Case Study: Making A Move With Bel Train Technology: An Interactive Railway Website Experience
Introduction
Let us introduce you to Bel Power Solutions, a company with over 70 years of excellence and experience in the electronics industry and who has been supporting multiple other industries to POWER, PROTECT and CONNECT. The company has a strong track record of technical innovation working with the engineering teams of market leaders; as a result, they understand the electrical needs and safety concerns of traveling by rail.
People have many options to travel the world whenever they like, in so many different ways, one being by train, which is growing more popular. But, do we ever stop to think about all the electrical components needed to run an electronic train? There are too many components and systems to count that make this amazing transit technology work. Train travel is rapidly evolving, with liberally distributed AC sockets, 5V smart charging points, and high-speed Wi-Fi. In addition to electrical options for passengers, conventional functions such as windshield wipers, braking systems, door control, and collision warnings are all systems that must be working efficiently and safely in the rail industry.
As more trains include advanced electrical connections and interworkings, safety becomes a concern. The safety concerns require the electrical systems in rail infrastructure to operate efficiently and reliably under extremes in temperature, humidity, and vibration. Bel Power Solutions understands this environment and provides a wide range of products to meet global rail industry standards for rolling stock and trackside systems.
Discussion
Bel Power Solutions came to I3D with a need to display its wide range of products for rail travel in a new format – an interactive environment. Bel Power Solutions already had PDF catalogs showing products, as well as products listed on the website. But, it was time to take product browsing to the next level.
Many electrical parts & products come into play in the rail industry. From passenger safety and comfortability to proper train function – Bel Power Solutions can take care of these requirements, providing fully customized power solutions & protection for safe electrical usage.
What are some of the products offered by Bel Power Solutions Train Technology?
- Accessibility for passengers: wheelchair lifts, door controls, and a ticket system
- Train control and function: electrical parts integral for train headlights, rearview cameras, brakes, the driver desk, and more
- Passenger comfort and convenience: components for USB charging sources, toilet systems, infotainment, and onboard bistro or vending, as well as onboard batteries
- Sophisticated safety systems: cab radios, fire safety, and train control systems. In addition, electrical modules and transformers are in place at the rail side for train crossing, point machines, and computer rooms.
To showcase the critical products offered by Bel Power Solutions, I3D was tasked with creating a 3D, interactive rail experience for Bel Power Solution’s website.
Process & Solution
Several elements have to come together to make a 3D animation, break it down into segments, and turn it into an interactive website. The first focus was the opening shot, showing the train parked, as all the products start their presentation from this viewpoint. Once I3D had the primary opening down, I3D started to lay out the different “levels” of interactivity. This setup included creating product shots and short animation clips to move the user through the railway system. The initial interactive concept was created in PowerPoint and then brought to I3D’s web development team to bring it to life online.
I3D created a 3D electronic train and rail system with call-out buttons. These call-out buttons are a clear and visual way to showcase the many different areas that utilize power sources or electrical parts offered by Bel Power Solutions. These buttons cover Accessibility, Driving Aid, Passenger Convenience, Power Electronics, Safety, and Wayside. The user can click on each area for more detail, virtually traveling through or next to a 3D train to the appropriate location, and see each part offered by Bel Power Solutions.
Results
The result is an incredible interactive experience for the user that provides a unique walkthrough of all the parts, products, and services provided by Bel Rail Technology right at their fingertips on their website. I3D is privileged to offer a unique, exciting experience for Bel Power Solution’s employees and customers.
Bel Power Solutions now has an interactive website that allows its users to feel empowered. The user is in charge; they can search through the entire train platform to find the answer to their needs. It even provides additional information that the user may not have realized they were looking for because it presents in such an eye-catching way. An interactive website attracts more visitors and encourages more website engagement.
The application for a 3D interactive website has grown to broader use, spanning from employee usage to getting accustomed to rail technology features to in-person events. I3D is happy to report that Bel Power Solution’s website users have well received the interactive website. The interactive tool can interact with many people, especially in current times where communities have been stationary. Once more in-person events and demos are available for all, the future of travel will be on the move!
