bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ergonomic risk assessment of sea fishermen part V: muscle fatigue in Sardinian pot fishing
Authors: Silvetti Alessio , Draicchio Francesco , Papale Adriano , Chini Giorgia , Ranavolo Alberto , Varrecchia Tiwana , Munafò Elio
Published: June 2024

We spent two full days aboard a ship to study muscle fatigue in Sardinian lobster fishermen. We investigated three tasks: 1) to drive the wheel, 2) to drop the pots, and 3) to sail the pots. For each task, we performed several surface electromyography (sEMG) acquisitions. After a 45 – 500 Hz band filter processing, we analyzed the signals at the beginning and at the end of the task. We recorded sEMG signals from the most involved muscles for each activity according to crew information. We analyzed the Median Power Frequency (MPF) values. Literature strictly correlated an 8% MPF reduction with muscle fatigue. In the first task, MPF of Right Deltoideus Lateralis after one hour of working time decreased from 79.7Hz to 73Hz. In the second task, there was a reduction of MPF after two hours of activity in three muscles. MPF of Left Deltoideus Anterior decreased from 66.7Hz to 59Hz, MPF of Left Deltoideus Anterior from 71.4Hz to 49.8Hz, and MPF of Left Trapezius Superior from 63.8Hz to 44.8Hz. Finally, in the third task, after three hours, we observed an MPF reduction in Right Deltoideus Lateralis (78.9Hz to 60.5Hz) and Right Trapezius Superior (from 56.2Hz to 38.9). Our results showed that in all the tasks, muscle fatigue occurs after less than half a working day. Muscle fatigue leads to an increased risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders in lobster fishermen.
Subjective feelings of physical and psychological workload among nurses in Poland – case study
Authors: Młynarczyk Magdalena , Orysiak Joanna , Warszewska-Makuch Magdalena
Published: June 2024

The aim of this research was to present workload of nurses in Poland.Anonymous survey research was conducted among 43 Polish nurses over 2 summer months (in 2023). To check the physical load in the subjective assessment of nurses, questions were asked regarding: thermal comfort and the severity of work performed (separated by the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and currently).The psychological workload of nurses was examined using selected questions from the third version of the COPSOQ, taking into account psychosocial working conditions. The examined factors included: demands at work, work organization and job content, interpersonal relations and leadership and work-life conflict. The research received approval from the Research Ethics Committee KEBN-23-82-MM.The results showed that currently 40% of respondents do not feel thermal comfort when working in standard clothing. In the case of using barrier clothing (e.g. against infectious agents), 53% of respondents currently work outside their comfort zones (compared to 100% during the COVID-19 pandemic).In terms of the severity of the work performed, 56% of respondents considered their work as hard and very hard, 37% as moderate and 7% defined it as light and very light. Therefore, 60% of respondents admitted that they often or very often feel physical strain due to their work, while 35% admitted that they sometimes feel such strain.All the results, regarding the physical and psychological load, presented the current workload situation of nurses in Poland (as the examined sample). The results obtained will allow us to direct the necessary changes in the work of nurses.This paper was created (and published) on the basis of results of a research task carried out within the scope of the 6th stage of the National Programme “Governmental Programme for Improvement of Safety and Working Conditions” funded by the resources of the National Centre for Research and Development. Task no. III.PN.08 entitled “Working time in personal protective equipment (PPE) in relation to the risk of infectious agents and the heat load on the body”. The Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute is the Programme’s main co-ordinator.
The Impact of Delayed Communication on NASA’s Human-Systems Operations: Preliminary Results of a Systematic Review
Authors: Parisi Megan , Mctigue Kaitlin , Wu Shu-Chieh , Karasinski John , Panontin Tina , Landon Lauren , Vera Alonso
Published: June 2024

