Sociotechnical Approach as a Way to Improve the Safety Space in the City's Transport System

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the socio-technical approach as an integrative means of improving the security space in the transport system of a modern city. Given the growing urbanization, the intensity of mobility and the complexity of infrastructure connections, security issues are becoming complex, requiring rethinking of traditional approaches. This is due not only to technical challenges, but also to the need to take into account social, behavioral and cultural factors that shape the dynamics of urban mobility.

The study underlines that effective urban transport system should combine technical solutions (intelligent transport systems, automated control tools, digital platforms) with social mechanisms (behavioral models, public participation, institutional governance), forming a single socio-technical security framework. It is important that technical innovations are accompanied by feedback mechanisms from citizens, which allows for prompt correction of management decisions and taking into account local needs.

The potential of implementing Smart City technologies, in particular real-time monitoring systems, IoT, electronic identification and blockchain solutions, as factors for increasing transparency, manageability and trust in the transport sector is analyzed. Such technologies are able not only to optimize flows, but also to enhance the perception of safety among infrastructure users.

A conceptual model of socio-technical interaction is proposed, which assumes synergy between engineering tools and social practices within the urban mobility ecosystem. Such a model is based on the principles of adaptability, inclusiveness and mutual responsibility, where each component – from the algorithm to the citizen — plays a role in maintaining safety.

The results of the study can be used to optimize transport policy, form new urban development strategies and create a safe urban environment, where technologies do not displace people, but work for their benefit. In this context, the socio-technical approach appears not as a technocratic concept, but as a humanistic framework for integrating innovations into real-life scenarios. The application of the socio-technical approach allows for a transition to sustainable and adaptive safety management, taking into account both engineering aspects and the socio-cultural context of the functioning of urban transport systems. This ensures the creation of more sustainable, equitable and human-centered urban mobility.