The Role of Human Information Processing Models in System Development

1989 ◽  
Vol 33 (16) ◽  
pp. 1059-1063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry H. Kantowitz
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
System Development ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Cognitive Engineering ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Human Information Processing ◽  
Operation And Maintenance

Humans are complicated devices. Thus, systems in which people are embedded necessarily are complex. In order to better develop such systems, a means to organize and understand human complexity is required. Theoretical models of human information processing are one cognitive-engineering tool to help system development. This paper discusses the kinds of models that might be effective in solving practical problems. Suggestions are given for selecting a useful model from the plethora of available theoretical models. These issues are illustrated in the context of current research aimed at providing a general model of human cognition and action for application to the development, operation, and maintenance of nuclear power plants in Japan.

Human Information Processing and Cognition: Applications to Improve Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM)

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heath Bishop ◽  
Shannon Everline ◽  
Marc Banghart
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Human Error ◽  
Human Performance ◽  
Processing System ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Sensor Technology ◽  
Human Information Processing ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Engineering Research

Human cognition, bias and error have been studied significantly over the past few decades and are utilized in several fields, including reliability and safety engineering. Research has indicated that both man-machine interfaces and training are critical during human intervention. Additionally, it has been shown that humans contribute significantly to failures, and thus downtime. This trend is likely to continue as systems become more complex. Several methods, such as Human Reliability Assessment (HRA) and Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA), had been proposed and utilized throughout industry. These methods are both qualitative and quantitative and aim to understand, and thus improve, human performance within the system. Additionally, much of the research is focused on risk reduction — for example, design of a power plant to maximize redundancy in human performance during a mishap. Human error is a complicated process in itself and closely tied to cognition, information processing, system automation, team dynamics and biases inherent to humans. It cannot be eliminated by training and familiarity alone, and system design plays a major role in susceptibility to error. The digital age has spurred many advances in processing power, sensor technology and data capture. These advances have resulted in situations where a very large amount of data can be captured and presented to the user. The large amount of information has to be processed with limited attention resources, which can result in human error. This contribution will discuss human error and information processing along with the role of humans in modern power plants. Finally, trends in information overload will be discussed with applications to reducing human error in power plants.

scholarly journals Erratum for “Role of Offshore Nuclear Power Plants”

1976 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-232
Author(s):  
Joel L. Caves ◽  
Heber T. Newton
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants

scholarly journals Preferences for Nuclear Power in Post-Fukushima Japan: Evidence from a Large Nationwide Household Survey

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2938
Author(s):  
Toshihiro Okubo ◽  
Daiju Narita ◽  
Katrin Rehdanz ◽  
Carsten Schroeder
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Nuclear Accident ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
Fukushima Accident ◽  
Public Preferences ◽  
Socioeconomic Characteristics

Utilizing the data of a large nationwide household survey conducted in 2014, we investigate public preferences on nuclear power in Japan after the Fukushima nuclear accident and the role of four sets of factors: (1) household/individual socioeconomic characteristics, (2) psychological status, (3) geographical aspects, and (4) Fukushima accident-related experiences. The preferred energy mix, according to the averaged responses from the survey, includes 0.59 for renewables, 0.29 for fossil fuels, and 0.12 for nuclear—much more skewed towards the renewables than the actual national share of renewables of less than 0.2. Male, older, unmarried, less educated, high-income people, and government party supporters have a preference towards a higher share of nuclear power, except if they live near nuclear power plants. The experience of blackout and aversion to nuclear power during the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 lowers the share of nuclear power in the preferred mix.

scholarly journals Attending to the Chemical Senses

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 635-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Spence
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Mobile Device ◽  
Attentional Selection ◽  
Research Interest ◽  
Human Information Processing ◽  
Chemical Senses ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Extrinsic Cues ◽  
Watching Tv

Abstract Theorizing around the topic of attention and its role in human information processing largely emerged out of research on the so-called spatial senses: vision, audition, and to a lesser extent, touch. Thus far, the chemical senses have received far less research interest (or should that be attention) from those experimental psychologists and cognitive neuroscientists interested in the topic. Nevertheless, this review highlights the key role that attentional selection also plays in chemosensory information processing and awareness. Indeed, many of the same theoretical approaches/experimental paradigms that were originally developed in the context of the spatial senses, can be (and in some cases already have been) extended to provide a useful framework for thinking about the perception of taste/flavour. Furthermore, a number of those creative individuals interested in modifying the perception of taste/flavour by manipulating product-extrinsic cues (such as, for example, music in the case of sonic seasoning) are increasingly looking to attentional accounts in order to help explain the empirical phenomena that they are starting to uncover. However, separate from its role in explaining sonic seasoning, gaining a better understanding of the role of attentional distraction in modulating our eating/drinking behaviours really ought to be a topic of growing societal concern. This is because distracted diners (e.g., those who eat while watching TV, fiddling with a mobile device or smartphone, or even while driving) consume significantly more than those who mindfully pay attention to the sensations associated with eating and drinking.

Qualification of Pumps and Valves for the Safety Injection Path of Nuclear Power Plants

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingo Ganzmann ◽  
Holger Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
International Organization ◽  
Insulation Material ◽  
Hydraulic Test ◽  
Iso 17025 ◽  
Operation And Maintenance ◽  
Related Plant ◽  
Construction Operation

The reliability of a nuclear power plant depends on the safe functioning of its components during its lifetime: from design through construction, operation and maintenance. This is valid for new build projects as well as for the current fleet. As plants undergo modifications for increased performance or extended lifetimes, component integrity becomes a critical factor in those efforts, particularly for safety-related plant functions. This paper focuses on the qualification of pumps and valves of the safety-injection path, considering new requirements. Going back to the Barsebäck event in the year 1992, it is known that insulation material may cause clogging. Consequently, the presence of debris material in the water may have an impact on the functioning of pumps and valves. For this purpose, AREVA has built new thermo-hydraulic test loops in its accredited test and inspection body (according to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17025 and 17020) to consider this effect as it relates to components qualification (Ref. 1). The main relevant aspects of these tests will be discussed together with corresponding thermal shock tests. Paper published with permission.

scholarly journals The Arctic ocean-ice system studied by contamination modelling

1997 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 17-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larissa Nazarenko ◽  
Tessa Sou ◽  
Michael Eby ◽  
Greg Holloway
Keyword(s):  
Fresh Water ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Ocean Model ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Good Representation ◽  
Advection Scheme ◽  
Lateral Boundary Conditions ◽  
Eddy Parameterization

The Arctic represents a relatively pristine frontier that is vulnerable to pollution. Substances originating at mid latitudes are transported to the Arctic by atmospheric processes, ocean currents and rivers. These pollutants can accumulate in the Arctic environment. Testing of nuclear weapons, dumping of waste and operation of ships, and nuclear power plants also pose threats.To investigate possible pollutant pathways we used a multi-level primitive-equation ocean model, coupled to a dynamic-thermodynamic sea-ice model. Coupling included conservative transfer of momentum, heat and fresh water. Atmospheric forcing (wind stress, temperature, humidity, radiation and heat fresh-water fluxes) was supplied by datasets or bulk formulae. Open lateral-boundary conditions for the ocean model were supplied either by datasets (temperature and salinity) or from a larger-scale ocean model (momentum). Two integrations were compared — one used a centred-difference advection scheme and viscous damping, while the other used a better representation of an advection scheme and a sub-gridscale eddy parameterization.Tracer simulations showed (1) the importance of good representation of numerical advection, and (2) the role of eddy interacting with sea-floor topography (the neptune effect).

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