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1 INTRODUCTION
Inspiteofthedevelopmentofthemoderntechnology
the sea transport depends largely on the human
action.Crewsofthecargoandpassengershipsʹhave
high responsibility, which requires good health, to
perform their duties. A tight ship working
environment,limitedsleepduration,workingtimeby
shifts,difficult
iesincommunicating withcolleagues,
nostalgia,isolationfeeling;theyallareconsideredto
befactorsoffatigueandstressthatcanleadtovarious
consequences[1].
Inordertopreventhumancausedaccidentsandto
increase the safety awareness among the crews it is
obligatorytomeasure,controlandmanagefunctional
status of seafarers in ma
ritime work‐environment.
Theseatransportleadersdrewattentiontothefactors
causingfatigueandstress,sinceonlybyreducingor
eliminating them the safety of navigation could be
ensuredandmoreworkersattracted.Theleadersalso
pointed out the need to initiate a new crew views
towa
rd maritime education and training. Such
measures would help to create better working and
living environment, increase efficiency, productivity
and safety for crew members. Assessment of
seafarers’ functional status during marine missions
requires tele informatic system, which should be
basedontheonlineaccess[2].
The most modern online database ma
nagement
systems (DBMS) were designed to work in a global
network, using Web technologies. Database
managementsystemsaremultifunctionalenablingto
store structured data, edit the existing data, and to
perform a quick search for the desired criteria. The
main feature of such systems is integrity – a
possibility to collect data from different users
(dat
abanks) and to get access to the database
independently from other users. Database
managementtoolsnotonlyallowatanytimequickly
to get complete and accurate information,keep it in
compact format, but also provide an opportunity to
deal with automated data overload, consistency,
integrityandst
andardizationsecurityproblems.
Monitoring System for Evaluation of Operator
Functional Status on Sea Ships
G.Varoneckas,A.Martinkenas,J.Andruskiene,A.Stankus,L.Mazrimaite&A.Livens
KlaipedaUniversity,Klaipeda,Lithuania
ABSTRACT: This paper introduces the basic concept of a new developed web‐based databank for an
assessmentofseafarers’functionalstatus duringthesea missions.TheWebsystem isbasedonclient‐server
architecture and the international open source technologies including Apache web server, PHP scripts and
MySQLdatabase. The pa
perfocuseson the aspectsandfirstresultsof the initial practical realization of the
web‐based databank. The main operational advantage of the developed system is the capability to on‐line
handle up to a dozen users at the same time. The system includes administrative data and questionnaires.
Electronicdataentrysavestheti
meandmaterialresources.
http://www.transnav.eu
the International Journal
on Marine Navigation
and Safety of Sea Transportation
Volume 10
Number 2
June 2016
DOI:10.12716/1001.10.02.13
310
One of the most widely used types of DBMS –
relationalmodel,basedonthemathematicaltheoryof
relational algebra. The relational model is special
becauseitprovidesdatatablesandperformsspecific
operations with these tables. Another important
feature of this model‐structural independence, i.e.,
the data can be
changed without changing the
structure of the software or data processing
procedures.
SuchDBMSbecomesavailabletoconsumersfrom
virtuallyanylocationandrequiresminimumcost,but
gives a lot of comfort, especially when working for
manyuserssimultaneously.Thedataofresearchare
collectedfromthevarietyoftests
andquestionnaires;
because of that the central storage of data is more
efficient and less costly, especially using them for
statisticalanalysis[3].
This paper concentrates on the development of
databankforseafarers’functionalstatusassessment.
In section 2 and 3, which are the main parts of the
paper, the
initial practical realization of the Web‐
baseddatabankforassessmentofseafarers’functional
statusduringseamissionsispresented.
2 WEB‐BASEDDATABANKCONCEPT
Database was created using MySQL, Apache, PHP,
Java scripts (Fig. 1) and placed on the server. To
connect to the server the user can use any
web
browser.Apachewebserver–themostwidelyused
webserver software. Apache performs a keyrole in
theinitialgrowthoftheWorldWideWebfunction.
Figure1.Web‐basedtoolforthedatabankmanagement
Apache Web server applications communicate to
thedatabankusingPHP.Themainadvantageofthe
Apacheserveristhesystem’sindependencefromthe
operatingsystem.
Website was developed using PHP – dynamic
programming language. This open‐source language
supportsnumberofrelationaldatabasesandrunson
most operating systems and
with most web servers.
This DBMS runs on MS Windows operating system
platform. PHP code (command) inserted into the
HTML code generates mapping results in the same
HTMLpageanddisplaysitinaWebbrowser.
Database administration intended for running
MySQLGUI(graphicaluserinterface)tool–dbForge
Studio
for MySQL [4]. The database system’s block
diagramispresentedinFigure2.
JavaScript–an objectoriented scripting
programming language, which, like PHP, added to
HTML pages, extends the static HTML pages. Java
scripts are used for control of the parameters of the
questionnaires.
