Methods and metrics for assessing societal effects of transport automation

Purpose and goal

The overall aim of the pre-study project is to, in a systematic and structured way, identify effects of transport automation and to put together methods for evaluation of these effects. The sociotechnical framework for analysis ´Human-Tech Ladder´ (HTL) will be used. The specific aims of the project are to: use HTL to identify relevant measurements and methods; identify areas where relevant methods are missing; to suggest possible approaches for new methods where relevant methods are lacking; ...to evaluate the effects of an automated transport system

Expected results and effects

The project will contribute to increased possibilities of elucidating whether future research and societal efforts will render expected effects. The project contributes to new methodology to measure the effects of an automated transport system that will give Drive Sweden, its members and other stakeholders increased possibilities to evaluate R&D projects and efforts connected to automation of the transport system.

Planned approach and implementation

During the project the Human-Tech Ladder was iteratively tested and also adapted into a “Human-Tech Matrix” where the system levels are used both vertically and horizontally with additional columns to describe metrics and methods. The matrix representation was found useful for mapping the influencing factors, effects, and associated methods and metrics.