Throughout the history of human spaceflight, NASA has relied on a team of ground-based experts on Earth to manage its missions, vehicles, and crews to ensure crew safety and mission success. However, as missions progress beyond low-Earth orbit (LEO), this paradigm of dependence on ground must evolve. Beyond LEO, in missions to the moon and Mars, crews will confront new challenges: limited evacuation options, reduced resupply capabilities, and significant communication delays that impede real-time support from experts on the ground. This reduction in ground support amplifies the likelihood that crews will be unable to adequately respond to unanticipated, safety-critical events. Understanding the scope of these risks and identifying effective countermeasures hinges on understanding the impact of communication delays on complex operations, especially in urgent, unforeseen events. Real-time communication currently provides the crew with continuous access to a large, extensively resourced ground team skilled in anomaly resolution. However, as communication delays grow, the need to transfer some responsibilities from ground experts to onboard crew becomes evident. NASA has been exploring this shift in operational responsibilities and its effectiveness in managing complex operations for decades. Nevertheless, a comprehensive understanding of the specific challenges posed by communication delays and the necessary countermeasures to mitigate them remains a gap. In this paper, we present an update on our systematic review of the literature on communication delays, the first in-depth review since 2013 (Rader et al.). We introduce a coding taxonomy to capture key constructs from papers of interest and discuss preliminary findings. These preliminary results suggest two significant research gaps: limited studies have been conducted 1) with lunar-like latencies and 2) on problem-solving strategies for the maximum latencies expected in Mars missions. We outline plans and propose recommendations to address these gaps through ongoing and future research.
Non-right-handedness as a contributor to incidents/accidents reported within the Aviation Safety Reporting System
Authors: Propper Ruth , Jordan Hinson R , Kinsella Amelia
Published: June 2024

Individual differences in hand use preference are associated with individual differences in cognition, emotion, and behavior. Additional work suggests that non-right-handers (NRH) are more accident prone generally, more likely to suffer from a physical accident resulting in head or severe injury, are involved in more car accidents, and die earlier than righthanders (RH). It is unclear what causal factors result in these accident-related differences between handedness groups, but likely there is an interplay between both cognition and environment. Additionally, the ‘right-hand world hypothesis’ suggests that the environment is constructed in a manner that is implicitly biased toward right-handers, resulting in physical constraints on NRH performance. Given these differences between RH and NRH, the current work sought to determine if NRH was associated with incidents in air transportation as reported via the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS), a public database consisting of voluntary safety reports about aviation safety events. Out of 225,897 reports from January 1988 to September 2023, two reports referred to left-handedness as being detrimental to performance as a result of the configuration of the environment. Broadly, results suggest limited impacts of NRH on ASRS reported incidents, though study limitations may result in underestimation of NRH-incident relationships.
Evaluation of different HMIs to improve operator hazard perception and user experience in teleoperation of automated shuttles
Authors: Priya Srinivasan Shanmuga , Tribulowski Paul , Lindner Alisa
Published: June 2024

Autonomous vehicle technologies are rapidly evolving. In challenging situations that exceed the vehicle's autonomous capabilities, the teleoperation of vehicles enables human operators to remotely control and maneuver a vehicle. Operating remotely is not a trivial task, especially due to the lack of feedback caused by physical decoupling from the vehicle, the reduced quality of information of the vehicle environment, and the latency caused by the data transfer. We aim to explore if a human operator can be supported in performing the task by enhancing visual cues, acting as a proactive alert system using Augmented Reality (AR) overlays. We studied three types of hazards (behavioural precursor, environmental precursor, and sudden hazard appearance) and three Human-Machine-Interfaces (no support, bounding boxes, and bounding boxes with warning sign) in 3x3 within-subjects design. We analysed the perceived criticality of the hazard, and perceived difficulty when performing the task. The study was conducted with N = 37 participants using 15 short, real-world videos. Perceived criticality ratings did not significantly differ between various HMI concepts (p = .610). However, there was a significant difference in the evaluation of perceived difficulty between no support and bounding box (p = .001) and no support and bounding box with warning (p = .001). Participants perceived the scenario as easier when displaying bounding boxes for hazards with sudden appearances (p = .004) and behavioural predictions (p = .021), and the inclusion of warning signs for sudden hazards (p = .002) further decreased the difficulty. These results can be incorporated to refine the HMI design of teleoperation cockpits and to facilitate safety and operator experience in teleoperation. Future research should investigate if the timing or data representation has effect on the operator experience and performance.
Slideo: Bicycle-to-Vehicle Communication to Intuitively Share Intention to Turn with Automated Vehicles
Authors: Verstegen Jochem , Bazilinskyy Pavlo
Published: June 2024

In urban environments, cycling is an important method of transportation due to being sustainable, healthy and less space-intensive than motorised traffic. Most literature on interactions between automated vehicles (AVs) and vulnerable road users (VRUs) focuses on external Human-Machine Interfaces positioned on AVs and telling VRUs what to do. Such an interface requires cyclists to actively look for and interpret the information and can reduce their ability to make their own decisions. We designed a physical bicycle-to-vehicle (B2V) interaction that allows cyclists to share the intention to turn with AVs through vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication. We explored four concepts of interaction with hands, feet, hips, and knees. The final concept uses haptic feedback in each handle. The test with nine participants explored the clarity of the feedback and compared two variations: (1) providing feedback in the beginning, during and at the end and (2) giving feedback only at the beginning and end. Results indicate that the general meaning of both variants is clear and that the preferred variation of feedback is up to personal preference. We suggest that B2V interactions should be possible to personalise.
Phantom braking in automated vehicles: A theoretical outline and cycling simulator demonstration
Authors: Hegna Berge Siri , de Winter Joost , Feng Yan , Hagenzieker Marjan
Published: June 2024

