Air traffic control specialist visual scanning II : task load, visual noise, and intrusions into controlled airspace.

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Task load, visual noise, and intrusions into controlled airspace
• Creators:
  Willems, Ben ; Allen, Robert C ; Stein, Earl S.
• Corporate Creators:
  William J. Hughes Technical Center (U.S.)
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Human Factors Division
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Air traffic controllers
  • Visual perception
  • Crash avoidance systems
  • Eye movements
  • Air traffic controllers
  • Visual perception
  • Airplanes--Collision avoidance
  • Eye--Movements
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT/FAA/CT-TN99/23
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  New Jersey
• Edition:
  Technical note; Dec. 1999.
• Corporate Publisher:
  William J. Hughes Technical Center (U.S.)
• Abstract:
  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) started an Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS) information-scanning program a number ; of years ago. The goal is to learn about how controllers use information displays and develop techniques for reducing air traffic-related ; errors. This report describes a research project conducted at the Research Development and Human Factors Laboratory of the FAA ; William J. Hughes Technical Center. Volunteer controllers participated in a real-time, air traffic control simulation of airspace ; modeled after their Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility. ATCSs worked two different levels of simulated traffic. ; Some scenarios contained incursions into their Class C airspace, and overflights provided visual noise. Results indicated that the ; ATCSs’ workload increased with higher traffic loads. However, visual noise had more impact on their perceived workload when things ; were slower and not when they were already busy. An eye tracker recorded eye movements. The visual scanning data included ; fixations, saccades, blinks, and pupil information. Increased traffic loads decreased the number of fixations on the radarscope. The ; increase in task load seemed to divert the ATCSs’ attention to areas other than the scope, most specifically the keyboard, suggesting ; they were spending more time updating flight plans and less time scanning the scope. Controllers developed scanning patterns that ; focused on the areas of highest traffic density. This may be why they identified airspace intrusions late or not at all in some specific ; cases. Such lapses suggest that intrusion targets must be emphasized with color, blinking, or some other means to draw the controllers ; attention from established patterns. This may increase airspace safety. This research provides greater understanding of how ATCSs ; use current information displays. The research results have potential for increasing future ATCS efficiency through improved display ; technology or application of new training techniques.
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• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/16757/dot_16757_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 694.52 KB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:208def033944bf85b2aa9afdbe78dd3dca13137b210630ebd4e8fc057b84398e