59th AQTr Congress: Augmented Intermodality Towards Innovative Infrastructures

59th AQTr Congress: Augmented Intermodality Towards Innovative Infrastructures

SYSTRA CANADA CONFERENCE

New Technologies to Enhance the Design and Efficiency of Transit Hubs

MAXIME ROCQUET, Senior Manager, Mobility Planning – Transit Division

Tuesday March 18, 2025 | 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The emergence of new technologies has led to the development of digital tools that offer significant support in the design of transport infrastructures. Multimodal transit hubs are one of the most important ways of promoting intermodality, and they are affected by these new digital tools, which bring a new vision to the way they are designed. So what are these tools? What do they enable? What are their advantages and limitations? This conference will answer all these questions.

Cadence Consortium Selected to Transform Canadian Mobility with the Alto High-Speed Rail Project 

Cadence team members include CDPQ Infra, AtkinsRéalis, Keolis, SYSTRA, SNCF Voyageurs, and Air Canada. This selection highlights the leading-edge expertise of the consortium, with deep roots in Canada and world-class know-how in the design, development and operation of passenger transportation infrastructure.

This landmark project is set to revolutionize mobility in Canada for future generations. The Cadence consortium’s unparalleled expertise, synergy, and successful track record offer Alto, the Crown corporation with which we will develop this project, a trusted partner to bring this visionary project to life at the best possible cost. We thank everyone involved in the development of the proposal for their trust and professionalism over the last year. We look forward to working together to design, develop and deploy this fundamental project for all Canadians.

Jean-Marc Arbaud, President and Chief Executive Officer of CDPQ Infra

Major infrastructure projects such as Alto generate substantial impacts by growing the Canadian economy and making it more productive. In the area of transportation, these projects are helping to meet the connectivity and mobility needs of Canadians while respecting communities. They help achieve our climate goals and advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. They create jobs and stimulate local investment, making Canada more resilient in an uncertain economic environment. The partners which are Cadence and the Crown corporation have all the expertise and tact needed to meet these challenges successfully.

In short, making Alto a reality is more important than ever. The Cadence team is proud to play a key role in this project that will help make Canada stronger, more prosperous.

The call for proposals for this Alto project to link Quebec City, Trois-Rivières, Montreal, Laval, Ottawa, Peterborough, Toronto, and other municipalities was launched in October 2023. Cadence has mobilized the expertise of each of its members to submit the best proposal and to match the ambitious vision, deep conviction and high standards set by the Authority.

ABOUT Cadence

Cadence is a consortium of world-renowned companies with expertise and know-how in the design, development and operation of large-scale transportation infrastructure. The consortium members are CDPQ Infra, AtkinsRéalis, Keolis, SYSTRA, Air Canada and SNCF Voyageurs.

Innovative LiDAR Classification for High-Voltage Power Lines

unparalleled precision

In one of our latest projects, we were tasked with collecting and processing LiDAR and photo data for high-voltage power lines in Europe—a project that demanded unprecedented precision and innovation.

To ensure the highest level of accuracy, drone-collected LiDAR and photos were supported by ground control points meticulously established using GPS. Leveraging SiteScan, a cloud-based software, we generated orthophotos and 3D meshes, providing a solid foundation for detailed analysis.

Our team then pushed boundaries by using GIS software and Python programming to integrate AI capabilities for LiDAR classification. This was no ordinary classification—our approach was entirely customized, offering a level of detail far beyond standard practices.

With drones, GIS, and AI-powered technology, SYSTRA Canada delivered unprecedented LiDAR classification solutions for high-voltage power lines in Europe. Our innovative approach, combining advanced GIS tools, SiteScan, PLS-CADD, and custom methodologies, reflects our commitment to precision and groundbreaking geospatial solutions for infrastructure management.

Reza Saremi, Geomatics Lead, Transit at SYSTRA Canada

innovative in-house tools

To complete the project, we utilized PLS-CADD software to create precise plan and profile drawings, ensuring the data met the needs of our client and exceeded expectations.

This project showcases our expertise in combining advanced technology, AI, and geospatial analysis to deliver groundbreaking solutions.

Contact our expert to see how this level of innovation can elevate your infrastructure projects.

Want to know more?

Groupe Porteur Selected for the Gatineau-Ottawa Tramway Project

Montreal (Quebec), January 14, 2025 — The Société de transport de l’Outaouais has awarded the contract for professional, technical, and multidisciplinary services on the Gatineau-Ottawa tramway project to Groupe Porteur, which comprises SYSTRA Canada, Egis, and EXP. This 24-kilometre tramway project will be an important link between downtown Gatineau and Ottawa, the capital city of Canada.

Collaboration for sustainable mobility and future connections

In collaboration with architectural firms Richez_Associés and Provencher Roy, Groupe Porteur is proud to be a part of this ambitious project, which will transform urban mobility and forge sustainable connections between communities. Groupe Porteur will support the TramGO Project Office through all phases of the C$114 million Gatineau-Ottawa tramway contract, including:

1. Technical and environmental studies

2. Procurement

3. Construction work supervision and commissioning tests

A visionary plan for urban modernization

The complexity of a large-scale project can be a challenge. Groupe Porteur has the proven experience and will work closely to ensure the project is navigated successfully to completion.