The emerging use of automated driving systems introduces novel situations that may affect the safety of vulnerable road users such as cyclists. In this paper, we explain and conceptualise the phenomenon of phantom braking – sudden and unexpected deceleration – in automated vehicles. We apply signal detection theory to interpret phantom braking as a by-product of automated decision-making, with the vehicle favouring the avoidance of accidents at the cost of potentially causing rear-end accidents. To illustrate phantom braking and its effects on cyclists, we used a newly developed cycling simulator. An exploratory measurement conducted with a single cyclist participant revealed a possible complacency effect of the cyclist, with the cyclist’s decision-making mirroring the automated vehicle’s decision-making. The findings provide a testament to using cycling simulators for further exploration of the effects of phantom braking on cyclists.
Feeling comfortable? Exploring the relation between personality, competence, and range interaction in electric vehicles
Authors: Gödker Markus , Moll Vivien , Franke Thomas
Published: June 2024

As electric vehicles (EVs) become increasingly prevalent, understanding drivers' interactions with range and their charging behavior is crucial for supporting optimal system design and adoption. The present study investigates the link of technology-related driver characteristics, such as affinity for technology interaction (ATI), to range interaction and charging behavior and explores how driving experience with EVs impacts drivers’ comfortable range. Two online surveys (NS1 = 205, NS2 = 57) were conducted, focusing on range interaction and charging behavior. Results revealed that drivers with higher ATI tend to have higher comfortable range values, and this relationship is mediated by subjective range competence (SRC). Additionally, drivers who base their charging decisions on their preferred charge level are likely to have already experienced lower displayed remaining range values, suggesting potentially more efficient battery utilization. These findings suggest the importance of considering personality variables and charging behavior patterns in promoting efficient EV usage. Moreover, we found that most drivers in our sample mainly charge at home, and there is still a large proportion of drivers who do little to no public charging. Strategies focusing on enhancing drivers' SRC and addressing individual differences, particularly in technology-related variables, could help to better cope with situations involving range stress and bridge the gap between technical and comfortable range.
Clustering Analysis of Research Direction for Intelligent Cockpit Ergonomics based on Knowledge Mapping
Authors: Yuan Quan , Li Qingkun , Li Jun , Zhu Jiangqi
Published: June 2024

Intelligent cabins have become a hot topic in the development of automated vehicles, with a focus on multimodal human-computer interaction. Using knowledge mapping, this paper investigates international literature regarding intelligent cockpits (IC) over the past 22 years. The research characteristics are analyzed through cluster analysis, based on which the future development directions are provided. Since 2019, there has been a significant increase in global publication volume. Researchers have extensively researched new functions and technologies such as gesture interaction, virtual environment, human-machine interface, external human machine interface, and human-machine interaction, with some technologies already being applied in practice. The extension of intelligent cockpit-related concepts has further developed technologies such as electronic skin, health detection, speech emotion recognition, and electromyography control. In the future, nanomaterials with excellent properties will be further integrated and applied in intelligent cabins to adapt to their highly integrated functional module group. Fields such as biology, mathematics and systems science, ophthalmology and neuroscience, physics, and chemistry are involved in the development of IC. The main development features of IC are multimodal interaction, virtual-real combined display, virtual agents, and emotional interaction. Overall, the safety, comfort, and convenience of passengers have always been the prime goals of the research on IC.
Driving with anxiety/fear/apprehension: understanding the cognitive and emotional experience of drivers to design assistance systems
Authors: Breard Hugo , Cahour Béatrice , Burkhardt Jean-marie , Koustanai Arnaud
Published: June 2024

