sonnel and to users of a navigation project, as
require no interruption in operations, and
well as to capital equipment making up the nav-
would include minor procedures, such as the
igation project. One of the great promises of au-
simple replacement of components in a limited
tomation is the reduction of mishaps due to op-
area, or the running of wires through existing,
erator error or inattention. Through the use of
easily accessed conduit ways or chases.
interlocks in programs, the conditions under
which accidents happen should be substantially
Cost of implementation
reduced in number.
As with the difficulty of implementation,
Simplification of procedures is designated as
three relative levels of cost of implementation of
Purpose b. This means, for example, a reduction
any proposed automation measure are defined.
in time needed for an operator to accomplish a
Again, these are designated as high (H), medi-
procedure, or a reduction in the operator's sur-
um (M), and low (L). The cost of implementation
veillance of the procedure. It could also apply to
may depend on many of the same factors as the
a reduction in skill necessary to carry out certain
difficulty of implementation, but there are addi-
operations.
tional factors, such as the complexity and so-
Purpose c is staff reallocation. This may mean
phistication of the actual automation compo-
a reduction in the number of personnel needed
nents, the cost of training necessary for person-
overall or for a particular operation. It could also
nel, and possibly such factors as the need for
involve the reassignment or redistribution of
system support personnel. The cost of imple-
tasks to personnel.
mentation may correlate roughly with the diffi-
culty of implementation, but again there would
be exceptions.
Difficulty of implementation
Three qualitative levels of difficulty of imple-
While the cost category must remain qualita-
mentation of any proposed automation measure
tive in this study, costs can still be expressed in
are defined, namely high (H), medium (M), and
terms that are relative to customary practice.
low (L). Difficulty of implementation involves
Therefore, a high cost level is one for which the
several factors, such as the extent of construction
cost of implementation of an automation mea-
needed, the accessibility of locations where com-
sure is estimated to be more than twice the cost
ponents or equipment need to be installed, the
of non-automated equipment (e.g., relay-based
length of time needed for installation of equip-
rather than programmable logic controllers),
ment, the degree of interference with customary
along with the installation and training required
operations during installation, the technical dif-
to control and conduct the same operation(s). At
ficulty of personnel training, etc. The Level (A,
the medium level, the cost would be estimated
B, C, or D) of the automation measure, as de-
to fall between one and two times the cost of the
fined earlier, is likely to correlate roughly with
corresponding non-automated approach, and at
the level of difficulty, but there are definite ex-
the low level, the automation measure is esti-
ceptions to any such correlation.
mated to be less expensive than the non-auto-
A high level of difficulty corresponds to an
mated alternative.
automation measure that would likely be imple-
mented only during original construction or
Departure from existing procedure
during a major rehabilitation or reconstruction,
The four levels of departure from existing
due to the extensive amount of component in-
procedures are defined as high (H), medium
stallation expected or the complexities of the
(M), low (L), and none (N). These are highly
navigation project that would be affected by the
qualitative indicators of such matters as the ac-
installation.
tual work patterns of operating personnel (e.g.,
A medium level of difficulty would be char-
remaining at one station vs. moving among sev-
acterized by construction activities less extensive
eral stations to accomplish an operation), the ac-
than project rehabilitation, and would generally
ceptance of automation measures by operating
affect only a limited portion of the project's facil-
personnel (who may have reasons to fear or op-
ities. For example, automation implementation
pose automation), the ease with which automat-
that would involve only work on gate lifting
ed procedures can be adopted to replace or sup-
machinery, or only on filling and emptying
plant present techniques (e.g., can the change be
valve machinery, might be termed M.
transparent to navigation project users, or will
Implementation rated low in difficulty would
they have to learn new practices?), and the dura-
3
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