Transcript Making Use of Collected Data

Photo: alarabiya.com
Ian Naish
Naish Transportation Consulting, Inc.
IRSC Vancouver
October 2013
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What is meant by “data”
Why it is collected
The various kinds of data collected
The uses of the data
Some examples and case studies
Conclusions and lessons learned
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factual information (as measurements or
statistics)
information output by a sensing device
information in numerical form that can be
digitally transmitted or processed
Source: Merriam-Webster online Dictionary
In investigations it is synonymous with evidence
All of the above have to be analysed to be
useful
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It is fundamental to the scientific method
To
To
To
To
To
establish chain of events
confirm investigative hypotheses
determine accident causality
identify safety deficiencies
make recommendations to improve safety
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Operational
Technical
Environmental
Human factors
Organization
Perishable / non-perishable
Good data / bad data / limited data
Verbal information
 Operational
 Photographic
 Site measurements
 Environmental
 Material (components, documentation)
 Electronic (loco event recorder; digital video
recordings)
 Witness interviews and records
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Photos: TSB
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Event recorder downloads
Railway company documentation
Materials examination – failure analysis
Historical accident, audit and inspection data
Police reports/Witness statements
Media records
Railway accident
reports
Time Location
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1327 Mai
Table 1. Events between Mai and Dorée
Speed
Event
(mph)
0
LIM-55 departs Mai.
1510 Mile 81.20 28
The dynamic brakes are applied.
1525 Mile 75.50 27
The locomotive engineer applies the brakes in preparation for the
grade.
1527 Mile 74.30 22
The brakes are released.
1537 Mile 72.50 13
The brakes are applied. The train starts to descend the grade.
1541 Mile 71.40 25
Brake pipe pressure is reduced.
1547 Mile 68.00 38
The emergency brakes are applied.
1549 Mile 67.20 0
LIM-55 stops.
1653 Mile 67.20 1
LIM-55 starts to roll.
1702 Mile 66.30 14
The dynamic brakes are fully applied.
1718 Mile 58.40 63
LIM-55 reaches a speed of 63 mph.
1727 Mile 52.80 0
LIM-55 stops.
N.B. Investigators have to have legal authority
Advancing transportation safety
By (inter alia):
 Establishing the chain of events
 Confirming investigative hypotheses
 Identifying systemic deficiencies
 Identifying trends
 Comparing performance
 Identifying false information
 Refuting incorrect statements
 Assisting in legal issues (finding fault?)
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Whenever
Whenever
Whenever
Whenever
Whenever
a reportable accident occurs
an accident is investigated
a reportable incident occurs
safety regulations require it
investigators research an issue
Photos: TSB
Analyse it in order to make conclusions
Record it in a database
 Review the data periodically for trend analysis
 Analyse fields which relate to issues in a
specific investigation
 Formalize laboratory examinations in a report
 Communicate to safety professionals, public &
media
 Discard any bad data when it is identified
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Organizational data
Equipment (Derailment – Whitby, Ontario)
Perishable data (Level Crossing - Sarnia)
Limited data (Level Crossing – Al Kharj, Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia)
Bad data (first 24 hours) and noisy
communications records – Al Khurais, KSA
2012 Statistical highlights: railway occurrences
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A total of 1,011 rail accidents under federal jurisdiction
were reported to the TSB in 2012, similar to the 2011 total
of 1,022 and a 10% decrease from the 2007-2011 average
of 1,128.
Accidents involving dangerous goods totaled 118 in 2012,
the same as in 2011 but down from the five-year average
of 147.
In 2012, there were 48 accidents involving passenger
trains, down from the 2011 total of 68 and down from the
five-year….(contd)
Source: TSB Canada
Other
on-Main-
7%
Main-Track
Collisions
Main-Track
Derailments
13%
Track
erailments
40%
Crossing
Accidents
21%
Trespasser
Non-Main-
Accidents
Track Collisions
9%
10%
Source: TSB Canada
Photos: waymarking.com and TSB Canada
Photo: TSB
Source: pnninews.com.pk.
Source: constructionweek.com
Source: Saudi Gazette
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Good data is a basic prerequisite for
investigations analysis and to produce
investigation reports
Data records allow trend monitoring
Investigation reports and statistical reports
communicate safety issues
There are an increasing number of ways to
obtain data
Data gaps must be identified and ways found
to address them
Discard bad data whenever it is found!
Photo: VIA Rail Canada