Algorithms based on SQL language were
developed for analysis and interpretation of the
standard questionnaires. The data bank was
developedtakingintoaccountthatitshouldworkas
quicklyaspossible,expandingsystem’sfunctionality.
A Web‐based tool is easy to maintain and
guarantees user access to the latest, most recent
version.Theusercanconnect
totheWebserverusing
convenient Web browser. For user interface
interaction between the system’s components and
data flow the Web server uses PHP, Java and other
programmingtechniques.
Figure2.MySQLDatabaseManagementSystem(DBMS)
The data depending on the security level and
user’s role are accessible at different communication
levels only to physicians and specialists of strongly
definedfieldandgroupispresentedinFigure3.The
systemrecognizesuser’sfourroles:
1 Informationsystemadministrator;
2 Databankmanager;
3 Reviewer;
4 Seafarer(interviewed).
Each
role has a particular set of transaction
capabilities. Information system administrator’s
capabilities are following: input, update, delete,
reviewsystemusersandpatient’sadministrativeand
biomedical data. The user, having manager role of
person’s data can upload, modify and delete data.
Theuserhavingprescribedreviewerrolecanreview
dataand
generatereports.Individualinterviewercan
reviewhisowndataofthedifferenttreatmentstages.
The elaborated database is in compliance with
national (Lithuanian) and EU regulations on safety
and data protection. Data are kept strictly
confidential. Electronic transfers of data precisely
followthedataprotectionguidelines.
311
Figure3.Interactionsbetweentheusersandthedatabase
3 DATAOFSEA‐FARERS’FUNCTIONALSTATUS
3.1 Questionnaires
Data of the specialized questionnaires (n=13) and
physiological recordings of the heart rate during
active orthostatic test as well as during Holter
monitoring were used for assessment of sea‐farers’
functional status. The data of following
questionnaires are stored in the databank
for
assessmentof:
Anxiety and depression using Hospital Anxiety
and Depression Scale, and Beck Depression
Inventory[5,6];
Subjective sleep quality using Pittsburgh Sleep
QualityQuestionnaire[7‐8];
DaytimesleepinessusingEpworthsleepinessscale
[9];
Health‐related quality of life using SF‐36
questionnaire “Short Form
Medical Outcomes
StudyQuestionnaire”[10,11];
FatigueusingMultidimensionalfatigueinventory,
fatigue scale DUFS (Dutch Fatigue Scale), and
effortfatigue scale DEFS (Dutch Exertion Fatigue
Scale)[12,13];
Work experiences and health indicators using
WEMS(WorkExperienceMeasurementScale)and
SHIS(TheSalutogenicHealthIndicatorScale)[14,
15];
Encounteredstressandstressatworkplaceusing
specialquestionnaire(V.Reigas,2012);
Subjectively estimated by operator workload
intensityatworkplaceusingspecialquestionnaire
(J.Andruškienė,2012,Generaldataform);
Harassment at the workplace using WHS (Work
HarassmentScale)[16].
Attributegroupsandnumberofvariables
ineach
grouparepresentedintheTable1.
In database theraw data of physiological signals
obtained during functional testing are collected and
prepared for further analysis using self‐developed
statisticaltoolsispresentedinFigure4.
Cleaning and
preprocessing
Questionnaires
(13 Number of
variables)
Visualisation;
Parameter index
estimations;
Time series;
Nolinear analysis;
Multiple
Regression
analysis
Cluster analysi
s
Acquisition
RR interval
(Holter monitor)
Bio-signals
DataBank
Survey
Figure4. Database system and data management of
functionalandphysiologicaltesting,signalinputsanddata
analysis
The possibility to provide convenient statistical
analysis as well as sophisticated HR analysis using
powerspectraorPoincareplotsisforeseenandmight
beperformedremotely.
Table1.Attributegroupsandnumberofvariablesinweb‐
based databank for assessment of seafarers’ functional
status
_______________________________________________
AttributeNumberof
groupsvariables
_______________________________________________
1. Administrativedata80
2. HospitalAnxietyandDepressionScale14
3. BeckDepressionInventory23
4. PittsburghSleepQualityQuestionnaire24
5. Epworthsleepinessscale9
6. SF‐36ShortFormMedicalOutcomesStudy 47
Questionnaire
7. DutchFatigueScale10
8. DutchExertionFatigueScale10
9. The
MultidimensionalFatigueInventory,MFI‐20 22
10.WEMS34
11.SHIS14
12.StressatWork47
13.Heartratedataduringactiveorthostatictest 52
14.HeartratedataduringHoltermonitoring62
_______________________________________________
Total448
_______________________________________________
3.2 Heartratedata
Assessmentofoperator’s(seafarer’s)functionalstatus
isbasedonobjectiveevaluationofhumanautonomic
heart rate (HR) control which determines the
adaptation of cardiovascular function to different
stressors, such as mental and physical work. HR
recording during active orthostatic test or Holter
monitoring is used for
assessment of autonomic HR
control.
