41 CHAPTER 3 INTERPRETATION, APPRAISAL, AND APPLICATION MERIT ASSESSMENT OF OBSERVATION AIDS highest, with the others rated progressively lower. By using this approach, all factors can be addressed in the merit The relative merits of the existing observation approaches assessments without lower importance factors skewing the (which were identified during the site investigations) and the results. Table 3 lists all criteria used in the merit assessments most suitable, technically feasible conceptual observation and the assigned weighting factors. approaches were assessed. This assessment was made using evaluation criteria developed on the basis of a wide range of operational procedures, equipment and facility configurations, ASSESSMENT CRITERIA and passenger behavior patterns. Observations made during the site visits and information collected using the survey As introduced above, the assessment criteria were grouped questionnaire were used to develop these criteria. Although into six categories. The following paragraphs define the the criteria are general and cannot address all of the nuances assessment criteria in each of these categories as well as the of individual operations, they represent a consensus of the weighting factor applied and the general approach used in requirements of observation aids. Because some criteria are scoring. more significant than others, operational significance factors were applied to weight the more significant areas. In performing these assessments, each observation aid Observation Requirements approach was first analyzed individually relative to the criterion and assigned a grade that was multiplied by the Platform Approach weighting factor to obtain a factored grade. When this process was completed for all observation aids and evaluation criteria, As a train approaches the station, the track and the platform the relative merits of each were compared. Essentially, this are observed to identify any situation requiring emergency comparison consisted of totaling the factored grades and action. The ability of the various approaches to assist the comparing the sums. operator in observing the station areas during the approach are evaluated. A score of 10 indicates that the system provides considerable assistance to the operator in viewing the area. If MERIT ASSESSMENT APPROACH no feedback is given, then a 0 score is applied. Because this criterion is not central to door observation but a significant Merit assessments of candidate observation aids were adjunct, it has been assigned a weighting factor of 7. performed in phases. The precursor to the assessments was the development of a detailed set of criteria. These criteria were based heavily on observations made during the site visits and Train Alignment Verification information provided by transit authority personnel during meetings associated with the visits. As defined, the criteria The operator verifies proper berthing alignment before constitute the following six categories: opening the doors, whether the train is operating under automatic or manual control. A score of 10 is given if the • Observation requirements, observation aid can provide the crew with positive alignment • Facility characteristics, verification. Lesser degrees of verification are awarded • Environmental factors, progressively lower scores. Because berthing alignment is • Vehicle characteristics, significant in selected cases but not central to door • Operational factors, and observation, this criterion has been assigned a weighting • Life-cycle costs. factor of 7. While criteria falling into each of these categories are important in determining the overall effectiveness of Boarding Observation observation aids, some criteria are more important than others. To address these importance variances, weighting factors Two subcriteria are defined for boarding observation. The first were assigned to each criterion. These weighting factors range of these is normal boarding. This subcriterion represents the from 1 to 10 with 10 being assigned to the most important capability of an observation aid to provide information about factors. In general, factors related to the ability of the aid to passenger unloading and loading and the extent of information meet the observation requirements were rated the provided to the operator to determine when and if the 42 TABLE 3 Merit assessment of observation approaches TABLE 3 Merit assessment of observation approaches (continued) 43 44 doors are clear. A higher score is provided to those applied. For those approaches with limited curvature observation approaches that provide complete information to accommodation, a score of 3 is awarded. Those approaches the train crew. Because this subcriterion is central to the task that cannot accommodate curvatures are awarded a score of 0. of door observation, it has been assigned a weighting factor of Because this criterion addresses a significant facility 10. The second subcriterion, late boarding, addresses the characteristic influencing observation, it is assigned a ability of the aid to detect and provide information on weighting factor of 10. passengers attempting to enter the train as the doors are closing. Again, a higher score is provided to those systems that provide complete information as well as advance warning Multiple Berth of the situation. Because this subcriterion is central to the definition of the door observation process, it has been This criterion addresses the ability of the observation aid to assigned a weighting factor of 10. accommodate flexibility in train lengths and multiple berthing points within a station. If the system is not affected by variances, a score of 10 is awarded. For ability to adjust to Closed Doors minor changes, the score is reduced to 7. A score of 0 is awarded to systems with no flexibility. This criterion is a This assessment criterion is a measure of the ability of the function of the operations at a specific transit property. observation aid to provide information to the train crew if a Systems with no variances in stopping positions are affected person or object is caught between the doors after closing. A by this criterion; those with multiple stopping points are significant part of this evaluation is a measure of the size of greatly affected. Because the merit assessment included in this the objects that can be detected. If the system can provide report is designed to represent a consensus, this criterion is positive feedback, it receives a score of 7. If the system can assigned a weighting factor of 5. detect small objects, it receives an additional score of 3. Detection of persons and objects between closed rail car doors is required to prevent dragging incidents; therefore, this Multiple Routes criterion is of significant importance and is assigned a weighting factor of 10. Several transit systems have multiple routes that share the same station platform. This criterion addresses the ability of Station Departure the observation aid to accommodate this operational scenario. For the merit assessment provided in the report, it has been Similar to train approach, the observation of the platform as assumed that the rail vehicles used for all routes are the same the train departs the station is required and performed to or have equivalent characteristics from the standpoint of identify situations requiring emergency action. Although performing door observation. Where the observation aids are diligent observation during door closing will significantly not influenced by different routes, a score of 10 is applied. reduce the likelihood of emergencies, they do still occur— Because few applications of this operational methodology making this criterion important. Observation aid approaches were observed during the transit property site visits, this that enable the operator to observe the platform for at least criterion is assigned a weighting factor of 1. three car lengths during departure are awarded a score of 10, For systems using different vehicles for multiple routes with declining scores awarded for approaches providing serving the same platform, the scores and weighting will need coverage for shorter distances. An approach providing no to be adjusted. These adjustments will consist of decreasing coverage during departure receives a score of 0. Because this the score on the basis of the extent of the impact and adjusting criterion is significant in enhancing passenger safety but not the weighting factor on the basis of the perceived importance. central to the door observation, it has been assigned a weighting factor of 7. Multiple Direction Facility Characteristics During the transit property site visits, only a few cases were observed where trains were operated in multiple directions Platform Curvature servicing a single platform. One such example is Baltimore's MTA Light Rail line that has a single-track right of way at the As indicated previously, platform curvature is one of the northern and southern ends with a single platform at each most significant station characteristics affecting door station. Observation aids not influenced by this arrangement observation. This criterion is a measure of the ability of the are awarded a score of 10 with others receiving progressively observation aid to accommodate platforms with convex and lower scores on the basis of the degree of the impact. concave edge curvatures as well as compound curvatures, such as S-curves. A score of 10 is assigned if the system helps Generally, carborne systems will receive a score