• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.324-333
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• 2014

In this study, physiological status of locomotive engineers were measured through EEG, ECG, EDA, PPG and respiration signals from 6 subjects to evaluate their arousal status during train operating. Existence of tunnels and mechanical vibration of train using 3-axes acceleration sensors were recorded simultaneously and were correlated with operator's physiological status. As the result of the analyzed subjects' physiological signals, mean SCR was increased in the section where more body movement is required. The RR interval was decreased before and after train stop due to the higher level of mental tension. The intensity of beta wave of EEG was found to be higher before and after train stop and tunnel section due to the increased mental arousal and tension. Therefore, it is expected that the outcomes of the physiological signals explored in this study can be utilized as the quantitative assessment methods for the arousal status to be used for sleepiness prevention system for vehicles operators which can greatly contribute to public transportation system safety.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.891-898
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• 2012

The study for the passenger's comfortableness of vehicles and the arousal of car drivers has been done widely. On the other hand, there are few studies for the locomotive engineers. Human error means that the mistakes made by human, recently it receives attention in the field of safety engineering and human engineering. Comparing the operating condition of train with car, because of the simplification of the visual stimulus, the arousal level on the train goes down easily. The arousal level down makes judgement down, the accident risk from human error is getting bigger. In this study, we measured bio-signals(ECG, EDA, PPG, respiration and EEG) from 6 locomotive engineers to evaluate their arousal state while they operated the train. Also we recorded the 3 axes acceleration signal showing the vibration state of train. Also, the existence of tunnels were simultaneously measured. At the station section where the train speed goes down, the size of vector's sum decreases because of reduced vibration. Beta component in EEG tends to increase at the entering point of each station and tunnel. It is due to the arousal reaction and tension growth. The mean SCR(skin conductance response) was more increased in neutral section. As the button control movement (body movement) increases in the neutral section, it is appeared that SCR increase. RR interval tends to gradually increase during train operation for 1 hour 40 minutes. However, It tends to sharply decrease at the stop station because strong concentration needed to stop train on the exact point. The engineer's arousal reaction can be checked through analysing the bio-signal change during train operation. Therefore, if this analysing result is adopted to the sleepiness prevention caution system, it will be useful for the safety train operation.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.46-52
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• 2011

This paper examines the emergence of mechanical engineers in the technological and social context of professionalization in England. Despite their technological progress, most steam engine wrights and machine tool builders were individual workshop owners working to order in the early 19th century. In the 1830s and 1840s, however, the railway boom produced so called railway engineers by providing them with some managerial experience as the canal building did in civil engineering. Railway engineers played a dominant role to establish the Institute of Mechanical Engineers(IME) in 1848. It was IME that stated what is a mechanical engineer and helped its members be in the similitude of the civil engineers in social and technological activities.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.101-109
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• 2012

It is commonly recognized that railway is one of the representative transportation and it offers public service based on strategies for being rapid, automation, safety. Since the opening of high speed railway, 3-hundred-million people have used it and acknowledged its efficiency. However, derailed accident at Kwangmyeong station in February, 2011, frequent malfunction of KTX-Sancheon, and accidents by engineer's careless fault damaged on credibility of safety, Especially, spreaded accidents through social networking service by cell phones amplified anxiety of public, being criticized by the press. This study analyzed statistics of past accident and cases of passing-by accident, and surveyed 152 KTX captain engineers about their recognition of the accident by careless fault and experiences of possibility of occurrence for preventing engineer's careless fault and restoring trust According to the analysis, engineers worry about responsibility and disadvantages related to the accidents for the most, and they are nervous about malfunction for the second most. This study presents prevention methods regarding the result. First, it is required to improve mental stability and concentration on their work, secondly, advanced ability to cope with malfunction or error through repetitive education and training are required to increase confidence, and for the last, improvement of operational supporting system such as ATP, GPS to prevent errors by human factors. Improvement of the system is expected to lead engineers to prevent careless fault and regain the reputation of railway.