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Engineering Service
Our corporate Quality System has been certified by the Institute for Supply Management (formerly known as National Association of Purchasing Managers) and adheres to the Association of American Railroads' (AAR) M-1003 requirements.
Electronic Surveys
At Southwest, we provide our clients with the necessary information to make feasibility, design, and estimating decisions throughout the course of a project. We were the first to introduce a completely electronic survey data package to the railroad industry. The Electronic Survey is a state-of-the-art compilation of all the general information for a geographical location, including forms, maps, sketches, correspondence, and pictures related to a design project.
Southwest can provide any type of survey required, including Crossing Field Report Surveys, Crossing Existing Site Surveys, Crossing Proposed Site Surveys, Wayside Surveys, and As-Built Surveys. This information is available through a secure, password protected web-site or on a CD-ROM/DVD.
Preliminary Engineering
Our engineering process begins with a consultation with our clients where we make recommendations regarding the development and definition of project scope requirements.
Design
Southwest provides custom design solutions for the project requirements based on our customers’ needs and/or specific requests. Designs can encompass any magnitude of scope, from adding a single hand-throw switch with a controller to signaling a previously non-signaled subdivision or district with all new equipment. The design can also be complemented with detailed in-service testing documentation for the specific implementation of the design per customer requirements.
Application Software Design
Southwest provides a one-stop solution for application software design, programming, and support (testing, simulation and field support) for a variety of manufacturers’ solid-state programmable equipment. Quality programming is ensured by providing software simulation as well as rack testing on actual solid-state equipment.
Software Simulation/Rack Testing/Field Support
The use of a simulator to verify the integrity of programs for solid-state control points allows Southwest designers and programmers to visualize a location with graphic representation complete with switches, signals, track codes, relays and local panels. In addition, our programmers provide support for these software solutions during field testing and final installation.
Rail Modeling And Simulation
Southwest Signal Engineering can model your transit or freight system and provide an operational simulation and engineering analysis. By utilizing our custom software, we are able to provide you with an efficient and cost effective means to evaluate signal systems and propose modifications that will improve these systems. The software allows the physical characteristics of the railroad, such as tracks, switches, signals, stations, and vehicles, to be combined with external operational factors such as train schedules, station dwell times, civil speed restrictions and other operational scenarios to determine an overall baseline performance of an existing or proposed system. Modifications to any of the factors associated with the system can be made and evaluated to determine if such variations positively or negatively affect operations. Data generated from the analysis can be extracted, evaluated and presented in a myriad of formats including spreadsheets, graphs, and specialized queries.
Office Support
Our engineers and programmers can provide around-the-clock support for the testing and installation of our designs in the form of on-site or telephone support depending on the customer’s needs.
As-In-Service
Our dedicated As-In-Service (AIS) department ensures compliance with the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) requirement for legible and correct plans. As a result, modifications to original signal system designs necessary to facilitate construction are identified and then updated on the plans to reflect the changes.
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