The technical and environmental studies for the 22 of 24 kilometres of the route on Quebec territory will also begin this Spring. 

ABOUT SYSTRA CANADA

Based mainly in Montreal since 1990, SYSTRA Canada has built up a wealth of experience in urban projects, including the modernisation of the Toronto and Montreal metros, engineering for CDPQ Infra for the Eastern REM, and the GO Expansion and Toronto metro extension programmes managed by Metrolinx.

From 2018 to 2024, our teams were also involved in the construction of the Quebec City tramway, a major urban transformation for the capital of ‘La Belle Province’ and one of the country’s leading tramway projects. At the beginning of 2025, a new call for tenders will be launched for the TramCité, to which SYSTRA Canada plans to respond.

Hyvolution Paris: Mobility, Energy, Industry

Decarbonated hydrogen is a promising solution for energy transition and the fight against climate change.

Collaboration between national and international political and economic players is essential to share projects and research, and stimulate the industry through partnerships. Hyvolution, as a major professional platform, plays an accelerating role in promoting commercial, international and political dialogue, actively contributing to the development of the decarbonized hydrogen sector.

TO MEET US

HYVOLUTION HUB

1. Download the “Hyvolution Hub” on your smartphone

2. Click on Community

3. Search for our experts

contact our expert

New positions gained by SYSTRA in the ENR rankings

The results of the American magazine ENR once again illustrate the growth of the Group’s international sales. These two new positions put SYSTRA on the podium of engineering firms in the Mass Transit & Rail and Bridges categories. 

These rankings, which are based on 2023 turnover, are in addition to the results published in August:

• #6 in the Top 10 Transportation firms, which compares sales in the field of mobility,

• #22 in the Top 225 International Design Firms, which compares international sales figures (outside France for SYSTRA),

• #40 in the Top 150 Global Design Firms, which compares turnover worldwide (including France).

ENR is the leading American magazine in the international engineering sector. Every year, it ranks engineering and civil engineering companies based on their domestic and international sales figures.

Find Engineering News-Record publications on their website.

Complete modernisation of the signalling for the Paris-Lyon high-speed line with SYSTRA

101 hours to change everything: this is the network challenge that teams from SYSTRA France, Eiffage Énergie Systèmes (lead), Saferail and TGSO have been preparing for since 2019 as part of the LGV+ programme, also known as HPGV (Haute Performance Grande Vitesse).

Brought into service in 1981, the Paris-Lyon line is the oldest LGV in Europe and the busiest, with up to 13 trains per hour. Equipped with an old signalling system, its two tracks were completely regenerated by computerised signal boxes during an operation organised over the long weekend of November 11. The aim? To enable migration to the interoperable ERTMS level 2 system by 2026.

More than 400 km of high-speed line to equip

SYSTRA was project manager for the design of the LGV’s 58 technical buildings, which house the line’s computer stations, from working drawings to technical checks. Our teams also drew up the technical plans for 33 signal boxes and took part in the technical checks on the entire line.

Since November 13, the signalling installations on the LGV Sud-Est line have been controlled from a new control tower based in Lyon. Now equipped, the 409-km Paris-Lyon line will be more reliable, resilient and interoperable, enabling trains from all over Europe to run on it. This will further increase the number of connections on this line in 2030, with up to 16 trains per hour in each direction.

ERTMS: SYSTRA in pole position for signalling changes

ERTMS, the backbone of interoperability and the harmonisation of railway operations, is gradually being rolled out across Europe. SYSTRA is contributing to this with numerous migration missions in Italy, Sweden and Denmark. In the second half of 2024, SYSTRA won the ERTMS migration contract for the Channel Tunnel and the HS1 high-speed line between London and Folkestone, which will improve the UK’s links with the European rail system.

California Transit Association’s 59th Annual Fall Conference & Expo

With interactive exhibits, high-level panels and targeted networking opportunities, this was a unique opportunity to propel our ideas forward, develop synergies and contribute to a greener future well beyond California.

Major milestone for SYSTRA on a tunnel project in Türkiye

Reducing journey times for motorists

The Sarıyer – Kilyos Highway Tunnel Project will ensure high standard direct transportation between two strategic locations in İstanbul, from the Third Bosphorus Bridge to southern parts of the city. For motorists journey times will be reduced, as well as air and noise pollution.

Designed entirely by SYSTRA Türkiye’s underground experts, the Sarıyer – Kilyos tunnel will soon be dug by a tunnel boring machine (TBM). This machine, with a cutting diameter of 13.75 metres, is currently being assembled deep underground in Istanbul, in a cavern of impressive dimensions:

• 75 m long
• 30 m wide
• 24 m high
• That’s two 600 m² tympanums on either side of the cavern.

When it is put into action, the TBM will begin by assembling the first rings of segments to form a pre-tunnel, then will pierce the spandrel where the steel reinforcement has been specially designed to be perforated.

Opening of the 7-km tunnel is scheduled for the end of 2026.