Problem

RATP Dev’s existing SCADA system for the Bibus Brest transport network was saturated with alarms. There were several types of users of the system, each with specific needs. The main profiles — operator and maintainer — required different views of the installation, especially for alarms. The system was not integrated with many external systems, forcing operators to use many software programs to operate and control installations. Additionally, the HMI client stations were complex to update, with a limited number of licenses.

These issues were compounded when RATP Dev had to extend the existing system to handle three times more data with the addition of a tram and a high-level service bus line.

The new lines had to be tested without disrupting existing operations. However, the existing system was in continuous operation, therefore Bouygues needed to conduct most of their testing using Ignition in parallel with the existing SCADA system, or by night after the lines closed.

The railway signaling control and management system had to be integrated into Ignition not only for real-time operations but also for replay studies based on historical data. Ignition needed to be able to support H264 and H265 video codec in full web format with very low latency. The HMI had to be configurable according to user requirements and validated installations available.

Solution

Bouygues developed a unique and open Ignition system with their framework SMP (Smart Multifaceted Platform) for the Perspective Module.

Leveraging feedback from dozens of Ignition projects in the transportation sector, Bouygues took advantage of Perspective’s modernized feature set to significantly improve the solution, which was initially created in 2019 using the Vision Module.

SMP is Bouygues’ Perspective-powered “A la carte” framework for quickly building a centralized technical management system following these steps:

• Select an OS: Windows, Linux, or MacOS
• Select an Ignition edition: Standard, Ignition Edge, or a combination
• Select an SMP edition: Standard, Edge, Mobile, or all
• Select an architecture: Single gateway, redundant gateway, backend/frontend gateway, or several sites gateways.
• Select a database: Postgres (single or cluster), MySQL (single or cluster), SQL Server
• Select a PLC/IP devices communication protocol: Ignition driver, Kepserver, BYes SNMP, or OPC UA
• Adjust UI settings
• Model in UDT and tag tree of equipment in Excel
• Due to Ignition’s inherent templatization, generating the core of an Ignition application comes with inherited standardized scripting libraries and ready-to-use views.
• Activate powerful features and custom Ignition modules: video player for H264/H265, replay, macro-command, scheduling system, public address system, and more.

Bouygues developed three main Ignition modules for this Perspective project:

• Full low-latency video player for Perspective
• SNMP Driver suitable for hundreds of devices
• Accurate replay for status changes and alarms for rail signaling

UI/UX: Bouygues developed an innovative alarm filtering system that displays and calculates summaries based on configurable alarm categories that displays according to user requirements during the application launch.

Architecture: The system’s redundant Gateway and another Gateway connect with GAN for video replay. The replay Gateway uses remote providers to browse data and recreate the structures for replay in a managed tag provider. Ignition’s historian (with mean time between sample) and alarms journal supplemented by snapshots replay the data exposed in the managed tag provider.

The Brest Tramway architecture is composed of:

• 2 redundant Ignition VM Windows 2022 servers with more than 60,000 tags
• 1 Ignition VM Windows 2022 server with more than 40,000 tags dedicated for replay system
• 3 VM Ubuntu Linux for PostgreSQL Database (3 nodes with replication manager repmgr)
• 5 Quad screen Ignition clients and 10 other Ignition clients
• 300+ CCTV video cameras
• 1 video wall composed of 12 50-inch screens with Ignition-controlled display configuration and camera assignments
• 12 Siemens PLCs for energy control
• 8 Siemens PLCs for signaling control
• 50 Siemens PLCs for stations
• 80 Networked switches
• 100 VoIP intercom
• 50 Audio amplifiers
• 50 Tickets machines

Ignition connects to more than 300 devices directly via several protocols: S7 Modbus TCP, OPCUA, SNMP, REST Webservices, ONVIF Soap Webservices, and many other subsystems that collect data (video management system, access control, building automation system, passenger information system and dynamic display control, etc.)

Result

Ignition was able to easily operate in parallel with the existing SCADA, allowing Bouygues to conduct tests, extend the solution, add communication interfaces with partner systems, and finally, replace the existing system.

Thanks to the dynamic configurability of the Perspective HMI, Bouygues was able to conduct alarm testing on the new line on the same Gateway without alarms disrupting operations.

The features available on the new Ignition SCADA system have allowed operators to stop using three additional software programs daily. Each user can now access H264/H265 video from over 300 cameras directly from Ignition Perspective without latency. Ignition is an unified system communicating in OPC UA, Modbus TCP, S7, SNMP, REST Webservices, ONVIF Soap Webservices to more than 300 devices and subsystems.

Following the successful implementation of the Avignon and Paris T9 tram systems using Ignition Vision, the Brest tram system marks the beginning of a new era, with the rollout of a fully web-based solution powered by Perspective with the Smart Multifaceted Platform. This is the first in the world of urban transit.

The Le Havre tram system is set to launch with delivery scheduled for 2027, with other cities to follow.

Project Team

Bouygues Energies & Service started using Ignition in 2012. The company won a 2017 Firebrand Award for its Ignition solutions and was also named a 2019 Discover Gallery Finalist. After completing numerous projects in the fields of urban and road infrastructure it became Premier integrator in 2025.

Lionel Mazeyrat (Ignition Gold Certified) has 18 years of experience in urban & road transport solutions and 10 years of experience in industries (pharmaceutical, food, water/wastewater). In 2012, he initiated the adoption of Ignition at Bouygues Energies & Services. Lionel is a very active member of the forum and has extensive experience with Ignition SDK. He leads the development of the Smart Multifaceted Platform and its suitability for BREST project.

Tran-Phuc-Hai Truong (Ignition Gold Certified) is a SCADA Engineer who joined Bouygues Energies & Services in 2021. Hai focused on the migration of Line A and Line C from the legacy SCADA system to Ignition and developed the web service interfaces with external subsystems. He worked on video wall integration, including automated alarm-to-camera routing and direct control of the Videowall and Milestone Smart Wall through their REST APIs.

Philippine Durand (Ignition Core Certified) is a SCADA Engineer that joined Bouygues Energies & Services in 2024. Philippine focused on Line B et Line D integration, as well as the railway signaling control replay functionality. She trained operators and maintainers in the use of this new SCADA system.”

Bouygues Energies & Services:

• Lionel Mazeyrat

• Tran-Phuc-Hai Truong

• Philippine Durand

• Pascal Couturier

• Frederic Frattini

Axone IO:

• Gilles Nguyen

• Luc Spannagel

Project Scope

• Start Date: 03/2024

• Deploy Date: 02/2026

• Tags: 100,000

• Screens: 205

• Clients: 15

• Alarms: 20,000 with diagnostics events

• Devices: 300 Modbus TCP, S7, SNMP, OPC UA, REST Webservices

• Architecture: Redundant Gateway & Standard Gateway

• Databases: 3 Nodes PostgreSQL DB with repmgr

• Historical data logged: 60,000 tags

• Number of people on team: 7