Abstract
In an air traffic environment, task demand is dynamic. However, previous research has largely considered the association of task demand and controller performance using conditions of stable task demand. Further, there is a comparatively restricted understanding of the influence of task demand transitions on workload and performance in association with different types and levels of automation that are available to controllers. This study used an air traffic control simulation to investigate the influence of task demand transitions, and two conditions of automation, on workload and efficiency-related performance. Findings showed that both the direction of the task demand variation and the amount of automation influenced the relationship between workload and performance. Findings are discussed in relation to capacity and arousal theories. Further research is needed to enhance understanding of how demand transition and workload history affects operator experience and performance, in both air traffic control and other safety-critical domains.
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Notes
- 1.
Traffic density refers to the number of aircraft an ATCO is managing in their sector.
- 2.
Lining aircraft up for a runway begins many miles out from an airport as aircraft begin their descent. Aircraft begin to fly on more formalized waypoint-to-waypoint routes that “channel” them to a runway. Each set of routes is given a name, in this case “EAGUL”.
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Edwards, T., Martin, L., Bienert, N., Mercer, J. (2017). The Relationship Between Workload and Performance in Air Traffic Control: Exploring the Influence of Levels of Automation and Variation in Task Demand. In: Longo, L., Leva, M. (eds) Human Mental Workload: Models and Applications. H-WORKLOAD 2017. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 726. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61061-0_8
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