Towards objective human performance measurement for maritime safety: A new psychophysiological data-driven machine learning method. (May 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fan, Shiqi; Yang, Zaili
• Is Part Of: Reliability engineering & system safety. Volume 233(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-05
• Subjects: Human performance -- Human reliability -- Human errors -- Maritime transport -- Maritime education and training -- Maritime safety; Reliability (Engineering) -- Periodicals; System safety -- Periodicals; Industrial safety -- Periodicals; Fiabilité -- Périodiques; Sécurité des systèmes -- Périodiques; Sécurité du travail -- Périodiques; 620.00452
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ress.2023.109103
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0951-8320

Abstract

Highlights: Holistic use of fNIRS and maritime simulation to conduct HPM objectively. Development of a hybrid assessment model using haemoglobin data and ANN. Pioneering psychophysiological data-driven machine learning for seafarers' HPM. Real case analysis for classifying seafarers of different qualifications. Abstract: Human errors significantly contribute to transport accidents. Human performance measurement (HPM) is crucial to ensure human reliability and reduce human errors. However, how to address and reduce the subjective bias introduced by assessors in HPM and seafarer certification remains a key research challenge. This paper aims to develop a new psychophysiological data-driven machine learning method to realize the effective HPM in the maritime sector. It conducts experiments using a functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology and compares the performance of two groups in a maritime case (i.e. experienced and inexperienced seafarers in terms of different qualifications by certificates), via an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model. The results have generated insightful implications and new contributions, including (1) the introduction of an objective criterion for assessors to monitor, assess, and support seafarer training and certification for maritime authorities; (2) the quantification of human response under specific missions, which serves as an index for a shipping company to evaluate seafarer reliability; (3) a supportive tool to evaluate human performance in complex emerging systems (e.g. Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS)) design for ship manufactures and shipbuilders.