Safety of High Ground Transportation Systems - Human Factors Phase I: Function Analyses and Theoretical Considerations

Sheridan, T.; Lanzilotta, E.; Askey, S. · 1994 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration

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Summary

This report addresses the critical human factors challenges associated with the introduction of High-Speed Guided Ground Transportation (HSGGT) systems in the United States. The research is motivated by the fundamental disparity between increasing vehicle speeds and the static sensory, information processing, and reaction time capacities of human operators. As speeds exceed 200 km/h, the kinetic energy of potential collisions increases significantly, and the allowable response time for external events decreases, exacerbating existing safety risks. The study aims to prevent historical errors where machine capabilities outpaced human operational limits, ensuring that future U.S. high-speed rail systems maintain safety through appropriate human-machine function allocation. The methodology involved a comprehensive review of human factors literature and comparative analyses of existing high-speed systems, specifically the French TGV, German ICE, and Japanese Shinkansen, as well as Amtrak operations. The authors conducted consultations with railway authorities in France, Germany, and Japan, and performed function analyses using logical flow diagrams to map tasks for both on-board locomotive engineers and off-board dispatchers. The study also developed scenarios for abnormal conditions and reviewed theoretical frameworks for safety, including network modeling of system risk and theories of human error. Key findings indicate that while all examined systems retain a human locomotive engineer, approaches to automation vary. The German ICE utilizes more extensive automation, such as cruise control, allowing the engineer to focus on system management, whereas the French TGV and Japanese Shinkansen systems tend to aid the "in-the-loop" engineer. The function analysis identified two primary problems exacerbated by high speed: sensing/communication delays and human decision latency, which can lead to command and control instability. The report outlines eighteen specific safety issues, including the need for in-cab signaling to replace wayside signals, alertness monitoring devices, and integrated system health displays. It also highlights parallels with aviation and nuclear power industries, noting a trend toward "glass cockpits" and human supervisory control. The significance of this work lies in its recommendations for the evolutionary adoption of automation in U.S. high-speed rail. The authors argue against immediate full automation, advocating instead for a progression from manual control with decision aids to discretionary automatic control, and finally to full automation only after demonstrating reliability and public acceptance. The report concludes that future systems should employ "human-centered automation," where humans act as supervisors aided by computers for information and planning. This approach requires higher levels of training and technology literacy for operators but ensures that human judgment remains integral to safety, particularly in handling abnormal situations and maintaining cognitive consistency with system realities.

Key finding

The report identifies that higher vehicle speeds exacerbate sensing and communication delays as well as human decision latency, which can lead to command and control instability, necessitating a shift toward human supervisory control and automated aids to maintain safety.

Methodology

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