Implementation of Ethically Aligned Design with Ethical User stories in SMART terminal Digitalization project: Use case Passenger Flow

Ethical considerations must be built into AI development from the start, not assessed after deployment. The paper demonstrates that waiting until after a system is deployed to evaluate ethical implications is insufficient, particularly for AI and autonomous systems now being used in critical sectors like transportation and maritime operations.

"Ethical User Stories" provide a practical tool for translating abstract ethical principles into concrete design requirements. Rather than treating ethics as separate from technical development, this approach embeds ethical requirements directly into the software engineering workflow, making them actionable for developers working on real projects.

Ethics implementation in AI is challenging but achievable in industrial settings. The research shows positive results from applying Ethically Aligned Design practices in an actual maritime port terminal digitalization project, suggesting that ethical frameworks can work beyond academic theory when properly integrated into engineering processes.

Passenger flow systems in smart terminals require explicit ethical consideration. The focus on passenger flow in this port digitalization project highlights that even seemingly technical systems managing human movement have ethical dimensions—such as privacy, fairness, and safety—that deserve deliberate attention during design.

Empirical evidence from real-world projects strengthens the case for ethical AI practices. The paper's reliance on "large empirical data set" from an industrial project provides practical validation that ethical design approaches can be implemented successfully, offering a model for other organizations developing AI systems.