Human factors evaluation of conflict resolution aid in future air traffic control

Air Traffic Control (ATC) safety is currently being threatened by the continuous increase in air traffic density (Airbus, 2013; Albrecht, Lee, & Pang, 2012; EUROCONTROL, 2004; ICAO, 2006, 201 O; Sheridan, 2006). The continuous increase in air traffic could potentially trigger more Loss of Sepa...

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Main Author: Fitri Trapsilawati
Other Authors: Chen Chun-Hsien
Format: Theses and Dissertations
Language:English
Published: 2017
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Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10356/71503
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Institution: Nanyang Technological University
Language: English
id sg-ntu-dr.10356-71503
record_format dspace
institution Nanyang Technological University
building NTU Library
continent Asia
country Singapore
Singapore
content_provider NTU Library
collection DR-NTU
language English
topic DRNTU::Engineering::Aeronautical engineering
spellingShingle DRNTU::Engineering::Aeronautical engineering
Fitri Trapsilawati
Human factors evaluation of conflict resolution aid in future air traffic control
description Air Traffic Control (ATC) safety is currently being threatened by the continuous increase in air traffic density (Airbus, 2013; Albrecht, Lee, & Pang, 2012; EUROCONTROL, 2004; ICAO, 2006, 201 O; Sheridan, 2006). The continuous increase in air traffic could potentially trigger more Loss of Separations (LOS) as current ATC systems are approaching maximum capacity and the existing A TC practices may not be able to sustain the imminent traffic growth (CANSO, 2012). As a pertinent evidence, in 2004, 2009, 2013, and 2014 there were 144, 72, 112, and 163 cases respectively of near/mid-air collisions (U.S. Department of Transportation, 2014). An automated Conflict Resolution Aid (CRA) has been proposed to be a plausible solution for providing an additional safety layer in the A TC. The automated CRA does not only have the function of detecting conflicts, but can also recommend controller maneuvers to eliminate the conflict. However, questions regarding suitable Human-Automation Interaction (HAI) procedures and safety critical issues in using the automated CRA in ATC remain to be answered (Prevot, Homola, Martin, Mercer, & Cabrall, 2012). The first unresolved question inquires about how the CRA reliability influences the application of the CRA, since automation reliability is arguably the most important issue in HAI. The second one questions how increased traffic density would influence the effects of CRA reliability on the use of the CRA. The third unresolved question asks how Vertical Situation Display (VSD) could support the application of the CRA in ATC facilities since lack of understanding regarding vertical situation has become one of the major causes of aviation accidents. This thesis therefore aims to address these questions. This thesis is comprised of three experimental studies corresponding to the three research questions raised above. Study 1 investigated the relationship between the CRA reliability and human performance variables, including task performance, workload, trust, dependence, and situation awareness. The results of Study 1 showed that reliable automation could support operators' performances. However, the present study also verified the benefit of the imperfectly reliable CRA on ATCOs' performances. Study 2 examined the interaction between the CRA reliability, traffic density, and ATCO performance variables. Study 2 supported the findings in Study 1 by showing that the novel CRA, whether perfect or imperfect, could improve ATCOs' performances. In addition, the results indicated that the greater benefits of the CRA were applicable in high traffic density conditions, answering the future ATC challenge. Study 3 investigated the effects of VSD and its integration with the CRA. The results of Study 3 empirically supported the integration of VSD into ATC facilities as indicated by positive effects of the display on ATCOs' human performance variables. In addition, providing the VSD when ATCOs work with the CRA could help offset the automation imperfection. The research theoretically describes various factors influencing ATCOs' performances with the CRA that covers automation as well as environmental aspects, including automation reliability, traffic density, and vertical situation display. Furthermore, this research provides empirical evidence regarding the relationships among the factors for the application of the CRA. Collectively, this research has high practical relevance. Results from this research provided practical implications for the development of future A TC workplaces, including conflict resolution automation and VSD for ATC facilities.
