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Human, Organisational and Societal Factors in Robotic Rail Infrastructure Maintenance

Author

Listed:
  • David Golightly

    (School of Engineering, Stephenson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE1 7RU, UK)

  • Jamie Chan-Pensley

    (Connected Places Catapult, The Pinnacle, 170 Midsummer Blvd, Milton Keynes MK9 1BP, UK)

  • Nastaran Dadashi

    (Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

  • Shyma Jundi

    (Connected Places Catapult, The Pinnacle, 170 Midsummer Blvd, Milton Keynes MK9 1BP, UK)

  • Brendan Ryan

    (Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

  • Amanda Hall

    (Network Rail, The Quadrant:MK, Elder Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 1EN, UK)

Abstract

Robotics are set to play a significant role in the maintenance of rail infrastructure. However, the introduction of robotics in this environment requires new ways of working for individuals, teams and organisations and needs to reflect societal attitudes if it is to achieve sustainable goals. The following paper presents a qualitative analysis of interviews with 25 experts from rail and robotics to outline the human and organisational issues of robotics in the rail infrastructure environment. Themes were structured around user, team, organisational and societal issues. While the results point to many of the expected issues of robotics (trust, acceptance, business change), a number of issues were identified that were specific to rail. Examples include the importance of considering the whole maintenance task lifecycle, conceptualizing robotic teamworking within the structures of rail maintenance worksites, the complex upstream (robotics suppliers) and downstream (third-party maintenance contractors) supply chain implications of robotic deployment and the public acceptance of robotics in an environment that often comes into direct contact with passenger and people around the railways. Recommendations are made in the paper for successful, human-centric rail robotics deployment.

Suggested Citation

  • David Golightly & Jamie Chan-Pensley & Nastaran Dadashi & Shyma Jundi & Brendan Ryan & Amanda Hall, 2022. "Human, Organisational and Societal Factors in Robotic Rail Infrastructure Maintenance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-27, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:4:p:2123-:d:748381
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rajagopal, 2014. "The Human Factors," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Architecting Enterprise, chapter 9, pages 225-249, Palgrave Macmillan.
    2. van Loon, Ruben & Rietveld, Piet & Brons, Martijn, 2011. "Travel-time reliability impacts on railway passenger demand: a revealed preference analysis," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 19(4), pages 917-925.
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