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A hybrid approach for modelling safety hazards in China subways: multi-stakeholders’ perspective

Abdulaziz Ahmad (School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China) (MOE Key Laboratory of Engineering Structures of Heavy-Haul Railway, Central South University, Changsha, China) (Center for Railway Infrastructure Smart Monitoring and Management, Central South University, Changsha, China) (Department of Civil Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria)
Weidong Wang (School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China) (MOE Key Laboratory of Engineering Structures of Heavy-Haul Railway, Central South University, Changsha, China) (Center for Railway Infrastructure Smart Monitoring and Management, Central South University, Changsha, China)
Shi Qiu (School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China) (MOE Key Laboratory of Engineering Structures of Heavy-Haul Railway, Central South University, Changsha, China) (Center for Railway Infrastructure Smart Monitoring and Management, Central South University, Changsha, China)
Wenjuan Wang (College of Business Administration, Capital University of Economics and Business, Beijing, China)
Tian-Yi Wang (College of Business Administration, Capital University of Economics and Business, Beijing, China)
Bamaiyi Usman Aliyu (School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China) (Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria)
Ying Sun (School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China) (MOE Key Laboratory of Engineering Structures of Heavy-Haul Railway, Central South University, Changsha, China) (Center for Railway Infrastructure Smart Monitoring and Management, Central South University, Changsha, China)
Abubakar Sadiq Ismail (School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China)

Engineering Computations

ISSN: 0264-4401

Article publication date: 22 November 2024

Issue publication date: 7 January 2025

57

Abstract

Purpose

Unlike previous research that primarily utilized structural equation modelling (SEM) to evaluate safety hazards in subway projects, this research aims to utilize a hybrid approach to investigate and scrutinize the key indicators of safety hazards leading to accidents, thereby hindering the progress of subway projects in China, taking into cognizance the multiple stakeholder’s perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

By administering a survey questionnaire to 373 highly involved stakeholders in subway projects spanning Changsha, Beijing and Qingdao, China, our approach incorporated a four-staged composite amalgamation of exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM) and artificial neural network (ANN) to develop an optimized model that determines the causal relationships and interactions among safety hazards in subway construction projects.

Findings

The optimized model delineated the influence of individual safety hazards on subway projects. The feasibility and applicability of the model developed was demonstrated on an actual subway project under construction in Changsha city. The outcomes revealed that the progress of subway projects is significantly influenced by risks associated with project management, environmental factors, subterranean conditions and technical hazards. In contrast, risks related to construction and human factors did not exhibit a significant impact on subway construction progress.

Research limitations/implications

While our study provides valuable insights, it is important to acknowledge the limitation of relying on theoretical approaches without empirical validation from experiments or the field. In future research, we plan to address this limitation by assessing the SEM using empirical data. This will involve a comprehensive comparison of outcomes derived from CB-SEM with those obtained through SEM-ANN methods. Such an empirical validation process is crucial for enhancing the overall efficiency and robustness of the proposed methodologies.

Originality/value

The established hybrid model revealed complex non-linear connections among indicators in the intricate project, enabling the recognition of primary hazards and offering direction to improve management of safety in the construction of subways.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by High-Speed Railway Infrastructure Joint Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. U1734208) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 52178442).

Citation

Ahmad, A., Wang, W., Qiu, S., Wang, W., Wang, T.-Y., Aliyu, B.U., Sun, Y. and Ismail, A.S. (2025), "A hybrid approach for modelling safety hazards in China subways: multi-stakeholders’ perspective", Engineering Computations, Vol. 42 No. 1, pp. 358-387. https://doi.org/10.1108/EC-12-2023-0963

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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