Author(s)

P.G. Gipps

Abstract

AlignSD: a package for planning rail alignments P.G. Gipps CSIRO Division of Building, Construction and Engineering, PO Box 56, Highett, Victoria 3190, Australia Abstract AlignSD is a computer-based planning package designed to optimise the horizontal and vertical alignment of a railway while complying with various constraints. It uses stochastic optimisation and 'fuzzy logic' to generate a selection of low-cost alternative alignments. This enables planners to exercise their professional judgment in balancing the non-quantifiable aspects of the alternatives against their costs. The package is flexible, capable of operating with minimal data at the beginning of a study, yet able to incorporate numerous details and sophisticated constraints as the focus of the study narrows. 1 Introduction Constructing a new railway or realigning an old one can be an expensive exercise, in which costs depend on the alignment selected. Costs are increased by long lengths of viadu

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