Register for the Workshop
Secure your spot for the Summer 2026 session. IEEE certificate included.
Workshop Overview
How the workshop is structured and what it prepares participants to do.
Overview
This workshop provides a project-based introduction to railway engineering and simulation through: Track Design (Bentley OpenRail), creating a real-world rail network on top of aerial imagery and elevation GIS maps including track geometry (horizontal, vertical, superelevation) and track layout (turnout, yard, bridge, and crossover); 3D Visualization & Virtual Reality (LumenRT), developing railway environments including train stations, surrounding buildings, trees, and VR 360-degree video; and Train Operations and Signaling (SUMO Traffic Simulation), creating a simulated rail network and rail signals in traffic simulation and conduct analysis including number of trains and average dwell time in stations under fixed-block operation.
Teaching Philosophy (UDL)
- Multiple means of representation: Presenting the same concepts through lecture slides, hands-on slides, video tutorials, and self-paced website resources.
- Multiple means of engagement: Providing two support channels including Office Hours and the Community Learning Platform to reduce barriers and accommodate varied learning contexts through accessible and timely assistance.
- Multiple means of expression: Providing participants with opportunities to demonstrate learning through participation, discussion, and the design project with professional deliverables such as a project website and demo video.
Workshop Outline
What participants will learn and how certificates are evaluated.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop a real-world railway corridor in OpenRail including essential track infrastructure elements such as alignments, turnouts, and crossovers.
- Create 3D railway environments and VR/360-degree presentations using LumenRT.
- Build a rail simulation model in SUMO including train scheduling and signaling.
- Integrate railway design, visualization, and simulation workflows into a practical digital project including a demo video and template website.
IEEE Certificate Assessment
- Participation Certificate: Attend the live workshop session.
- Completion Certificate: Attend the workshop and submit the project showcase website within the deadline.
Certificate delivery: All certificates will be issued digitally in PDF format via email within 7 business days of the workshop submission deadline (Completion).
- Attend the live workshop session
- Watch the post-workshop recorded tutorial
- Submit a showcase website including outputs/li>
Issued by: IEEE Toronto Section and IEEE Industrial Applications Society
6 Hours - Workshop Structure
The workshop spans two 3-hour sessions across two days, covering lecture and hands-on modules.
| Hour | Topic (Lecture + Hands-on) | Materials |
|---|---|---|
| 📅 Day 1 — Track Design | ||
| 0:00 – 0:30 |
Introduction to Railway Engineering
Lecture: Introducing workshop organizers (Dr. Marjan Alavi – McMaster & Dr. Ahmad Mohammadi – York University); history of railways; what is a railway system and railway engineering; railway engineering inputs, sub-systems, outputs, and goals; regulations and standards (e.g., Transport Canada, AREMA).
Hands-on preview: OpenRail Software, LumenRT & SUMO Simulation.
|
|
| 0:30 – 1:30 |
Track Design I (Track Geometry)
Hands-on: Introducing OpenRail ConceptStation; create a new project; import aerial and elevation maps; user interface; create a real-world rail network; vertical alignment; horizontal alignment; superelevation.
|
|
| 1:30 – 1:45 |
Break (Q&A)
Workshop break: Open discussion and participant questions.
|
Break / Q&A
|
| 1:45 – 2:45 |
Track Design II (Track Layout)
Hands-on: Railway turnout types; insert diverging turnouts; place yards; insert merging turnouts; place track crossover; bridge clearance analysis.
|
|
| 2:45 – 3:00 | Day 1 Wrap-Up & Preview of Day 2 — Workshop continues next session. | |
| 📅 Day 2 — VR Visualization, Signaling & Operations | ||
| 0:00 – 1:00 |
3D Visualization & Virtual Reality
Hands-on: Preparation and quick start on LumenRT; 3D Visualization Fundamental I: Light, Location, Eye, Time; 3D Visualization Fundamental II: Static Objects; 3D Visualization Fundamental III: Behaviors; creating 3D objects (rail station, trees, buildings) using Generative AI; import, place, and adjust 3D objects in LumenRT; select train types (electric or diesel); Virtual Reality: 360° VR video.
|
|
| 1:00 – 2:00 |
Train Scheduling & Signaling
Hands-on: Fundamentals of traffic simulation; Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO); SUMO visualization interface; train scheduling mini project – assumptions; develop a simulated rail network; set corridor operating speed; define train flows and routes; define rail signal logic.
|
|
| 1:30 – 1:45 |
Break (Q&A)
Workshop break: Open discussion and participant questions.
|
Break / Q&A
|
| 1:45 – 2:45 |
Operations & Capacity
Hands-on: Fundamentals of railway operations and capacity; defining train stops and stations; Timetable Scheduling I: Dwell Time; Timetable Scheduling II: Train Headway; Timetable Scheduling III: Departure and Arrival Times; timetable scheduling analysis; railway network capacity analysis.
|
|
| 2:45 – 3:00 |
Final Remarks & Certificate Information
Lecture: Summary of what was covered across all three phases; overview of IEEE Participation & Completion Certificate criteria (see Certificate Assessment section); Q&A and closing remarks.
|
|
Prerequisites
No prior experience in railway engineering, track design, or traffic simulation is required.
- Comfort with installing and navigating desktop software
- A laptop capable of running OpenRail ConceptStation, LumenRT, and SUMO (Windows recommended)
- Recommended background: undergraduate or graduate students in engineering, computer science, urban planning, or related fields
- Participants from adjacent disciplines including geography, data science, architecture, and public policy are equally welcome
Student Support & Accessibility
Support channels designed to reduce barriers and help participants succeed.
- Office Hours: By appointment via email ([email protected]) with flexible scheduling and virtual meetings available.
- Discord Community: Join our course Discord for continuous support for Q&A, peer learning and study groups, archived resources and troubleshooting tips, and community support outside scheduled hours.
- Technical Support: All required software must be installed prior to the workshop. SUMO is free and open-source. OpenRail ConceptStation and LumenRT are available as free student/trial versions. Installation tutorials and troubleshooting guides will be provided in advance.
Office Hours
Appointment by email or join the community Discord group for ongoing Q&A and peer support.
Tip: include your full name and a short summary of your question when emailing.
Optional Workshop Materials
Recommended references for railway engineering, track standards, and operations.
- American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association. (2025). Manual for railway engineering. AREMA (Fall 2025). publications.arema.org/Publication/MRE_2025
- American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association, Committee 24 Education and Training. (2003). Practical guide to railway engineering. AREMA. pdfcoffee.com/160988648-arema-practical-guidepdf-pdf-free.html
- Metrolinx Track Standards. (2025). Heavy Rail. assets.metrolinx.com/image/upload/Documents/Engineering/Metrolinx_Track_Standards.pdf
- Hansen, I. A., & Pachl, J. (2005). Railway Timetabling & Operations. Academic Press.
Workshop Outline (PDF)
Download the full workshop outline document.
Resources
Software
- OpenRail ConceptStation for track design and corridor modelling
- LumenRT for 3D railway environments and immersive VR visualization
- SUMO for train operations, scheduling, signaling, and capacity analysis