1. INDIAN RAILWAYS INSTITUTE OF SIGNAL ENGINEERING & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Empowering Through Knowledge and Skill Development – Initiatives by IRISET
C.K. Prasad, IRSSE (SAG/NF)
Professor IRISET
INDIAN RAILWAYS INSTITUTE OF SIGNAL ENGINEERING & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

2. Agenda Partnership and MoUs
Leveraging Information Technology and Tools
Training Infrastructure
Technology
Performance Highlight
Roadmap Ahead
Conclusion
If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience and ability – Henry Ford

3. Intangible Assets – People!
What Gives Value to an Organization?
Physical Assets
Financial Assets
Intangible Assets – People!
Organization’s Value
An organization’s value consists of three types of assets that are crucial to providing goods and services.
An organization must have financial assets, cash and securities, to maintain day-to-day activities and to invest in the future.
There must be physical assets, such as facilities, plants and equipment, to produce marketable goods and services.
And lastly, organizations have intangible assets, such as staff and a good reputation, all necessary to achieve the organization’s mission. It’s easy to count the cash or assess the facility, but it can be difficult to measure the worth of intangible assets – What’s the value of a good reputation? Certainly, reputation is not listed on the organization’s balance sheet, but we all recognize that without a good reputation, the company’s sales plummet, the stock price spirals downward and it becomes impossible to hire and retain good employees. So – What’s the value of an intangible like reputation? Priceless! The same can be said for an organization’s human capital. What is the value of a well-trained staff?

4. Partnership & MoU
IRISET has partnered with premier institutes to achieve excellence in training and human resource development.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur for Consultancy on Centre for Safety Critical Software
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Hyderabad for MTech Program for in service IRSSE officers
Osmania University College of Engineering (OUCE), Hyderabad for Joint M Tech/ME program for IRSSE Probationary officers
MoU with National Knowledge Network for connectivity, knowledge sharing and collaborative research programs

5. CENTRE FOR SAFETY CRITICAL SOFTWARE FOR SIGNALLING
Consultancy Agreement was signed in April 2015 for setting up Centre for Safety Critical Software with IIT, Kharagpur.
Boadly,the scope of work includes:
Identification and documentation of the qualifications and training requirements of the Signalling & Telecommunication personnel to be posted at the centre.
Work out detailed syllabus for imparting training in Software Engineering, Reliability Engineering, Safety Standards including CENELEC, Software Testing, Verification and Validation, Version control, Safety cases etc

6. CENTRE FOR SAFETY CRITICAL SOFTWARE FOR SIGNALLING
Specification and configuration of Safety Critical Data Centre that includes architecture, specifications for data centre infrastructure, servers, networking hardware, work stations etc.
Suggest Software Verification tools to be procured and set up at the Centre

7. CENTRE FOR SAFETY CRITICAL SOFTWARE FOR SIGNALLING
The technology in Signalling and Train Control systems has been under transformation
The current technology is based on computer controlled software embedded systems and communication technology.
Signalling and Communication future technologies are getting more and more integrated.
to manage the life cycle of these advance & complex systems, the setting up of the Centre for Safety Critical Software for Signalling at IRISET will play a key role in training & competency building of S&T Engineers.

8. CONCEPTUAL ARCHITECTURE OF CENTRE FOR SAFETY CRITICAL SOFTWARE AT IRISET WITH ACCESS TO ZONAL RAILWAYS, RDSO, CORE

9. MoU with Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad
IRISET has formalised an MoU with Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad for Master of Technology programme to be offered by IIT, Hyderabad to select officers of Indian Railways (primarily of IRSSE cadre) in line with the principles of Industry-Academic co-operation.
The MoU has been approved by Rly Board and is likely to be signed next week

10. MoU with Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad
Key objectives of the programme
To offer Master of Technology to Officers of Indian Railways by IIT Hyderabad through a 2- Year Post-graduate programme at par with IIT Hyderabad’s own campus students so that the level of instructions imparted to them are the best and latest in the mainstream of engineering education in the country.
To help IRISET in updating its capability for introducing courses in engineering technologies specifically useful to Indian Railways.
To increase interaction and cooperation between these two organizations as a pioneering ‘Industry – Institute’ collaboration for larger benefit to both the academia as well as Industry.

