HINT: Human implications of new technologies

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 96.0345

Key words (English)

Transport; new technologies; human factors

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: ST-96-AM-1024

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 6.1 Transport

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Institute for transport studies, University of Leeds, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Arise (S), British Aerospace (operations) ltd, University of Lund, TNO Human Factors Research Institute (NL), Octav (H), Universidade de Coimbra

Abstract (English)

The human implications of new technologies (hint) project is developing a european strategy for managing the human and organisational impacts of the new technologies likely to be implemented over the next 10-20 years. The objectives of the project are to:
- identify the relevant technologies
- investigate the human factors, organisational and safety implications of these technologies
- develop a strategy for managing those impacts.
The approach of the project is multi-modal. It is addressing all the modes of transport - road, rail, air and water - as well as intermodal operations and transport services. The modes are being addressed not separately, but in cross-modal studies by topic, so that the human and organisational issues can be studied generically. The timing and rate of introduction of new technologies often varies considerably between the modes; the cross-modal approach provides a structure for studying how relevant is the experience of one mode for other modes.
The project combined both a broad review covering all the major technologies with more detailed studies of four particular aspects, which have been identified on the basis of their centrality to the smooth operation of the transport system and their high rating in terms of human factors issues. The four aspects identified for detailed investigation are: the organisation and operation of traffic information and control centres; information and the operator (driver, pilot, etc.); Automatic and semi-automatic vehicle control; and intermodality of transport services. In each case, the issues and problems are studied across the modes.
Both the broad review work and the detailed investigations provided the basis for the policy recommendations to be made in the final, integration phase of the project. Here a strategy for managing the introduction of the new technologies is developed. Issues affecting the common transport policy for sustainable transport are identified. Needs for new policies and perhaps regulations or standards at a european level are identified, as well as actions that might be more appropriately carried out a local, regional or national level (or even the level of the single organisation).

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 96.0345