More than half of all drivers experience at least “occasionally” uncomfortable driving situations where emotions such as Anxiety/Fear/Apprehension (AFA) occur (52.2%), and even 17% of people declare being particularly hampered, or even handicapped in their daily lives, by their fear of driving. With Renault Group, an ergonomic approach has been implemented with the aim of designing driving assistance systems to improve the comfort and safety for this type of drivers. We report on the results of two successive studies carried out as the first steps of this project, to (study 1) identify the anxiety-provoking situations and the profile of people who are subject to this type of feelings, and (study 2) to obtain an in-depth understanding of the history and lived experience of these drivers in problematic situations. Study 1’s results show that women experience higher levels of AFA than men in all tested driving situations and particularly on winding roads, when driving unfamiliar vehicles or when driving at night. Young drivers (aged 18-35) report AFA more frequently than older drivers. However, situations involving specifically vision-related issues are perceived as more anxiety-provoking by those aged 66 and over, as well as driving with an agitated or talkative passenger. Explanatory hypotheses, both cultural and cognitive, are proposed for these different results. Study 2 aims to deepen the previous results through a qualitative approach. 26 anxious drivers (2/3 women) aged 22 to 75 were interviewed individually (1) about their driving history and (2) the driving situations they were most apprehensive about. Then, they were asked (3) to describe in detail one anxiety-provoking driving situation, using the Explicitation Interview method, to question the dynamics of the cognitive activities, actions, thoughts, perceptions, and emotions at that moment, (4) to elicit the coping strategies they might use to manage anxiety-provoking situations, and (5) to imagine potential assistance systems. The results highlight that lack of confidence, low driving frequency, having an accident, having stressful supervisors while you’re learning to drive, can lead to AFA. Women and young people mentioned more coping strategies than the others. Moreover, men feeling AFA while driving described their emotions and difficulties less directly than women. The fact that men are clearly less concerned by AFA while driving remains an issue to be investigated.
Digital gamification as action to reduce road accidents: the videogame SLEEP-RO@D
Authors: Pietrafesa Emma , Garbarino Sergio , Russo Simone , Vasselli Donatella , Polimeni Antonella , Martini Agnese
Published: June 2024

Global, European, and national data show that road accidents (RA) are an increasingly important cause of injuries, disability and deaths. Our workday is significantly impacted by the road: in Europe up to 40% of road deaths are work-related. The causes of road injuries work-related and traffic accidents are the same and the excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), usually caused by insufficient and inadequate sleep quality and/or quantity, is considered an important factor of RA. Digital serious game, with an explicit and defined educational purpose, are emerging as new tools to promote psychological growth, well-being, and training. The aim of this study is to illustrate the development of a videogame on the knowledge, promotion, and education about sleep hygiene (SH) and RA, its perception and impact on occupational safety and health (OSH). Starting from a literature analysis on scientific articles about “sleep, health, and driving” topics (databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus), the SLEEP-RO@D game dynamic combined the literature results with the main RA causes to create an educational-participatory intervention as innovative tool for changing bad sleep hygiene behaviours and habits. At the end of the game cycle the player receives feedback and suggestions for enhancing sleep quality and general well-being, reducing the risk of RA increasing awareness, and promoting a good sleep hygiene in workplaces too. The videogame was tested on a convenience sample of 154 subjects (44.4% women, 55.6% men) with the average age of 33.6 years. The 63.0% of the participants report being unfamiliar with serious games and the 87% claim to have a very good and pleasurable user experience. Gamification can be a methodology directly aimed at increasing involvement, creating a perfect balance between learning and entertainment, where educational elements integrated into the gameplay, could be subconsciously acquired by the players.
An assessment of two pedestrian safety inventories
Authors: Craig Curtis , Mabry Marshall , Drahos Bradley , Kessler William , Lenz Thomas , Olander Kara , Morris Nichole
Published: June 2024

Pedestrian safety inventories for auditing roadway features and infrastructure are a promising way to rapidly assess pedestrian injury likelihood in a city location, particularly when the auditor can score the location remotely via tools such as Google Street View (GSV). This study provided a preliminary assessment of whether two remote assessment inventories were as reliable as in-person auditing, and whether the two tools were associated with pedestrian safety measures. The researchers repeatedly performed crossings at six locations to collect safety outcome data. For the safety inventories, one team of coders scored the locations in-person, and a separate team of coders scored the locations in GSV. Analyses indicated generally good agreement between the in-person and GSV scores, and a significant relationship between the inventory scores and driver yielding/stopping rate to the crossing pedestrians. The two inventories were predictive for different reasons, and future research will further assess and refine them.
User Requirement Analysis for Voice and Gesture Interactions with Delivery Robots: An Interview Study
Authors: Lotz Vivian , Schomakers Eva-maria , Ziefle Martina
Published: June 2024

Urban mobility is rapidly changing. While increasing delivery volumes, traffic congestion, and a demand to reduce mobility-induced emissions challenge inner-city logistics, emerging technologies such as automated delivery robots might offer relief. Here, various interaction concepts are conceivable to ensure safe navigation and smooth communication with them.This study qualitatively examines user requirements and prevailing user perceptions of two communication modalities (voice interface and gesture interface) for interacting with delivery robots.We conducted 24 scenario-based interviews. Each interview included a part in which participants actively tried voice or gesture commands for operating the delivery robots. The practice part was intended to ensure that all participants get as realistic a sense as possible of how interactions might feel so that the discussion of requirements was not purely based on potentially flawed imaginations. Results were analyzed using qualitative content analysis and revealed universal barriers (e.g., ambiguousness of inputs) and differences regarding the two modes (e.g., privacy concerns).
Hybrid intelligent logistics system for a recycling center
Authors: Sihvonen Markus
Published: June 2024