author2 Chen Chun-Hsien
author_facet Chen Chun-Hsien
Fitri Trapsilawati
format Theses and Dissertations
author Fitri Trapsilawati
author_sort Fitri Trapsilawati
title Human factors evaluation of conflict resolution aid in future air traffic control
title_short Human factors evaluation of conflict resolution aid in future air traffic control
title_full Human factors evaluation of conflict resolution aid in future air traffic control
title_fullStr Human factors evaluation of conflict resolution aid in future air traffic control
title_full_unstemmed Human factors evaluation of conflict resolution aid in future air traffic control
title_sort human factors evaluation of conflict resolution aid in future air traffic control
publishDate 2017
url http://hdl.handle.net/10356/71503
_version_ 1761781767144996864
spelling sg-ntu-dr.10356-715032023-03-11T18:05:03Z Human factors evaluation of conflict resolution aid in future air traffic control Fitri Trapsilawati Chen Chun-Hsien School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering DRNTU::Engineering::Aeronautical engineering Air Traffic Control (ATC) safety is currently being threatened by the continuous increase in air traffic density (Airbus, 2013; Albrecht, Lee, & Pang, 2012; EUROCONTROL, 2004; ICAO, 2006, 201 O; Sheridan, 2006). The continuous increase in air traffic could potentially trigger more Loss of Separations (LOS) as current ATC systems are approaching maximum capacity and the existing A TC practices may not be able to sustain the imminent traffic growth (CANSO, 2012). As a pertinent evidence, in 2004, 2009, 2013, and 2014 there were 144, 72, 112, and 163 cases respectively of near/mid-air collisions (U.S. Department of Transportation, 2014). An automated Conflict Resolution Aid (CRA) has been proposed to be a plausible solution for providing an additional safety layer in the A TC. The automated CRA does not only have the function of detecting conflicts, but can also recommend controller maneuvers to eliminate the conflict. However, questions regarding suitable Human-Automation Interaction (HAI) procedures and safety critical issues in using the automated CRA in ATC remain to be answered (Prevot, Homola, Martin, Mercer, & Cabrall, 2012). The first unresolved question inquires about how the CRA reliability influences the application of the CRA, since automation reliability is arguably the most important issue in HAI. The second one questions how increased traffic density would influence the effects of CRA reliability on the use of the CRA. The third unresolved question asks how Vertical Situation Display (VSD) could support the application of the CRA in ATC facilities since lack of understanding regarding vertical situation has become one of the major causes of aviation accidents. This thesis therefore aims to address these questions. This thesis is comprised of three experimental studies corresponding to the three research questions raised above. Study 1 investigated the relationship between the CRA reliability and human performance variables, including task performance, workload, trust, dependence, and situation awareness. The results of Study 1 showed that reliable automation could support operators' performances. However, the present study also verified the benefit of the imperfectly reliable CRA on ATCOs' performances. Study 2 examined the interaction between the CRA reliability, traffic density, and ATCO performance variables. Study 2 supported the findings in Study 1 by showing that the novel CRA, whether perfect or imperfect, could improve ATCOs' performances. In addition, the results indicated that the greater benefits of the CRA were applicable in high traffic density conditions, answering the future ATC challenge. Study 3 investigated the effects of VSD and its integration with the CRA. The results of Study 3 empirically supported the integration of VSD into ATC facilities as indicated by positive effects of the display on ATCOs' human performance variables. In addition, providing the VSD when ATCOs work with the CRA could help offset the automation imperfection. The research theoretically describes various factors influencing ATCOs' performances with the CRA that covers automation as well as environmental aspects, including automation reliability, traffic density, and vertical situation display. Furthermore, this research provides empirical evidence regarding the relationships among the factors for the application of the CRA. Collectively, this research has high practical relevance. Results from this research provided practical implications for the development of future A TC workplaces, including conflict resolution automation and VSD for ATC facilities. Doctor of Philosophy (MAE) 2017-05-17T05:21:11Z 2017-05-17T05:21:11Z 2017 Thesis Fitri Trapsilawati. (2017). Human factors evaluation of conflict resolution aid in future air traffic control. Doctoral thesis, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. http://hdl.handle.net/10356/71503 10.32657/10356/71503 en 242 p. application/pdf