SUN – Human Technology Interaction in Maintenance Data Analytics for Mining Safety and Sustainability

Period: SUN (PhD projekt) 2026–2029

Project titel: Human Technology Interaction in Maintenance Data Analytics for Mining Safety and Sustainability: Cognitive Ergonomics and Reliability Engineering Integration

The primary aim of this research is to develop a comprehensive understanding of how human-technology interaction patterns in maintenance data analytics systems affect equipment reliability, availability, maintainability, and safety (RAMS) outcomes in mining operations. This PhD project shifts its focus to the research-intensive analysis of maintenance data utilisation and cognitive ergonomic factors that influence maintenance decision-making.

The scientific contribution centres on three interconnected research domains. First, the project will advance “cognitive ergonomics theory” by investigating how maintenance personnel process, interpret, and act upon complex maintenance data streams from mining equipment. This includes examining cognitive load factors, information presentation modalities, and decision-making patterns under time pressure and high-stakes conditions characteristic of mining environments. Second, the research will contribute to “maintenance engineering” by developing novel frameworks to measure and optimise the human-factors components of maintenance data analytics systems. Third, the project will generate new knowledge about human-technology interaction, specifically in the context of predictive maintenance systems, addressing how technology acceptance models manifest in maintenance-critical industrial environments.