Using Systems Theoretic Process Analysis and Causal Analysis to Map and Manage Organizational Information to Enable Digitalization and Information Automation

Abstract

The nuclear industry has identified data digitalization and information automation as topics needing focused research. In response, Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) Program researchers are developing and evaluating methods for effectively mapping and managing plant data through System Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA), System-Theoretic Accident Model and Processes (STAMP), and Causal Analysis. The results provide an optimized process for converting data to information enabling deeper insight, and more effective actionthereby allowing utilities to operate safely and costcompetitively. This research includes developing methods to evolve plant data into useful plant insights and validates the use of STPA and STAMP using highlevel safety constraints in the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission's problem identification and resolution process (i.e., a plant compliance information gathering activity).Researchers are also investigating how human and technology integration principles, digitalization, and information automation enable the conversion of data to information or "data evolution". The next step in this research, described in the following sections of this report, is to map out data evolution in other plant compliance activitiesevent investigations and root cause analyses. This LWRS Program-supported research and development contributes to the comprehensive guidance for utilities considering or undertaking full nuclear plant modernization.

Explainable Artificial Intelligence Technology for Predictive Maintenance

“…An example of this in nuclear power operations is the transformation of paper-based procedures into computerized procedures conducted on a tablet of some kind. With this new form of technological infrastructure in place, plants can engage in digitalization, which uses digitized information to restructure and improve business processes [ 20 ]. Digitalization involves optimizing interactions between systems, between people, and between systems and people using digital communications.…”

Human and Technology Integration Evaluation of Advanced Automation and Data Visualization

“…This research area is therefore developing a cost-effective issue resolution process that uses information automation and AI/ML applications to identify these trends more quickly and enable proactive decision-making. The research also emphasizes taking a sociotechnical approach and is leveraging methods such as cognitive work analysis (e.g., Dainoff, Hettinger, and Joe, 2022) and system theoretic process analysis (STPA; Levenson and Thomas, 2018) to identify parts of the systems that involve human interaction. Within this framework, we posit that information automation can be modeled as an "information control structure" to provide a functional map of the sociotechnical system.…”