11. MoU with Osmania University College of Engineering (OUCE), Hyderabad
Joint Post Graduate M.Tech / M.E Degree Programme for IRSSE Probationary Officers of Indian Railways who undergo exhaustive training programme at IRISET aimed to prepare them to shoulder the responsibility of a specialized job of Signal & Telecom engineers
The Proposal has been approved by Board of Studies of Osmania University College of Engineering, (OUCE), Hyderabad and by the Academic Council, OUCE on 29th July, 2015.
MoU proposal is under approval process of the Osmania University which thereafter will need Railway Board’s approval

12. National Knowledge Network
A MoU has been signed with National Knowledge Network (NKN) for providing 100 Mbps connectivity to IRISET.
The last mile connectivity is provided by RailTel Corporation and the MPLS port of 100 Mbps has been provisioned by National Informatics Centre (NIC).
The service has been commissioned on 28th July 2015
NKN is designed as a Smart Ultra High Bandwidth network that seamlessly interconnects the leading Scientific and Technological institutions - which are pursuing world-class research and development.

13. Services Available to IRISET as Part of NKN Community
Generic Services:
Internet, Intranet, Network Management Views, , Messaging Gateways, Caching Gateways, Domain Name System, Web Hosting, Voice over IP, Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) Services, Video Portals, SMS Gateway, Co-Location Services, Video Streaming etc.
Community Services:
Shared Storage, List Software Application (LISTSERV), Authentication Service, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), Collaboration Service, Content Delivery Service, International Collaborations with EU-India Grid, Global Ring Network for Advanced Applications Development (GLORIAD) etc.
Special Services:
Virtual Private Network Stitching Services (Virtual Private Wire Service / Virtual Private LAN Service), etc.

14. Services Available to IRISET as Part of NKN Community
Virtual Library
Enables sharing of Journals, Books and research papers
Virtual Classroom
The NKN platform enables delivery of effective distance education programs where teachers and learners can interact in real time
Network Technology Test-Bed
It provides a test-bed for testing and validation of services before they are made available to the production network

15. Training Infrastructure-Augmentation
Impetus on Practical Skill and Competency based training and trouble shooting
Augmentation of infrastructure for training & skill development by commissioning latest S&T equipments in New Signal & Telecom Lab facility.
New facility building has 3 floors (G+2). With 3800 sq metres of floor area.
Inaugurated in June 2014.

16. NEW S&T LABORATORY & E-LEARNING CENTRE
Building G+2
Total floor area : 3800 Sq Meters

17. E-Learning – Reloaded
To facilitate anywhere, anytime, interactive learning through electronic multi-media supported by telecom infrastructure, IRISET has expanded its activities beyond conventional training systems by establishing an E-learning Centre.
New training modules are added to the E-learning Portal. On date 29 training modules on Signalling and Telecom subjects are available on the portal.
New facility has a seating capacity for 80 trainees ( Clients on twin sharing) and augmented with advance projection system and interactive panel with podcasting functionality.
The centre also provides facility to conduct on-line examination.

18. E-learning session in progress
E-LEARNING CENTRE
E-learning session in progress

19. Virtual Classroom
A virtual classroom for distance learning via Video Conferencing between IRISET & Zonal S&T Training Centres (STTC’s) on Indian Railways
Targeted at skill development of Artisan staff (ESM’s , TCM’s etc)
Facilitates interaction in real time between IRISET faculty and trainees at STTC’s.

20. Virtual Classroom Training Centres

21. Virtual Classroom session screenshot

22. New Signal Labs Electronic Interlocking Lab
Train Protection Warning Signal lab
LED signal Lab
Digital Axle Counter Lab
Block using UFSBI & Digital Radio Modem with Voice & Data Transmission, Solid State Block Proving by Axle Counter ,

23. New Signal Labs
Electronic Interlocking Laboratory has been equipped with Electronic Interlocking system of M/s. Medha make and FAT set up of M/s. Westrace , M/s Medha, and Microlok II.
TPWS LAB: 
Train Protection & Warning System of M/s. Ansaldo, Training model is installed in this lab which is on ETCS level 1.

24. New Signal Labs LED Signal Lab:
The Lab is equipped with LED Signals of most of the manufacturers. LED Signal Units of seven different manufacturers are provided
Digital Axle Counter Lab:
Equipped with MSDAC of Frauscher ACS2000 & SSDACs of CEL-710P and GG-Tronics-G36 make. This lab also houses Block using UFSBI & Digital Radio modem with Voice & Data transmission/reception facility and also solid state block proving by axle counter as per latest RDSO specifications.

