Collision detection and proximity warning systems for mobile mining equipment: A human factors exploration

The relatively high number of collisions between mining vehicles is the primary reason why collision detection and proximity warning systems are being increasingly introduced in this domain. This work presents a series of studies undertaken in underground mining where a prototype proximity warning system has recently been introduced. These studies encompassed a review of the system constraints (detection distances), an ergonomic audit of the system interface, Cognitive Tasks Analyses and other structured interview methods, a naturalistic field study, and a human factors risk assessment. All combined, the studies reviewed, from a user-centred perspective, the effectiveness of a system being trialled. Preliminarily results emerging to date and provisional recommendations for future system development or additional research are briefly outlined in this paper

Improving Construction Work Zone Safety Using Technology: A Systematic Review of Applicable Technologies

© 2019 The Authors Once considered conventional, the construction industry is gradually increasing its reliance on innovations such as the application of technologies in safety management. Given the growing literature on technology applications in safety management and the varying opinions on the utility of applied technologies, a systematic review that streamlines findings from past studies is indispensable to construction stakeholders. Although a number of review studies are available in the building construction sector, the level of fragmentation and uniqueness within the construction industry necessitates a review study specifically targeting the heavy civil sector. In response, the present study applies a three-step approach to identify and review articles pertinent to the safety of highway construction work zones. The factors considered include the number of publications per year, publication locations, and technology types. In addition, the present study proposes to broadly group work zone safety technologies (WZSTs) into three categories based on their primary purpose: speed reduction systems, intrusion prevention and warning systems, and human-machine-interaction detection systems. Key findings include WZST research trends, application of smart work zone systems, and the potential relationship between WZSTs and fatalities. The paper ends with the identification of six additional research areas aimed at deepening the understanding of technology\u27s role in highway safety management. The trend analysis and an in-depth discussion of each technology category alongside the identified research gaps will provide a substantial informative body of knowledge that both benefits current practitioners and directs researchers towards potential future studies

Risk Assessment as a Tool for Mobile Plant Operators for Sustainable Development: Lessons from the Western Australian Mining Industry

Mobile plant is used extensively not only in the Western Australian (WA) Mining Industry but internationally as well. The use of mobile plant has inherently high risk and every year is associated with a significant number of workplace fatalities and injuries. Prior to this research being conducted there was no specific data published related to mobile plants incidents and fatalities for the Western Australian mining industries. The aim of this research was to improve the safety performance of mobile plant operators in the Western Australia (WA) mining industry by identifying the causes of mobile plant incidents reported to Resources Safety between 1/1/2007 and 31/3/2020

Identification and Recommendations for Correction of Equipment Factors Causing Fatigue in Snowplow Operations

MnDOT No. 1001325The objective of this project was to recommend cost-effective equipment solutions to mitigate fatigue experienced by winter maintenance operators. A questionnaire collected the opinions on the relationship between equipment and fatigue from 2,011 winter maintenance operators in 23 Clear Roads states. An analysis of the existing literature and questionnaire results produced eight cost-effective equipment solutions and eight non-equipment solutions to mitigate winter maintenance operator fatigue. These 16 solutions are believed to be the most promising to mitigate fatigue at low cost (in no particular order): (1) provide dimmable interior cab lighting, (2) use light emitting diode (LED) bulbs for exterior lighting, (3) equip winter maintenance vehicles with warning lights that have a nighttime setting (i.e., dimmable), (4) install a compact disc player or satellite radio in all winter maintenance vehicles, (5) equip winter maintenance vehicles with a heated windshield, (6) install snow deflectors on front plows, (7) install LED narrow-beam bulbs on auxiliary lighting, (8) use an ergonomically designed seat with vibration dampening/air-ride technology, (9) instruct winter maintenance operators to take a 15- to 30-minute break every 4 to 5 hours, (10) provide education and training to winter maintenance operators to identify early signs of fatigue, (11) investigate reduced shift lengths, start/end times, and overtime rules/limits, (12) create an agency-wide fatigue management policy, (13) investigate methods to provide early notifications of an impending swing shift, (14) encourage heathy lifestyles, (15) encourage winter maintenance operator input in equipment purchases, and (16) provide a dedicated place for winter maintenance operators to rest at each garage/terminal

Computational intelligent impact force modeling and monitoring in HISLO conditions for maximizing surface mining efficiency, safety, and health

Shovel-truck systems are the most widely employed excavation and material handling systems for surface mining operations. During this process, a high-impact shovel loading operation (HISLO) produces large forces that cause extreme whole body vibrations (WBV) that can severely affect the safety and health of haul truck operators. Previously developed solutions have failed to produce satisfactory results as the vibrations at the truck operator seat still exceed the “Extremely Uncomfortable Limits”. This study was a novel effort in developing deep learning-based solution to the HISLO problem. This research study developed a rigorous mathematical model and a 3D virtual simulation model to capture the dynamic impact force for a multi-pass shovel loading operation. The research further involved the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning for implementing the impact force detection in real time. Experimental results showed the impact force magnitudes of 571 kN and 422 kN, for the first and second shovel pass, respectively, through an accurate representation of HISLO with continuous flow modelling using FEA-DEM coupled methodology. The novel ‘DeepImpact’ model, showed an exceptional performance, giving an R2, RMSE, and MAE values of 0.9948, 10.750, and 6.33, respectively, during the model validation. This research was a pioneering effort for advancing knowledge and frontiers in addressing the WBV challenges in deploying heavy mining machinery in safe and healthy large surface mining environments. The smart and intelligent real-time monitoring system from this study, along with process optimization, minimizes the impact force on truck surface, which in turn reduces the level of vibration on the operator, thus leading to a safer and healthier working mining environments --Abstract, page iii

