Programme for support of applied research and innovation in the field of transport – DOPRAVA 2030

This Project is co-funded with state support of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic under the DOPRAVA 2030 Programme.

Basic information on the Programme

Within the framework of the Programme for Support of Applied Research and Innovation in Transport – DOPRAVA 2030, co-funded by the European Union, whose managing body is the Technological Agency of the Czech Republic, ČD Cargo has applied for financial support for the implementation of a project on the use of Artificial Intelligence to support the ČD Cargo operation control.

The aim of the Programme is to develop the transport sector and all modes of transport in a way that reflects societal needs, accelerates the technological and knowledge development of the Czech Republic, helps the growth of the Czech Republic's competitiveness, and contributes to greater sustainability and reduction of the negative impact of transport on the environment. The planned allocation of the Programme for the years 2023–2030 amounts to a total of CZK 2.6 billion. The total maximum amount of support can reach up to 100% (in the case of research organizations), while the average intensity of support for individual projects should reach 75%.

Project description

The aim of the Project is the design of two SW modules enabling the use of artificial intelligence in support of the demanding work of the dispatcher, specifically in the process of short-term planning and operational management in the coordination of the use of planned capacities (driving vehicles, drivers), customer priorities (transport priority, turnaround of wagons, continuity, e.g. for the transport of empty wagons for loading), capacities in locations (availability of local staff to carry out the handling of the consignment), available capacity of the transport route and the real situation on it. The proposed solution should prepare the necessary decisions for the dispatcher, supported not only by optimizing the use of resources, but also by learning from decisions already made and their real impacts.

By means of the implementation of these SW modules, data from control systems will be received and processed, and this data will be prepared for the dispatcher as support and for acceleration of his decision-making. Subsequently, the produced results will be received into these modules and presented to the dispatcher to support future decision making.

This Project is implemented in cooperation with OLTIS Group a.s. and the University of Pardubice.

The total estimated cost of the Project was set by ČD Cargo at CZK 17 million before the start of the Project, of which the proportionate share for ČD Cargo makes CZK 7.7 million. The amount of subsidy support for the entire Project is CZK 11.1 million, of which the proportionate share for ČD Cargo is CZK 4.3 million. The implementation of the Project is to be completed in accordance with the terms of the Programme by 30 June 2026.