Expert system for simulating and predicting sleep and alertness patterns

Abstract

The Expert System "Circadian Alertness Simulator" predicts employee sleep and alertness patterns in 24/7-work environments using rules of complex interactions between human physiology, operational demands and environmental conditions. The system can be tailored to the specific biological characteristics of individuals as well as to specific characteristics of groups of individuals (e.g., transportation employees). This adaptation capability of the system is achieved through a built-in learning module, which allows transferring information from actual data on sleep-wake-work patterns and individual sleep characteristics into an internal knowledge database. The expert system can be used as a fatigue management tool for minimizing the detrimental biological effects of 24-hour operations by providing feedback and advice for work scheduling and/or individual-specific lifestyle training. Consequently, it can help reduce accident risk and human-related costs of the 24/7 economy.