A realization of intelligent logistic system for a recycling center requires utilization of very latest information and communication technologies. Therefore, versatile technology framework and adapting data-driven solutions to optimize collection, transportation, and processing of recyclable materials is needed. The key components in building the technology framework for enabling intelligent, intelligent logistic recycling service are robust communication platform, reliable vehicle and asset tracking system and AI (Artificial Intelligent) enabled data analysis and management platform. The communication platform facilitates collaboration between stakeholders including recycling company, transportation company, waste management company and local government. Its purpose is to improve information flow and coordination between stakeholders. The vehicle and asset tracking system provides means to monitor and manage various assets and fleet of vehicles operating in the recycling area, which can be fully autonomous or driven by professional drivers. The data provided by the vehicle and asset tracking system must be acquired, analyzed and used for decision making efficiently in real time. The data analysis and management platform store all the data needed for operating intelligent logistic service of a recycling center. It utilizes existing IoT (Internet of Things) technologies and the communication platform. AI solutions are used for analyzing the collected data for further use to provide services for the users of the system. The research question is to how to design Hybrid Intelligent (HI) logistic system for recycling center in MORE industrial park that enables 24/7 autonomous recycling service for companies? The recycling center’s autonomous service is aimed for companies that have need to store larger quantities of various materials for recycling and further use in future. The key requirements from a client’s point of view are 24/7 access to recycling area, safe and secure material storage facility and efficient operations in recycling area. Safety, security and reliability of services in recycling center are particularly important when the center’s operating personnel are not present and available. This is also primary concern for the recycling center operator. The asset and vehicle tracking system must monitor and manage all vehicles in the recycling area regardless who is driving it, human or AI. Therefore, the system must consider human input and learn to manage autonomous traffic to provide support for human activities in the recycling area. The paper proposes a design solution for a smart autonomous recycling service that utilize HI logistic system.
Automation in Railway: How tasks and roles of operational staff change
Authors: Naumann Anja , Thomas-friedrich Birte
Published: June 2024

Tasks of railway operational staff are changing with increasing digitalization and automation of the railway system. Even lower grades of automation like Grade of Automation 2 (GoA2) result in a decrease of active tasks and the operators having to predominantly monitor the technical systems. Effects of the introduction of higher Grades of Automation like GoA3 and 4 on tasks and roles of operational staff are currently examined in our research. In both GoA3 and 4, the train drives automatically and there are no train drivers in the cabin anymore. Instead, the new role of remote train operators is introduced. Remote train operators can drive the train remotely in case of disruption, for example from a control room. In GoA4, there is no operational staff on board, while in GoA3, a train attendant is still on board and can support in case of disruption. An interaction between staff on the train and remote train operators could also be possible.In the present paper, we will introduce different research projects at the Institute of Transportation Systems of the German Aerospace Center (DLR). These projects deal with research questions like: Which tasks of railway operational staff can be automated and which remain with the human? What could be a task distribution between automation and human that optimally utilizes the strengths of both? Who is going to carry out the remaining human tasks? Which new roles for operational staff could emerge from this task distribution? How could workflows within these new roles look like? What interaction and communication processes are necessary for a smooth operational procedure of automated railway? Current results will be presented.
The vehicle as an immersive device to enhance the mental health to a peak state
Authors: Braun Franziska , Stegmüller Sebastian , Agola David , Hamel Carolin , Gerlach Paul , Edel Fabian
Published: June 2024

As a result of technological progress, environmental aspects and social change, the automotive industry is undergoing a radical transformation. The focus is no longer on the product "vehicle" but much more on the mobility service itself and the users individual experience and well-being during travel time. In that field of innovation, the study deals with a explorative investigation of using the travel time for a improvement of the mental health of the passenger. The vision is to integrate breathwork relaxation in combination with a human centric lighting scenario as an immersive service within luxury ride-hailing vehicles to enhance the mental health during automated rides and utilizing the time spent in cars for personal pleasure. To enable a user-centered and experimental approach, a test vehicle from the non-profit company bq.Labs was equipped with the bq breath work app and a spezialized LED-based lighting screen that was developed by Fraunhofer. The effects were tested on randomly selected and voluntary users in a guerrilla testing at three different locations in San Diego. The tests explored user acceptance of the innovative technologies by combining surveys, vital data collection, qualitative interviews and observations. Initial data analysis provides insights into the feasibility and potential effects on well-being and user perception. The study illustrates those innovations in the field of mobility, involve systemic dependencies and considerations beyond technology, encompassing social and psychological dimensions. It underscores that successful innovations require a holistic, user-centered approach that considers technological, social, and psychological dimensions. The findings lay the groundwork for future research and development of innovation strategies in the evolving field of mobility and personalized strength.
Multi-modal data analysis for enhanced nautical skill development
Authors: Xue Hui , Kim Tae-eun
Published: June 2024

