scholarly journals Visual Search and Conflict Mitigation Strategies Used by Expert en Route Air Traffic Controllers

Aerospace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 170
Author(s):  
Ricardo Palma Fraga ◽  
Ziho Kang ◽  
Jerry M. Crutchfield ◽  
Saptarshi Mandal
Keyword(s):  
Visual Search ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic Control ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers ◽  
Search Patterns ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Conflict Mitigation

The role of the en route air traffic control specialist (ATCS) is vital to maintaining safety and efficiency within the National Airspace System (NAS). ATCSs must vigilantly scan the airspace under their control and adjacent airspaces using an En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) radar display. The intent of this research is to provide an understanding of the expert controller visual search and aircraft conflict mitigation strategies that could be used as scaffolding methods during ATCS training. Interviews and experiments were conducted to elicit visual scanning and conflict mitigation strategies from the retired controllers who were employed as air traffic control instructors. The interview results were characterized and classified using various heuristics. In particular, representative visual scanpaths were identified, which accord with the interview results of the visual search strategies. The highlights of our findings include: (1) participants used systematic search patterns, such as circular, spiral, linear or quadrant-based, to extract operation-relevant information; (2) participants applied an information hierarchy when aircraft information was cognitively processed (altitude -> direction -> speed); (3) altitude or direction changes were generally preferred over speed changes when imminent potential conflicts were mitigated. Potential applications exist in the implementation of the findings into the training curriculum of candidates.

Reducing Situation Awareness Errors in Air Traffic Control

1997 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 230-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra G. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Situation Awareness ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Decision Process ◽  
Air Traffic Control ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Irrelevant Information ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
High Fidelity ◽  
Expected Information ◽  
The Impact

Since situation awareness (SA) is vital to the decision process, SA errors can degrade decision making. Many SA errors occur when all the relevant information has been correctly perceived. In these cases, the information's significance is not comprehended, and a representational error occurs. Schema influence this comprehension aspect of SA. This study investigates the impact of information with certain schema related characteristics on SA: (1) schema bizarre information will impact SA more than schema irrelevant information, and (2) schema unexpected information will impact SA more than the absence of schema expected information. Using a high fidelity air traffic control simulation, misinformation was provided to the controller and schema related cues were furnished to indicate the error. The results indicated that (1) schema bizarre cues impacted SA more than schema irrelevant cues and (2) no difference existed between the impact of the absence of schema expected cues and schema unexpected cues. Additionally the results emphasize the difficulty incurred when trying to prevent SA errors.

Real-Time Assessment of Operator State in Air Traffic Controllers Using Ocular Metrics

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 257-261
Author(s):  
Jonny Kuo ◽  
Michael G. Lenné ◽  
Rama Myers ◽  
Anna Collard-Scruby ◽  
Courtney Jaeger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic Control ◽  
Pupil Diameter ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Continuous Operator ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
State Monitoring ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers ◽  
Operator Fatigue

This study examined the utility of continuous operator state monitoring in predicting air traffic control officer (ATCO) workload and fatigue. Participants (N=8) were observed in live operational air traffic control environments for 60-minute periods. ATCO state was assessed using a real-time, computer vision-based system which tracked operator gaze and pupil diameter. Workload and fatigue were also assessed via the adapted Bedford Workload Scale and Samn-Perelli Fatigue Scale, respectively. Standard deviation of gaze was a significant predictor of both max and mean workload, showing a strong negative relationship with both subjective measures. Pupil diameter showed a significant positive relationship with operator fatigue. Our findings demonstrate the utility of continuous ocular metrics of workload and fatigue in operational environments.

Automated Radar Video Map Production at NOS

1989 ◽  
pp. 5-10
Author(s):  
Ronald Bolton ◽  
Russell Hoover
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic Control ◽  
Federal Aviation Administration ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Automated Production ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers ◽  
Manual Methods ◽  
Traffic Control System ◽  
And Control

The Aeronautical Charting Division (ACD), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) produces the Radar Video Maps (RVM's) used by air traffic controllers to monitor and control the Nation's airspace. These complex maps depict the local Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airspace definition and show airways, intersections, holding patterns, selected navigational aids, special-use airspace boundaries, and other radar display elements critical to the traffic controller's radar scope displays. Previously produced by tedious manual methods, the ACD's Aeronautical Chart Automated Production (ACAP) system now provides the tools for automated production of this integral part of the FAA air traffic control system.

Perceptual Cues and Imagined Viewpoints Modulate Visual Search in Air Traffic Control Displays

2009 ◽  
Vol 53 (17) ◽  
pp. 1111-1115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan M. Palmer ◽  
Christopher M. Brown ◽  
Carolina F. Bates ◽  
Philip J. Kellman ◽  
Timothy C. Clausner
Keyword(s):  
Visual Search ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Perceptual Cues

Regional and Linguistic Agenda-Setting in Canada: A Study of Newspaper Coverage of Issues Affecting Political Integration in 1976

1980 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter C. Soderlund ◽  
Ronald H. Wagenberg ◽  
E. Donald Briggs ◽  
Ralph C. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Agenda Setting ◽  
Air Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Newspaper Coverage ◽  
Unique Characteristic ◽  
Political Integration ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers ◽  
Parti Quebecois

This note examines the way in which newspapers across Canada reported on events affecting political integration in the country during 1976. The year 1976 was significant with respect to Canada's political integration. While there were crises such as the “strike” of air traffic controllers over the introduction of French as a language of air traffic control in the province of Quebec (the incident which prompted us to undertake the study), it was of course the victory of the Parti Québécois in the November 15 election which provided the most direct challenge of all to the future of Canadian political integration. That event meant that what had been a cause for concern had now become a cause for alarm; a “situation” had become a “crisis.” A unique characteristic of this study is, therefore, that it begins in a “noncrisis” atmosphere and runs through the period of initial popular realization that the threat to “national unity” is both real and immediate.

Capturing Air Traffic Controller Expertise for Incorporation in Automated Air Traffic Control Systems

1988 ◽  
Vol 32 (16) ◽  
pp. 1031-1035
Author(s):  
Howard L. Bregman ◽  
Warren L. McCabe ◽  
William G. Sutcliffe
Keyword(s):  
Control Systems ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic Control ◽  
Human Performance ◽  
Federal Aviation Administration ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Flight Safety ◽  
Air Traffic Controller ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers

Under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sponsorship, MITRE's Human Performance Assessment Group is contributing to the design of an expert system to support air traffic control. We are working closely with a team of expert, full-performance-level air traffic controllers to capture the formal and informal rules they use in maintaining flight safety and efficiency. This paper documents our approach to working with these experts, the results of using that approach, and a distillation of lessons learned.

scholarly journals Imagined perspective modulates cue effectiveness in visual search of air traffic control displays

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1212-1212
Author(s):  
E. Palmer ◽  
C. Brown ◽  
C. Bates ◽  
T. Clausner ◽  
P. Kellman
Keyword(s):  
Visual Search ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic
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