Analysis of vessel traffic services socio technical system with agent based modelling and simulation approach

Socio technical system (STS) is a combination of human and group factors and technical factors in the design of complex large organizational systems. The STS approach has a long history and also aims to ensure that the technical and human based aspects of a system are considered together. The purpose of implementing these methods is to better understand how human, social and organizational factors affect how work is done and how technical systems are used. This approach can contribute to the development and improvement of the design of organizational structures, business processes and technical systems. Among the main problems of a socio technical system are the shortcomings in its use, the difficulties in using the methods, the disconnection between these methods and technical engineering issues, and the problems between technical systems and individual interaction. At the core of the socio technical system approach is the existence of a process that takes into account the design of the system, the functionality of computer-based systems and the social and technical factors affecting the use of the system. The rationale for adopting the socio technical system approach in complex system design is the risk that systems can not provide the expected contribution to the aim of organization. Systems often meet their technical requirements but are considered to be a failure because they do not deliver the expected support for the real work in the organization. The main reason for the problems in the system is that the technological approaches involved in the system design can not be dealt with correctly in the complex relations between the organization, the people carrying out the business processes and the supporting structure. Transportation is a comprehensive socio technical system. It comprises interactions between different types of entities, including technical systems, operational stakeholders, regulators and consumers. Especially in aviation and maritime industry, technology and human play central role in terms of interdependence, effectiveness and continuity. Vessel traffic services are the sophisticated socio-technical system that is created by technology and human factors in maritime industry. Today, the quantities and types of cargo transported by sea continue to increase depending on the increase of the world population and the evolution of the industry. As a result of this increase, the marine transportation tools as vessels are also increasing in tonnage and numbers. Especially in the ecologically and strategically important waterways of the straits, canals and inland seas, increasing vessel traffic has become a necessity to be controlled and monitored continuously. In the maritime industry, contributing to the continuity of maritime trade by providing efficient vessel traffic organization, and being able to maintain safety of life, cargo and environment at sea is the basic task of vessel traffic services. Therefore, vessel traffic services must continue to function in all adverse conditions that may occur by carrying out necessary proactive studies. Vessel traffic service equipment is rapidly evolving following trends set in onboard navigation systems as well as trends expanding from other sectors such as the military and air traffic management. Today it is common for a traffic image to consist of a fusion of many different sensors including radar, AIS and other hydrographic and meteorological sources. In our thesis, first of all, a large literature review was made before the agent-based modeling and simulation was designed, and information was obtained about the subject. The studies about the subject have been examined. Based on this information, the roadmap for how to build the model has been determined. At the next stage, the appropriate programming language and application area were selected and information was collected. Based on the determined rules and assumptions, a program algorithm was developed and a model was developed. Using of all the approaches jointly that may be needed to solve complex problems is effective in achieving solutions that can be applied to probing, can be created quickly, cost less, and adapt to changing conditions. For this purpose, agent based modeling and simulation approach, which is one of the most effective approaches in the modeling of variable socio technical systems, is widely used. The agent-based modeling and simulation approach is a study designed to analyze the effect of an adverse situation in the subsystem forming the socio-technical system to the system as a whole. It is an approach that has been applied successfully in sectors which have dynamic sub-systems such as aviation and maritime and which have dependency between subsystems. This approach is activated by some computer-based programs and communication languages defined in these programs. In our thesis study, we will describe the LEADSTO program, the TTL which will define as a language to program and the agent-based modeling and simulation approach to vessel traffic services using the unique dynamics of the maritime industry as it was in air traffic services before. Agent based modelling and simulation approach is used to evaluate the effects of vessel traffic service policies on the scenarios and to avoid any negative impacts on vessel traffic. Simulation results bring a new perspective to the operational impacts of each of the VTS policies and help to develop them. This shows that ABMS allows it to analyze the effectiveness of different coordination and emergency policies in the complex socio technical systems of the maritime transportation and management. Our thesis study which we analyzed the effect of the change of the vessel traffic services as a socio technical system and the change that occurred in any component in case of emergency, consists of five sections in total. First of all, section one, general information about socio technical appraoch, agent based approach and using of these concepts into the maritime sector are given. In the second part, the main theme of our thesis study, the main aim, the view that vessel traffic services are a socio technical system is expressed and this study emphasizes the elimination of the lack of application in the maritime industry. In the third chapter, a comprehensive literature survey on socio technical systems, vessel traffic services, modelling and simulation approaches and detailed information are presented. The application of agent based modelling and simulation approach to vessel traffic services, the details of the programs used, the inclusion of the generated scenarios in the program and the detailed analysis of the scenario results are discussed in the fourth chapter. In the last section, the results of the thesis study are discussed and the results of the analysis are evaluated. In addition, proposals have been made for improving work, for applicability to different areas in the maritime industry, and for contribution to developing maritime technologies.