This paper explores the innovative application of multi-modal data analysis for nautical skill development process. By examining the potential of integrating diverse data sources e.g., ship motion, visual, auditory and sensor data, the possibility of obtaining performance insights could be enhanced, and the decision-making processes in complex navigational environments can be made more transparent. The findings from this systematic literature review revealed a significant gap in the current body of knowledge concerning the analysis of multi-modal data in maritime domain. Through a case study on a sailing route involving navigation under a bridge and interactions with two other vessels, we evaluated the potential of a multi-modal data analysis approach to enhance future nautical training. This work aims to catalyse system development and prompt future research endeavours that align with the intersection of multi-modal data analysis and nautical skill advancement.
Matter by Design. How can circular economy play a role in building green efficient and sustainable through innovative use of Mediterranean materials.
Authors: Cardoso Ana , Salomé Raquel
Published: June 2024

The shift towards a circular economy, moving away from the traditional linear "take, make, dispose" model, has gained momentum due to its potential for fostering green, efficient, and sustainable practices. Particularly in the Mediterranean region, characterized by its rich history, diverse ecosystems, and unique resources, there is a promising opportunity to implement these principles in construction and design methods.The Mediterranean abounds in resources from cork to ceramics, offering a diverse set of raw materials that can be sustainably harnessed. The challenge is to reimagine how these materials are sourced, processed, utilized, and eventually repurposed or recycled. Leveraging technology innovation, a product of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, may revitalize these traditional Mediterranean materials.One significant aspect of building a circular economy in the Mediterranean is the integration of traditional craftsmanship and techniques. Local artisans, who have been working with materials like cork and clay for generations, can blend these time-honoured methods with modern technology to create innovative products.This paper describes a project aimed at activating collective memory and cultural identity as a reference for design activity, fostering critical thinking to drive urban communities towards including Mediterranean materials in green building development. The project involves the conception and development of a modular-based product that incorporates both active and passive solar functions with aesthetic characteristics. The goal was to create a solar experimental product for cladding building surfaces (vertical and non-vertical façades), combining parts with passive solar characteristics—including solar protection elements, solar thermal energy storage, ventilated walls, and Trombe wall effects—with active solar parts such as solar thermal collectors and photovoltaic systems.The modular-based solar cladding product successfully improved energy efficiency and contributed to reducing the building's overall energy consumption. The incorporation of locally-sourced Mediterranean materials, such as cork, not only enhanced the sustainability of the product but also promoted the use of indigenous resources.In conclusion, the circular economy, when applied in conjunction with the innovative use of Mediterranean materials, can lead to a greener, more efficient, and sustainable future. By valuing and reimagining traditional craftsmanship, harnessing the potential of diverse resources, and embracing cutting-edge recycling technologies, the Mediterranean region can become a showcase for circular economy success, demonstrating how environmental stewardship and economic prosperity can go hand in hand.
Is there a future for Safety Management Systems?
Authors: Accou Bart , Carpinelli Fabrizio
Published: June 2024

