Advances in Computational Modeling of EMC/EMI Effects in Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) Systems

Communication-based train control (CBTC) systems are aimed at providing control and signaling for rail transportation. These operate in environments that include tunnel and open-air sections, as well as busy stations, coexisting with Wi-Fi and cellular communication networks. Modeling electromagnetic compatibility and interference (EMC/EMI) issues in CBTC is most efficiently achieved by hybridizing several computational electromagnetic techniques rather than relying on a single one. This paper presents an overview of the applicable standards and some typical EMI scenarios for CBTC systems. Then, we discuss recent advances in hybridizing the vector parabolic equation (VPE) method, ray-tracing (RT) and the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique, towards the efficient modeling of such scenarios.