Global engineering and consulting specialist SYSTRA has announced a strategic collaboration with Dassault Systèmes aimed at accelerating innovation across the rail and transport infrastructure sector through the use of advanced virtual twin technology.
As rail projects become increasingly complex, the industry is under growing pressure to improve collaboration, reduce risk, optimise performance and make better-informed decisions throughout the lifecycle of critical assets. The partnership seeks to address these challenges by harnessing the capabilities of virtual twins and integrating them within Dassault Systèmes' 3D UNIV+RSES platform.
Virtual twins are rapidly emerging as a transformative tool for the infrastructure sector, enabling organisations to digitally design, simulate, test and optimise assets before implementing changes in the real world. Unlike traditional digital models, the 3D UNIV+RSES environment connects multiple virtual twins together and links them to their operating environment using real-world data, engineering models and artificial intelligence.
The initiative aims to help the rail sector move away from fragmented analysis methods towards more connected and collaborative digital ecosystems. By bringing together data, models and expertise from across project teams and stakeholders, organisations can gain a clearer understanding of project challenges, assess options earlier and improve decision-making from concept through to operation and maintenance.
The approach is also expected to enhance cooperation between the many stakeholders involved in rail infrastructure delivery, supporting more effective planning and helping teams anticipate the potential impacts of key decisions before they are implemented.
Prisca Flattot, Senior Vice President Technical & Operational Performance, SYSTRA, said:
“Through this initiative, SYSTRA reaffirms its ambition to be a driving force in digital innovation for rail and infrastructure alongside major technology partners. The virtual twin is a powerful tool for better design, better decision-making, and supporting our clients throughout the lifecycle of their assets. With Dassault Systèmes, we want to accelerate the development of high value-added digital services for infrastructure that is even safer, more reliable, and more sustainable.”
By combining SYSTRA's extensive rail and infrastructure expertise with Dassault Systèmes' digital engineering and AI-driven technology capabilities, both organisations are already developing innovative digital solutions designed to deliver greater value for infrastructure owners and operators.
The partnership comes at a time when data governance, digital trust and technological sovereignty are becoming increasingly important considerations for both public and private sector organisations responsible for critical transport infrastructure.
As the rail industry continues its digital transformation journey, the collaboration has the potential to support the development of smarter, more resilient and more sustainable infrastructure networks, while enabling project teams to make better decisions based on connected, data-driven insights.
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