The concept of Safety Management Systems (SMS) to control the risks of operational activities has already been introduced in high-risk industries some decades ago. Nevertheless, this SMS is often criticized as burdensome and complex. The introduction of the legal obligation to develop a SMS may also have introduced a misunderstanding in terms of how to do it. Through its requirement to formalise all main activities, the SMS is perceived as bureaucratic and as a vehicle for pure compliance, often detached from an organisation’s core and operational activities, and it is questioned whether it can deliver the safe performance that was hoped for.Moreover, the complexity of the socio-technical system in most of the high-risk industries has increased significantly in recent decades and continues to do so, making the overall performance of the system less predictable and less transparent for the human operator. In addition, because of climate change and other global challenges, surprises of different kinds have become part of our expectations, which requires from safety-critical systems that they be able to adapt to an uncertain and potentially fast changing environment. All of this has led to questioning the traditional way of managing safety and to alternatives being sought, resulting in a multitude of often conflicting opinions and models. The idea, however, that the performance of a (socio-technical) system should be approached in its entirety, seems to be endorsed by a large part of the safety management community. This requires acknowledging (human) variability as well as considering the complex and emergent phenomena that result from system interactions, to complement more traditional safety approaches. Against this background of very distinct and possibly contradicting approaches that have dominated the discussions on safety management over the last decades, and with SMS as a clear artifact of a more traditional approach, the relevance of SMS as a viable concept can be questioned as well as whether more traditional and newer approaches can ever be reconciled or coexist in harmony. To answer the existential question whether the concept of SMS can effectively contribute to the new perspective(s) on safety management, and with the aim of understanding better how to build resilience and adaptability into the railway system, this paper builds on the logic of the Extended Safety Fractal (Accou and Reniers, 2020) to re-think the traditional building blocks of an SMS from the perspective of controlling (human) performance variability. This requires that influences on/from human and organisational factors are explicitly identified as elements of the safety strategy to follow. Furthermore, this will require from organisations and its leaders as well as regulators to develop the capability to perceive, understand and pro-actively manage the tensions between (changing) demands for stability and flexibility, for which solutions should then be consequently implemented through both formal and informal cultural enablers.
The integration of human factors into a shipping company's Safety Management System (SMS) in the context of safety culture evolution.
Authors: Lykos Georgios , Ventikos Nikolaos , Michelis Alexandros , Koimtzoglou Alexandros
Published: June 2024

Today any discussion on a shipping company's Safety Management System (SMS) typically involves legal compliance, promoting safety and its connection to the safety culture. Adhering to the International Safety Management (ISM) Code enhances safety culture. Despite functional SMS, human factors is the weak point that heavily influence safety. This paper explores integrating human factors into SMS effectively, transitioning from reactive framework solely focusing on failures and human errors (SAFETY-I) to a proactive one that manages system performance (SAFETY-II). It suggests proactive techniques, including incorporating Non-Technical Skills (NTS) in all shipboard activities, to prevent incidents. Safety initiatives like Behavioral-Based Safety (BBS) and Competency Based Assessments are discussed, aligning with industry guidelines from influencers like ICS and OCIMF. The aim is to evolve a shipping company's safety culture from reactive to proactive and resilient. The paper highlights the integration of human factors into shipping companies' SMS for advancing safety culture. Transitioning from reactive to proactive safety approaches requires addressing human performance over human error. Incorporating human factors into training ensures crew possess necessary skills, fostering competence and confidence. Effective communication strategies considering human factors reduce misunderstandings and errors. Encouraging open communication and reporting enhances overall safety. Managing workload and stress prevents crew from exceeding limits, reducing fatigue and stress-related risks. Recognizing human limitations and biases improves decision-making processes, leading to better safety outcomes. Employing human-centred design in equipment, procedures, and organizational structures fosters a resilient and safety-conscious maritime industry.
Human Factors and Ergonomics in Patient Safety Within the Framework of Environmental, Social and Governance
Authors: Veilande Olga , Kalkis Henrijs , Roja Zenija
Published: June 2024

The healthcare system is one of the keys to sustainable development and has historically embraced the social pillar of environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts, caring for patients and medical employees. Since the human factor and ergonomics (HFE) is part of the social efforts, integration of the HFE into the process and quality management system might create a new discourse also for management of patient safety system. Hence the integration of HFE in patient safety with the ESG framework is a current and evolving field of study. Aim of the research is to investigate scientific literature on the field of HFE in Patient Safety and ESG framework in order to develop systematic literature review on how to develop sustainable patient safety with HFE integration with ESG framework. Systematic literature review was performed during the study, using monographic and PRISMA method guidelines. Research results show that sustainable development is one of the key issues in the healthcare industry. Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) scientific researches in patient safety have addressed various contemporary factors, including technology use, human errors and its role in patient safety, work efficiency and work abilities in patient safety a.o. Integrating HFE in patient safety with the ESG framework can lead to a holistic approach towards improving patient safety and healthcare outcomes and most importantly – provide sustainable patient safety. This integration can help healthcare organizations manage risks and opportunities related to environmental, social, and governance criteria, hence improving the overall wellbeing of patients and at the same time also for healthcare workers.
Trusting AI: Factors Influencing Willingness of Accountability for AI-Generated Content in the Workplace
Authors: Aumüller Ulrike , Meyer Eike
Published: June 2024

