scholarly journals Coordination and Simplexity in Modelling Air Traffic Control as a Service: The Case of NAV Portugal

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Antunes ◽  
Jocelyn Cranefield

Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This study analyses a unique, revelatory case of service modelling in a complex organisation providing air traffic control. The study analyses broad modelling activities, including information elicitation, analysis, and organisation, undertaken by a small team internal to the organisation that so far has spent about 2,400 person-hours of effort in the project. The study follows a qualitative approach in the interpretivist tradition based on interviews and document analysis. The study analyses the project framework, modelling notations, data collection, collaboration, modelling activities, and project outputs. The findings are interpreted in light of two theoretical lenses: coordination and simplexity. The study suggests that simplexity is beneficial for structuring the modelling of complex, knowledge-based services. A pattern was identified combining an initial step promoting simplicity and establishing communication with the stakeholders, followed by a second step acquiring complexity of understanding. Considering the mechanisms defined by coordination theory (flow, share, and fit), the study suggests a predominance of the fit mechanism in modelling knowledge-based services. The paper contributes to a better understanding of the challenges of modelling work through cognitive and knowledge-based lenses and identifies possible strategies to overcome these challenges. The paper also contributes to the emergent literature on simplexity by applying that particular lens to work modelling.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Antunes ◽  
Jocelyn Cranefield

Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This study analyses a unique, revelatory case of service modelling in a complex organisation providing air traffic control. The study analyses broad modelling activities, including information elicitation, analysis, and organisation, undertaken by a small team internal to the organisation that so far has spent about 2,400 person-hours of effort in the project. The study follows a qualitative approach in the interpretivist tradition based on interviews and document analysis. The study analyses the project framework, modelling notations, data collection, collaboration, modelling activities, and project outputs. The findings are interpreted in light of two theoretical lenses: coordination and simplexity. The study suggests that simplexity is beneficial for structuring the modelling of complex, knowledge-based services. A pattern was identified combining an initial step promoting simplicity and establishing communication with the stakeholders, followed by a second step acquiring complexity of understanding. Considering the mechanisms defined by coordination theory (flow, share, and fit), the study suggests a predominance of the fit mechanism in modelling knowledge-based services. The paper contributes to a better understanding of the challenges of modelling work through cognitive and knowledge-based lenses and identifies possible strategies to overcome these challenges. The paper also contributes to the emergent literature on simplexity by applying that particular lens to work modelling.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-11
Author(s):  
Marina Efthymiou ◽  
Frank Fichert ◽  
Olaf Lantzsch

Abstract. The paper examines the workload perceived by air traffic control officers (ATCOs) and pilots during continuous descent operations (CDOs), applying closed- and open-path procedures. CDOs reduce fuel consumption and noise emissions. Therefore, they are supported by airports as well as airlines. However, their use often depends on pilots asking for CDOs and controllers giving approval and directions. An adapted NASA Total Load Index (TLX) was used to measure the workload perception of ATCOs and pilots when applying CDOs at selected European airports. The main finding is that ATCOs’ workload increased when giving both closed- and open-path CDOs, which may have a negative impact on their willingness to apply CDOs. The main problem reported by pilots was insufficient distance-to-go information provided by ATCOs. The workload change is important when considering the use of CDOs.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maik Friedrich ◽  
Christoph Möhlenbrink

Abstract. Owing to the different approaches for remote tower operation, a standardized set of indicators is needed to evaluate the technical implementations at a task performance level. One of the most influential factors for air traffic control is weather. This article describes the influence of weather metrics on remote tower operations and how to validate them against each other. Weather metrics are essential to the evaluation of different remote controller working positions. Therefore, weather metrics were identified as part of a validation at the Erfurt-Weimar Airport. Air traffic control officers observed weather events at the tower control working position and the remote control working position. The eight participating air traffic control officers answered time-synchronized questionnaires at both workplaces. The questionnaires addressed operationally relevant weather events in the aerodrome. The validation experiment targeted the air traffic control officer’s ability to categorize and judge the same weather event at different workplaces. The results show the potential of standardized indicators for the evaluation of performance and the importance of weather metrics in relation to other evaluation metrics.


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