A Web-Based Georeferenced Model of the Urban Traction Electrification System in Turin

Transport accounts for approximately 25% of Green House Gas emissions in Europe, with urban road transport being a major contributor to air pollution. Decarbonizing urban transport is essential, particularly as over 70% of Europeans reside in urban areas. Strengthening public transport, the most sustainable travel option for large populations, is a key strategy. This article focuses on urban tramways, formed by the urban traction electrification systems and electric public transport vehicles. A digital twin approach is proposed to improve the operational activities of tramways, aiming to optimize system design, enhance maintenance, improve reliability, and unlock unused infrastructure potential, such as using the tramway infrastructure for off-peak charging stations. This article presents the methodology adopted to develop the model of the tramway in Turin, Italy. This step is a milestone to implement the tramway digital twin. Moreover, this article presents the validation process of the model, which was carried out through a comparison with both simulated and field measurement data.