In the rapidly evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and business ethics, a critical area of focus has emerged: the willingness of leadership to assume responsibility for AI-generated content in decision-making processes. While the current public discourse predominantly addresses AI’s impact on customer service, potential biases, and job displacement, etc., a less explored yet significant aspect is how AI reshapes tasks and roles within organizations, particularly in decision-making.AI’s capability to analyse vast data sets expeditiously supports both operational and strategic decisions across various sectors. However, this support comes with ambivalent outcomes, ranging from enhanced efficiency to risk of taking decisions with negative business impact based on AI outputs with hidden biases. Such ambiguity can undermine trust in AI, especially when the rationale behind AI-generated recommendations is opaque.The central question of this paper will be the extent to which leaders are prepared to be accountable for decisions made based on AI insights. This includes scenarios where leaders themselves make AI-driven decisions, as well as situations where they are responsible for overseeing and endorsing decisions made by their team members based on artificial intelligence.In understanding the adoption of AI in decision-making, key factors influencing trust and usage of algorithms emerge. Research suggests, for example, that trust extends beyond algorithm accuracy, significantly influenced by social validation such as prior adoption by others, which can reduce cognitive load and improve engagement. Furthermore, cultural and age differences may play a crucial role. Additionally, an expectation of near-perfection performance from automated systems might lead to scepticism, especially when an algorithm falters, impacting ongoing trust and usage. These elements and many more might be vital in evaluating the readiness to assume responsibility for AI-generated decisions in the workplace.This paper aims to identify and categorize those criteria that have a central effect on the willingness to assume responsibility for AI facilitated decisions and AI generated content in companies. Those categories may later serve as a framework to be considered by management when adopting a strategy concerning their policies for AI based decision-making processes.
Participatory Approaches to Design Work in the Context of Digital Transformation: An Analysis of the Needs of Employees in Public Administrations
Authors: Maibaum Miriam , Weber Marc-André , Stowasser Sascha
Published: June 2024

Digital transformation is significantly changing work, especially in the public sector. It's increasingly important for employees to be actively involved in designing work processes and making decisions about new or changing ICT. This article focuses on comprehensive analysis of participatory approaches in work design in public administration at local and state level in Germany. It examines the extent to which public administration employees at local and state level are involved in the design and decision-making processes pertaining to ICT implementation in their work area. Additionally, the article underscores the role of employee participation in mitigating the stress associated with workplace technology. The methodological basis of the article is an online survey conducted in 2023 among employees of public administration at local and state level.
The General Automation Level Allocation (GALA) Framework, or: Why Do We Need Another Level of Automation Framework?
Authors: Ruscio Daniele , Metge Adrien , Schopp Marvin , Dreyer Daniel , Petermeier Benedikt
Published: June 2024

In the realm of sociotechnical systems, Level of Automation (LoA) frameworks are commonly used to determine adequate types of automation support for tasks in which human operators are involved. This paper introduces the General Automation Level Allocation (GALA) framework in response to recognized limitations in existing LoA frameworks. While these frameworks have contributed significantly to the formalization of human-automation interaction for the systems they were designed for, they often struggle when dealing with new sociotechnical systems. Some of the main limitations recognized for existing LoA frameworks include: (1) Lack of versatility in terms of missing levels for some “automated functions”, since they are designed with specific systems in mind; (2) Limited precision in the definition of the categories for assigning LoA to specific functions and complex technologies; (3) Limited support in the identification of outcomes of human-automation Interaction at different LoA (e.g. in terms of emerging behaviors or in terms of safety-related implications); (4) Limitations regarding characterization human cognitive processing in off-nominal or complex conditions; (5) Not fully addressing the dynamic allocation of tasks and responsibilities based on changing conditions and real-time priorities. Because of these limitations, some researchers are not satisfied with existing LoA taxonomies and believe that there is even no need to think deeper about LoA taxonomies as basis for or input to design of complex sociotechnical systems.To address the stated issues, GALA offers a two-dimensional approach aiming at being compatible with other previous LoA frameworks and applicable to the design of future systems. It is designed to analyze and classify the appropriate levels of automation for different information processing stages (e.g. information acquisition, information analysis, decision making, action implementation) involved in a task based upon the results of a hierarchical task analysis. GALA is compatible to established state-of-the art methods (Parasuraman, Sheridan & Wickens, 2000; Save, Feuerberg & Avia, 2012; Kaber, 2018) applied to study specific aspects of human-system collaboration in more depth, such as the coactive design method (Johnson et al., 2014). Finally, plans for GALA validation will be presented aiming to ensure that it provides sufficient applicability to various sociotechnical systems of diverse domains, each with its unique requirements and challenges. Further, an outlook on an alternative more compact version of the framework is provided which addresses the specific needs of dynamic task allocation in real-life situation.