solutions.

B&C's Nucleus control system software was implemented to provide a single interface to view and control train control, SCADA, traction power, public address, variable message signs, scheduling, elevators, escalators, and other facilities.  In addition, a new network and telephone system was deployed without interrupting service.

The system provides MDT with the capability to reliably communicate important information to passengers and also allows MDT to easily view and control all rail operations from a single workstation.

The B&C Nucleus software is an open-source control system that combines various subsystem interfaces into a single application which can be customised to match the look, feel, and operational requirements of each agency.

The user-friendly, point-and-click software suite allows rail traffic controllers to drill down and view specific areas of the system quickly and effortlessly; monitor alarms for all subsystems globally; track and route trains as needed; and communicate to trains, stations, and commuters via voice and visual announcements from a single control console.  

In addition, a new central video wall displays high-resolution images for closed-circuit TV, train control, traction power, and more. A section of the video wall is dedicated to provide increased security capabilities with recorded image playback, camera control, alarm monitoring and live viewing.

B&C Transit has built a specialised infrastructure with both hardware and software redundancy to ensure high availability for mission critical 24/7 operations. In addition to the redundancy at the head-end site, a disaster recovery system was also deployed at a separate location, so MDT can operate its system even if the main control building is shut down.

Related Content

  • July 17, 2012
    Mitsubishi Electric 4K-resolution display
    Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America has continued its commitment to 4K resolution with its new 56P-QF65LCU monitor. This LCD display offers QFHD (quadruple full high-definition) resolution with an 3840 x 2160 pixels, which means that more than eight megapixels are displayed on one 56-inch screen, an enormous amount of visual content on one device. The monitor allows one person to observe a wide range of data on one screen. The new QFHD monitor condenses information from a tiled display wall used
  • October 31, 2014
    Wi-Fi win-win for mass transit
    David Crawford explores passenger and operator benefits of on-board Wi-Fi Urban commuters’ growing demand for continuous – and reliable - internet connectivity is spurring network operators into the rapid installation of high-grade Wi-Fi access on their surface and underground networks, as well as in their stations. Such moves are often a key part of strategies to maintain and increase ridership levels.
  • January 23, 2012
    Centralised traffic control, managing changing traffic demands
    Paul van Koningsbruggen and Dave Marples of Technolution BV describe, using a national example from the Netherlands, how smart add-ons to traffic control centres combine to increase cross-centre capabilities and cost-efficiency. Increasingly, traffic management is becoming the natural partner of the civil engineer, improving flows over existing infrastructure to deliver an alternative to laying more blacktop. As in any emerging market, the first steps towards mature traffic management have not necessarily r
  • September 12, 2020
    Covid-19 and transportation: Maintaining critical operations in times of crisis

     

    What were the major impacts of Covid-19 on transportation?

    At the peak of the shutdowns, passenger use of airports and mass transit was down 90 per cent. Use of roads by private vehicles was 60 per cent lower and use of commercial vehicles was down 10 per cent. Public transit was down 76 per cent and had to keep operating to get essential workers to their places of employment.