ABSTRACT
Apart from Systems Safety, Reliability, Availability and Maintainability (RAM) are essential elements which govern the Quality of Service (QoS) and overall performance of a rapid transit system. RAM targets and requirements for a rapid transit system are subjected to a process of verification and validation across the system lifecycle, to demonstrate that the specified RAM requirements are met. During design and implementation phase, RAM modeling and analysis techniques are used to predict whether the system design is adequate and sufficient to achieve the RAM requirements. During system validation, system acceptance as well as operation and maintenance phase of the system lifecycle, RAM demonstration tests are conducted to confirm that the actual system performance has indeed met all specified RAM requirements.
This paper describes the practices that are adopted by the LTA for RAM demonstration in rapid transit system projects. Fundamental principles, basis and rationale for RAM demonstration tests, in accordance with international standards and best practices, are discussed along with details on methodologies for the development, implementation and management of RAM demonstration test plans and procedures. Examples from several rapid transit system projects are used to illustrate the application of RAM demonstration in rapid transit systems.
Keywords: RAM, Quality of service, FRACAS, FRB.
