Merge pull request #4 from Keller-Peter/main

NGE project description

2024/0740-nge.md

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 ### Netzgrafik-Editor {.project}
+**Netzgrafik-Editor (NGE) is a mature tool used in long-term planning for creating and analyzing regular-interval timetables at a macroscopic level of detail. It's versatile for timetable planning in various modes of transport. Features include interactive editing, graphic timetables, train run editing, and analysis.**  
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+NGE is used daily by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) planners for developing macroscopic long-term timetable concepts. It enables quick creation of new ideas as variants, their analysis, and decision-making on their feasibility. NGE offers the user functionality to enhance the efficiency and optimization of traffic in a network.  
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+As a user-friendly and interactive graphical editor, the software allows for the creation and editing of regular-interval timetables through a visual interface. This interface makes it easy to visualize and adjust the network. Lines (train runs) in the Netzgrafik can be transferred into a graphical timetable (time–distance diagram) representation. Planners can manually draw and edit the train runs as if arranging pearls on a string. This feature enables them to define crucial aspects of the traffic network and tailor it to specific requirements and constraints. The software allows planners to extract important information, such as departure and destination stations, departure and arrival times, and train frequency.
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+Based on the network and the timetables, the software provides insights into connection and transfer times. This facilitates optimization and efficiency improvement in a transport system. Additionally, infrastructure requirements can be estimated, aiding in infrastructure planning and decision-making.
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+NGE is a web-based tool with a [frontend](https://github.com/SchweizerischeBundesbahnen/netzgrafik-editor-frontend) developed using [SBB open source Angular components](https://github.com/sbb-design-systems/sbb-angular), providing an interactive graphical interface accessible through a web browser. Much of the logic is implemented in TypeScript on the frontend to ensure performance and interactivity with low latency and maximum responsiveness. The [backend](https://github.com/SchweizerischeBundesbahnen/netzgrafik-editor-backend/), implemented with the Spring Framework and Spring Boot mainly persists the data.
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+NGE, initially developed internally at SBB, became open source in 2024. Similarly, the SNCF’s [Open Source Railway Designer (OSRD)](https://osrd.fr/en/) focuses on microscopic medium and short-term timetabling, capacity analysis, and simulation. In 2024, a productive collaboration began between the two development teams. This collaboration led to contributions from the OSRD team to the NGE project. In return, the OSRD team integrated NGE components into their software. Such a fruitful collaboration would have been unlikely without the OpenRail Association. In an independent project, an open source converter was developed to export data from NGE into timetables for the entire service day in different formats, such as GTFS static or [MATSim](https://matsim.org/) transit schedules.
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+To build a broad community and develop its full potential, the Netzgrafik-Editor needs additional users within transport companies, public administrations, and educational institutions. For timetable planners or students in transport planning, opening the source code is insufficient. To bridge the gap between software developers and end-users, the application was made [freely accessible](https://nge.flatland.cloud) online in 2024 to ensure that it reaches a broader audience. Open-source success relies not just on code availability but also on user engagement and accessibility.
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+In 2025, the focus is strengthening the community to attract more users and active developers on developing functionalities. The [roadmap](https://github.com/SchweizerischeBundesbahnen/netzgrafik-editor-frontend/blob/main/ROADMAP.md) outlines the strategic goals to improve the Netzgrafik-Editor's business value.
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+Further information:
+- [Netzgrafik-Editor Frontend on GitHub](https://github.com/SchweizerischeBundesbahnen/netzgrafik-editor-frontend)
+- [Netzgrafik-Editor Backend on GitHub](https://github.com/SchweizerischeBundesbahnen/netzgrafik-editor-backend/)
+- [Netzgrafik-Editor Converter on GitHub](https://github.com/SchweizerischeBundesbahnen/netzgrafik-editor-converter)
+- [Online Demo Instance](https://nge.flatland.cloud) operated in the cloud of the [Flatland Association](https://www.flatland-association.org/home)
+- [Open SBB Design System on GitHub](https://github.com/sbb-design-systems/sbb-angular)
+- [Netzgrafik-Editor at FOSDEM 2025](https://fosdem.org/2025/schedule/event/fosdem-2025-5023-netzgrafik-editor-a-human-centric-timetable-planning-approach/)
+- [Open Source Railway Designer (OSRD](https://osrd.fr/en/)
+- [MATSim](https://matsim.org/) for large-scale agent-based transport simulations