Causation of Metro Operation Accidents in China: Calculation of Network Node Importance Based on DEMATEL and ISM

Continuous metro-operation accidents lead to serious economic loss and a negative social impact. The accident causation analysis is of great significance for prevention metro operation safety promotion. Network node importance (NNI) evaluation has been widely used as tool ranking the nodes in complex networks; however, traditional indicators such degree centrality (DC) are insufficient examining networks. This study proposed an improved method by integrating decision making trail laboratory (DEMATEL) interpretive structural modeling (ISM) into NNI evaluation, where key determined both nature network topology contribution development. Drawing on this method, 32 causal factors were identified prioritized ground 248 cases. It was found that 14 important related staff (e.g., “driver noncompliance”), environment “extrinsic disturbance”), passenger “passenger sudden illness”), machine “track failures”) should be given priority management due their significant tendency causing accidents. Theoretical managerial implications discussed provide useful insights understanding form basis managers develop targeted countermeasures operation. hybrid proven effective investigating networks involving sequential casual relationships revealing with high possibility increase