TheparametersofHRvariabilityarestoredinthe
data base: the average value of the R‐R interval
(RR,ms) and its standard deviation ( RR, ms); root
mean square difference between the value of the
successive RR interval duration (RMSSD, ms);
percentageof
theadjacentRRintervalsdifferingfrom
each other by more than 50 ms (pNN50%) and the
numberofsuccessiveRRintervalsdifferingbymore
than 50 ms, (NN50, n); very low frequencies
component (VLFC, from 0.003 to 0.04 Hz), low
frequencycomponent(LFC,from0.04to0.15Hz)and
high frequency
component of heart rate (HFC, from
0.15 to 0.4 Hz), absolute values (VLFC ms, LFC ms
HFC ms) and normalized values (LFC norm, HFC
312
norm) and percentage values (VLFC%, LFC% and
HFC%),andLFCandHFCratio(LFC/HFC,%)[17].
Poincare´ plot indexes of heart rate variability
(HRV). Minor axis (SD1, ms), major axis (SD2, ms)
and the SD1/SD2 ratio indices; RR histogram
triangular interpolation (TINN, ms) and triangular
index (Trl); heart rate level
in A, B and C points
(RR_A, ms, RR_B, ms, RR_C, ms); maximum heart
rate response to active orthostatic test ), absolute
values (dRRB, ms) and percentage values
(dRRBpr,%), the duration of the transition process
(T_AB,s,T_BC,s)[18‐20].
3.3 Dataextractionfromweb‐baseddatabase
Interviewer
(user) before starting to fill in the
questionnaires for the first time must register and
identify himself in the information system. After
completing a questionnaire in the database, the
management system generates the conclusion and
submitsresultstotheuser.Responsemodelfromone
ofthe13questionnaires,i.e.,Anxietyand
Depression
Scale(HAD),isshowninFigure4.
A problem of feature extraction from heart rate
data related to the diagnosis of sleep disorders and
diseasesisconsidered.Rawdataofheartrateinterval
(RR, ms) sequences are taken from web‐based
database. The standard methods for time series
analysis,
e.g.statisticalinference, hypotheses testing,
correlation analysis, spectral analysis, etc., are
includedinthedevelopedtool.
Figure4.Theexampleoftheconclusionfromthetestusing
AnxietyandDepressionScale.
Algorithm for diagnostics of sleep quality and
disturbed sleep is based on evaluation of sleep
structure(sleepstages)usingsophisticatedanalysisof
parametersofRRintervaltimeseriesrecordedduring
Holtermonitoring.
Different statistical, spectral and non‐linear
dynamic parameters of RR interval time series are
storedinthedatabank.
After
HR data analysis, a verbal conclusion
regarding the functional state of autonomic HR
control reflecting seafarer’s functional status is
presented.
Theresultsofanalysisofquestionnaires’dataand
physiological signals from the heart (RR intervals)
provide useful information of seafarer’s functional
status, including mental and physical fatigue, stress
and ability
to perform the daily duties as well as
changesoffunctionalstatustoextremeenvironmental
and labour factors. The developed system allows
detecting the crew working capacity and proposes
measures that can be faster and more efficient in
restoringfunctionstatusandimprovingmanagement
ofthehumanfactorsduringseamissions.
4 PILOTSTUDY
The pilot study, in which 25 seafarers were
investigatedduringtheirseamission,wasperformed.
Adatabasetesting‐thetestingof25seafarers.The
system’s testing results confirmed that Web based
databank for practical use is convenient; users give
prioritytoelectronicdataentry.
Allthetest
datacollectioninonedatabaseallows
themtoquicklyexportdataandtoperformstatistical
analysis.
The study results demonstrated that sea farer’s
functionalstatusmostlydependsonthephysicaland
mental fatigue during operational activity. The
functional status is also influenced by gender, age,
physicalfitness,pain,boredomandemotions.
Thelimitationofthepilotstudyisarelativesmall
numberofinvestigatedpersons,includingmonitoring
ofHRduringseamissions.
5 CONCLUSIONS
ThedevelopedWebsystemwasbasedontheclient‐
server architecture and international open source
technologies, including Apache web server, PHP
scripts and MySQL database. The system
is
implementedinclientserverarchitecture.Theserver
storesthedataandcontrolssystem’sbasicfunctions.
Themainoperationaladvantageofthedeveloped
systemistheaccesstothedatabankforseveralusers
atthesametime.Usersgiveprioritytoelectronicdata
entry against filling questionnaires on paper.
Electronic
data entry saves operational time and
materialresources.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Presented research was carried out in Klaipeda
University and funded by a European Social Fund
Agency grant for national project “Lithuanian
Maritime Sectorsʹ Technologies and Environmental
ResearchDevelopment”(VP1‐3.1‐SMM‐08‐K‐01‐019)
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