25. New Telecommunications Labs
Computer Networking Lab
Disaster Management VSAT system
Voice Over Internet Protocol Telephony and Interoperability testing Lab
Mobile Train Radio Communication-
VHF communication & GSM-R Lab

26. New Telecommunications Labs
Computer Networking Lab
The lab has a capacity to provide Hands-on training to 36 participants.
A TCP/IP network comprising of 3 LAN’s connected with different make of routers and packet tracer application is provided
Unified PRS/UTS setup with last mile connectivity on copper and fibre are provided.
Trouble shooting and network performance metrics are demonstrated

27. Disaster Management Communication for Voice & Data on VSAT
New Telecommunications Labs
Disaster Management Communication for Voice & Data on VSAT

28. New Telecommunications Labs
Voice Over Internet Protocol Telephony System
VoIP PBX is setup on Open Source Asterisk Communication Server installed on general purpose PC hardware with Redhat Linux open source operating system
FreePBX open source client is used to configure and manage the services on the server
Interoperability
The VoIP PBX is integrated with ISDN Exchange of Tadiran Telecom, HiPath PBX of Siemens, NGN switch of IR/RailTel and GSM/GSM-R gateway using Matrix gateway (PRI to IP interface) to provide seamless connectivity

29. New Telecommunications Labs
Mobile Train Radio Communication
– Global System for Mobile for Railways
Cab Radio and associated Power Supply
BTS, e-BSC, TRAU, RC

30. GSM R Radio Commander View

31. Automation of Library
Library Management System has been deployed to automate the process of the Library
Bar coded inventory of books/journals and issue of Bar coded Photo ID cards.
IRISET has a repository of 40,000 books and 50 journals.
Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) can be accessed through RAILNET using a web browser. 

32. Library Management System with Photo ID and Bar Code Printer
AUTOMATED LIBRARY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Library Management System with Photo ID and Bar Code Printer

33. The present collection of CBT’s has about 200 titles
COMPUTER BASED TUTORIALS IN LIBRARY
The present collection of CBT’s has about 200 titles

34. Training Assessment and Evaluation
On-line training assessment and evaluation tool deployed for conducting online examination
Existing E-learning centre IT infrastructure is leveraged(Thin Clients/Desktop PC’s)
System facilitates generation of various types of reports for assessing the performance of trainees and the program

35. Training Assessment and Evaluation
Creation of Tests-Multiple Choice, Short answer, Fill in the blanks, Ordered sets
Automated correction of questions- Multiple Choice, Short answer, Fill in the blanks, Ordered sets
Report- Detailed exam result report to exam takers, Class performance report, individual score cards, individual answer sheets, exam usage reports
Support for essay questions, multimedia questions – Audio, Video and Picture
Social media integration.
Collaboration options for exam creation
Scoring/Grading of questions, Randomize questions, Marking question for review during the exam

38. PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

39. Knowledge Management Initiatives
IRISET is significantly contributing to integrate the knowledge available across multiple disparate entities on Indian Railways through the Knowledge Portal
IRISET as a technology & knowledge partner is helping National Academy of Indian Railways to integrate all the libraries across all the CTI’s, Railway Board, Zonal Railways, RDSO and other institutes through a common platform

40. Road Ahead Focus on Training Productivity and efficiency
Microsoft Sharepoint deployment
Collaboration, Document Sharing , Portal Management
Scheduling, Yammer
Android App to access E-learning content from smartphone
A Smart Classroom & Cyber Security Lab is planned for development

41. Knowledge Development
IRISET Training Process Flow
Trainings
Classroom & Labs
OEM/End-user training
E-Learning portal
People Development
Cross-domain training
Leadership Development
Cross-functional training
Knowledge Development
Knowledge Mgmt Articles
Paper publications
Knowledge transfer (OEM’s)
IRISET Academy
Additional
training needs
New Joinees
Assessment
Training Needs Identification
Training Plan
Certification
Continuous Improvement
Application
Well-Trained,
Certified, Highly Productive Resources
Trained
Personnel
Tech & Domain
Non-IR Personnel
Soft Skills
Tools
Culture
Experienced Personnel
Process/Quality
Pre- Induction
Induction & Training
Post- Induction
Training Aids
Education, Research, CSCS team
Visiting Faculty
OEM’s SMEs 41

42. CONCLUSION
The initiatives so taken will enable IRISET to be in the forefront of knowhow of technology development in the core area of Signalling and Telecommunications.
It will enable IRISET to upgrade the existing courses, formulate new and richer programs, enhance teaching/training capabilities thereby enhancing the learning in terms of knowledge, skill development and competency building.
The effort made by IRISET will bridge the knowing – doing gap among the railway personnel and is expected to make them confident and competent to handle new challenges in their work area.

43. THANK YOU