Project B3 - Human Factors Models for Integrated Train Operation

Partners:
University of Sheffield
University of Nottingham

Researchers:
Sheffield - Prof. R. Hockey, R. Bye
Nottingham - T. Farrington-Darby, B. Norris, Prof. J. Wilson

Dates: 2003-2006

Background
The proposed work is for a 3-year study of integrated train operations, examining and producing models of: (a) the skills, knowledge and general expertise of key rail functions, (b) the management of information distributed between train drivers, signallers and controllers, and (c) the interaction of these operations with maintenance activities.  The originality of this approach lies in its identification of human factors as a system-based set of fundamental issues rather than treating it in a piecemeal fashion.  In particular we need develop effective, general understanding of the behaviour and performance of various rail functions and the key influences on these.  Understanding in rail human factors to date has largely been at the individual level (for example, studies of driver reaction times and problems of the driver sighting and reacting to signals, with consequences for SPADs); with a few notable exceptions, there has been little recognition of the distributed socio-technical networks that underpin rail operations and so little systematic analysis of these bahviours in relation to overall models of rail operation, or study of the relation between key functions such as driving and teh signalling/control.  Some current work funded by Network Rail begins to fill the gaps and we will build on and in turn inform from this work.  Ourside some studies of safety culture there has been almost no attention paid until recently to the understanding of human factor aspects of maintenance, or of the role of trackside workers as a part of the broader system that includes rail systems planners and controllers.

At a different level, there is a need to understand, in all jobs and at all levels, the adaptive nature of the human response to task demand.  Operational risks may be masked by additional mental effort, so that decrements from overloading, fatigue, and poor design are normally hidden, and only become manifest during emergencies or sudden surges of demand.  Research on human performance needs to measure not only the effectiveness of actions, but also their efficiency (the costs associated with maintaining performance standards - increased under sub-optimal working conditions or impaired operator state).  There is much to be gained from an integrated programme of laboratory, simulator and field research that focuses on problems at both the individual and team level.  Such a programme can deliver robust descriptions and models of behaviour of key personnel in relation to railways system goals and tasks.  The project will build upon current and recent work by Leeds and Nottingham in both rail and related research.

Aims:

• To carry out a programme of field, laboratory and simulator research that will provide a basis for a better understanding  of interactions between key functions (e.g. driver, signaller, controller, maintainer).
• To investigate and model fundamental human factors issues underlying the effective, reliable and safe use of knowledge and skill in rail operations, concentrating on identified key functions.
• To develop candidate model(s), of individual performance and of distributed and joint cognitive systems, that can be used to plan future design, implementation and operations in integrated train operations.

Project and progress:
This project is in its very early stages.  Some time has been spent establishing good relationships in the rail industry, and in building stakeholder representative support.  Train and signalling system simulators have been identified for their capabilities and availability for use on the project.  A number have been identified, and are being used in related work by the research team, that will feed into the RRUK work.  In addition, a train simulator has been obtained for the laboratory at Nottingham; much work has to be put into upgrading and improving it, but it will then be available for the fundamental research of both partners.

The research builds from the strengths of the two academic partners.  Leeds will work from theory driven by hypothesis about rail operator performance, and the influences on this such as fatigue and environmental conditions.  Through careful experimentation they will construct candidate models of train driving and signalling, which are then tested in simulator-based experiments. Nottingham will work from field study with observations and interviews with various groups of rail staff.  Models will be constructed from such careful qualitative enquiry and in order to represent the influence of organisational, situational and individual factors on behaviour, particularly looking at the role of experience and expertise.  Following some general studies of expertise for Network Rail, a variety of qualitative approaches have been used to establish the nature of competence, skilled work and expertise, amongst controllers.  In addition, work has begun to specify the functional model of rail maintenance in terms of major human factors components at a high level, and of actual work on the track during in possessions, at a more detailed level.

You can download the report sent to the Railway Safety and Standards Board on the progress of Project B3 up to September 2003 by clicking HERE