A Risk-Based Approach to the Acquisition of Electronic Mine Safety Equipment

The primary objective of this chapter is to show how different research methodologies were applied in a design science research paradigm to address a real-world need for electronic safety equipment in high-risk mining environments. A pragmatic research approach was followed by systems engineering and mixed research methods in a case study and experimental research. The need to align acquisition and utilization phases in a safety system’s full life cycle was identified. This shortfall resulted in increased operational risk during system operation. Qualitative archival analysis of available regulatory and technical documentation revealed a need for safety system modeling and evaluation in the preliminary design life cycle phase. Mapping operational processes obtained simulation models to workflow and state space models. These models were used to conduct simulation experiments to generate quantitative data for performance evaluation (empirical data based on real-world scenarios). In addition to the creation of artifacts, a method for reducing risk and aligning acquisition and utilization life cycle phases emerged from this research. This activity-based risk method systematically reduced risk and was validated by producing operationally accepted electronic safety systems in a design science research paradigm.