Risk Mitigation Framework Considering Low Frequency Events Involving Mobile Entities

The focus of this thesis is to develop a risk mitigation methodology for events which are less frequent. This will help to prevent accidents between personnel and material handling equipment inside a manufacturing environment. The emphasis is on mitigating risk associated with leading indicators of an incident so that the methodology is proactive in nature. While there are various risk prevention techniques available in the literature, the low frequency events are overlooked very easily. Following a failure to apply regular Risk Prioritization Number (RPN) a new Risk Prioritization Number is developed and validated. We call the new risk assessment method as Low Frequency(LF) technique and it uses the term ’Controllability’ as an alternative to ’Probability of occurrence’. The LF technique with its emphasis on scheduling and routing flexibility addresses this need. The four-phase methodology is presented to enhance the risk mitigation framework. The first phase defines the scope by estimating near miss and events pertained to a particular area. It also demarcates the region into nodes based on each and every entry and exit point to the region. The second phase involves data collection utilizing the historical data and expert’s opinion. The third phase maps the assessment of the collected data using analysis tool in MATLAB and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to prioritize the risks. The fourth phase addresses the solution based on the prioritized risks from the previous phase. The developed framework was tested in a large manufacturing plant and the results prove that this framework identified 10% more risk which the company had not identified which had the possibility to cause accident which are less frequent

Advanced Sensing and Control for Connected and Automated Vehicles

Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) are a transformative technology that is expected to change and improve the safety and efficiency of mobility. As the main functional components of CAVs, advanced sensing technologies and control algorithms, which gather environmental information, process data, and control vehicle motion, are of great importance. The development of novel sensing technologies for CAVs has become a hotspot in recent years. Thanks to improved sensing technologies, CAVs are able to interpret sensory information to further detect obstacles, localize their positions, navigate themselves, and interact with other surrounding vehicles in the dynamic environment. Furthermore, leveraging computer vision and other sensing methods, in-cabin humans’ body activities, facial emotions, and even mental states can also be recognized. Therefore, the aim of this Special Issue has been to gather contributions that illustrate the interest in the sensing and control of CAVs

Logistics 4.0: Evolution of transport for the pharmaceutical sector: Evolution and application analysis of autonomous vehicles for pharmaceutical logistics in Portugal

Digital transformation makes the business environment increasingly competitive. Companies must follow this transformation to differentiate themselves and build a solid competitive position in the markets in which they operate. In this sense, it is crucial to recognize the importance of new technologies in improving logistics operations and the advantages that come with them. Among these technologies, autonomous vehicles stand out. Thus, this study attempts, on the one hand, to understand how autonomous vehicle technology can transform the way goods are transported and how logistics processes and the dynamics within supply chains can be improved. On the other hand, it aims to understand how companies in the supply chain of the pharmaceutical market in Portugal view these transformations from the point of view of the logistics operations they develop. Therefore, this research aims to evaluate if it is possible to implement this technology in the sector and in which activities its use will bring more benefits and may be feasible. The main results allow us to conclude that autonomous vehicles are already a reality in various activities, particularly for logistics operations carried out in restricted environments such as warehouses. In this segment of warehouse activities, companies in the sector under study are more willing to invest in autonomous vehicles. The results indicate that companies do not believe in the possibility of these vehicles being used in the distribution of medicines in the short and medium-term, and there are still factors that limit the introduction of this technology in this market.A transformação digital torna o ambiente empresarial cada vez mais competitivo. As empresas devem seguir essa transformação, caso queiram diferenciar-se e construir uma posição competitiva sólida nos mercados em que operam. Neste sentido, é crucial reconhecer a importância das novas tecnologias na melhoria das operações logísticas e as vantagens que daí advêm. Entre estas tecnologias destacam-se os veículos autónomos. Deste modo, o presente estudo tenta, por um lado, compreender de que forma é que a tecnologia dos veículos autónomos poderá transformar a maneira como os bens são transportados, e como os processos logísticos e as dinâmicas dentro das cadeias de abastecimento podem ser melhorados. Por outro lado, visa perceber como é que as empresas da cadeia de abastecimento do mercado farmacêutico em Portugal, encaram estas transformações do ponto de vista das operações logísticas que desenvolvem. Assim sendo, esta investigação pretende avaliar se será possível implementar esta tecnologia no sector e em que atividades a sua utilização trará mais benefícios e poderá ser viável. Os principais resultados alcançados permitem concluir que, os veículos autónomos já são uma realidade em várias atividades, nomeadamente nas operações logísticas efetuadas em ambientes restritos como armazéns. É neste segmento das atividades de armazém, que as empresas do sector em estudo estão mais recetivas em apostar na utilização de veículos autónomos. Os resultados indicam que as empresas não acreditam na possibilidade destes veículos serem utilizados na distribuição de medicamentos a curto e medio prazo, existindo ainda fatores que limitam a introdução desta tecnologia neste mercado