The impact of artificial intelligence in the rail industry

• Autor(a) principal: Pinto, João Francisco Gomes
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10071/25014
• topic: Artificial intelligence; Rail industry; Intermodal transportation; Inteligência artificial; Indústria ferroviária; Transporte intermodal

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being introduced in enterprise systems due to the promising benefits that such a disruptive technology can present, even when taking into account its risks and challenges. In the rail industry, AI is being implemented to help improve train delays, reduce infrastructure and rolling stock maintenance costs, and to improve customer’s experience. In intermodal terminals, this technology helps improve passenger flow through hubs, avoids freight cargo losses and improves cargo monitoring inside the terminals. The aim of this investigation is to study the impact of Artificial Intelligence in the rail industry, and, in order to conduct this investigation, a quantitative methodology approach was used to answer three research questions. Initially, an analysis of the differences of sociodemographic factors on the knowledge about AI occurred. Posteriorly, an analysis of the influence of the benefits, risks and trust on the implementation of AI in the rail industry was conducted and, in order to expand the scope of the study outside the rail industry, an analysis of the impact of AI in the intermodal transportation systems was completed. The results show that sociodemographic differences among the respondent’s knowledge about AI exist, along with the confirmation that the factors of benefits, risks and trust influence the implementation of AI in the rail industry. Regarding intermodal transport systems, the same effects and additionally the awareness of AI were proved to influence the implementation of these kinds of systems.