The Submarine Habitability Assessment Questionnaire: A Survey of RAN Submariners

This paper reports on the development, method, and major findings from the Submarine Habitability Assessment Questionnaire (SUB-HAQ) undertaken as part of a lessons-learned review of the current RAN submarine platform. The questionnaire was completed by 167 Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Submariners an...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kate Ponton, Dion Parera, Jessica Irons
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
Series:Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/1/54
_version_ 1797415975407058944
author Kate Ponton
Dion Parera
Jessica Irons
author_facet Kate Ponton
Dion Parera
Jessica Irons
author_sort Kate Ponton
collection DOAJ
description This paper reports on the development, method, and major findings from the Submarine Habitability Assessment Questionnaire (SUB-HAQ) undertaken as part of a lessons-learned review of the current RAN submarine platform. The questionnaire was completed by 167 Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Submariners and was developed to examine the perceived habitability of the main living and working areas. The results showed satisfaction with cleanliness, lighting, privacy of amenities, ventilation in certain areas, and location of amenities and facilities. The results also suggest dissatisfaction with aspects of the work areas (such as storage space for work materials, and space to conduct off-watch work), allocation of space and equipment for exercise, crowding, and ratio of crew to amenities. Best use of space on a submarine is an extraordinarily challenging design problem. However, it was concluded that significant benefit could be achieved through applying human systems integration methods early in the design of a future RAN platform. The importance of careful workforce planning and crewing analyses to prevent occurrences of overcrowding, lack of storage, and an unacceptable ratio of crew to amenities was observed. The findings from SUB-HAQ have led to a significant investment in evidence-based habitability design assurance by the RAN.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T05:56:14Z
format Article
id doaj.art-63715d69a58a472daaccdc526753e54c
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2077-1312
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T05:56:14Z
publishDate 2021-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
spelling doaj.art-63715d69a58a472daaccdc526753e54c2023-12-03T12:12:59ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122021-01-01915410.3390/jmse9010054The Submarine Habitability Assessment Questionnaire: A Survey of RAN SubmarinersKate Ponton0Dion Parera1Jessica Irons2Defence Science and Technology Group, Bldg A51, HMAS Stirling, Rockingham, WA 6168, AustraliaDefence Science and Technology Group, Bldg A51, HMAS Stirling, Rockingham, WA 6168, AustraliaDefence Science and Technology Group, Bldg A51, HMAS Stirling, Rockingham, WA 6168, AustraliaThis paper reports on the development, method, and major findings from the Submarine Habitability Assessment Questionnaire (SUB-HAQ) undertaken as part of a lessons-learned review of the current RAN submarine platform. The questionnaire was completed by 167 Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Submariners and was developed to examine the perceived habitability of the main living and working areas. The results showed satisfaction with cleanliness, lighting, privacy of amenities, ventilation in certain areas, and location of amenities and facilities. The results also suggest dissatisfaction with aspects of the work areas (such as storage space for work materials, and space to conduct off-watch work), allocation of space and equipment for exercise, crowding, and ratio of crew to amenities. Best use of space on a submarine is an extraordinarily challenging design problem. However, it was concluded that significant benefit could be achieved through applying human systems integration methods early in the design of a future RAN platform. The importance of careful workforce planning and crewing analyses to prevent occurrences of overcrowding, lack of storage, and an unacceptable ratio of crew to amenities was observed. The findings from SUB-HAQ have led to a significant investment in evidence-based habitability design assurance by the RAN.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/1/54habitabilityshipbuildingsubmarineNavyhuman systems integrationhuman factors
spellingShingle Kate Ponton
Dion Parera
Jessica Irons
The Submarine Habitability Assessment Questionnaire: A Survey of RAN Submariners
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
habitability
shipbuilding
submarine
Navy
human systems integration
human factors
title The Submarine Habitability Assessment Questionnaire: A Survey of RAN Submariners
title_full The Submarine Habitability Assessment Questionnaire: A Survey of RAN Submariners
title_fullStr The Submarine Habitability Assessment Questionnaire: A Survey of RAN Submariners
title_full_unstemmed The Submarine Habitability Assessment Questionnaire: A Survey of RAN Submariners
title_short The Submarine Habitability Assessment Questionnaire: A Survey of RAN Submariners
title_sort submarine habitability assessment questionnaire a survey of ran submariners
topic habitability
shipbuilding
submarine
Navy
human systems integration
human factors
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/1/54
work_keys_str_mv AT kateponton thesubmarinehabitabilityassessmentquestionnaireasurveyofransubmariners
AT dionparera thesubmarinehabitabilityassessmentquestionnaireasurveyofransubmariners
AT jessicairons thesubmarinehabitabilityassessmentquestionnaireasurveyofransubmariners
AT kateponton submarinehabitabilityassessmentquestionnaireasurveyofransubmariners
AT dionparera submarinehabitabilityassessmentquestionnaireasurveyofransubmariners
AT jessicairons submarinehabitabilityassessmentquestionnaireasurveyofransubmariners