TY - JOUR
T1 - How much is too much on monitoring tasks? Visual scan patterns of single air traffic controller performing multiple remote tower operations
AU - Li, Wen Chin
AU - Kearney, Peter
AU - Braithwaite, Graham
AU - Lin, John J.H.
N1 - Funding Information:
A period of 60 s for analysing ATCO's visual attention was supported by the consensus of experienced controllers. The live trial exercises related to remote control of over 500 live dynamic aircraft activities between Shannon and Cork airports. A project team was established to ensure that all aspects of relevant aviation activity were represented in the project. The project team consisted of a Project Manager, an ATM Specialist, a Human Factors Expert and two appropriately rated Controllers who were present for the live trials. To assure the safety of operations during the provision of service from the remote tower centre, both local towers were fully manned and operating in so-called shadow mode, capable of intervening in operations as required.
Funding Information:
The initial concept of remote tower operation (RTO) was for air traffic services (ATS) to be delivered remotely without direct observation from a local tower ( Kraiss and Kuhlen, 1996 ). Based on the concept of remote tower operations, multiple remote tower operations (MRTO) offers further opportunity for cost efficiency of air traffic services for small and medium sized airports, especially if a single controller could provide air traffic services to two (or more airports) at the same time. Remote tower technology allows one air traffic controller (ATCO) to control one or more airports at the same time, a significant consideration of course are the appropriate traffic volumes for a single air traffic controller to manage ( SESAR Joint Undertaking, 2013 , 2015 ). ATCOs use Out the Window (OTW) visualization media supported by radar data processing (RDP), electronic flight strips (EFS) and a voice communications network (VCS) to provide air traffic services ( Moehlenbrink and Papenfuss, 2011 ). This Multiple Remote Towers research project was sponsored by the Single European Sky ATM Research Program (SESAR) and the ATM Operations Division of the Irish Aviation Authority. The Remote Tower Centre (RTC) was located at Dublin Air Traffic Services Unit, 150 miles away from both Shannon and Cork airports where the services were provided simultaneously. Cork airport handled approximately 50,242 movements in 2016 and Shannon airport handled approximately 25,059 movements in 2016 ( Irish Aviation Authority, 2017 ).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018
PY - 2018/9
Y1 - 2018/9
N2 - The innovative concept of multiple remote tower operation (MRTO) is where a single air traffic controller (ATCO) provides air traffic services to two or more different airports from a geographically separated virtual Tower. Effective visual scanning by the air traffic controller is the main safety concern for human-computer interaction, as the aim of MRTO is a single controller performing air traffic management tasks originally carried out by up to four ATCOs, comprehensively supported by innovative technology. Thirty-two scenarios were recorded and analyzed using an eye tracking device to investigate the above safety concern and the effectiveness of multiple remote tower operations. The results demonstrated that ATCOs' visual scan patterns showed significant task related variation while performing different tasks and interacting with various interfaces on the controller's working position (CWP). ATCOs were supported by new display systems equipped with pan tilt zoom (PTZ) cameras allowing enhanced visual checking of airport surfaces and aircraft positions. Therefore, one ATCO could monitor and provide services for two airports simultaneously. The factors influencing visual attention include how the information is presented, the complexity of that information, and the characteristics of the operating environment. ATCO's attention distribution among display systems is the key human-computer interaction issue in single ATCO performing multiple monitoring tasks.
AB - The innovative concept of multiple remote tower operation (MRTO) is where a single air traffic controller (ATCO) provides air traffic services to two or more different airports from a geographically separated virtual Tower. Effective visual scanning by the air traffic controller is the main safety concern for human-computer interaction, as the aim of MRTO is a single controller performing air traffic management tasks originally carried out by up to four ATCOs, comprehensively supported by innovative technology. Thirty-two scenarios were recorded and analyzed using an eye tracking device to investigate the above safety concern and the effectiveness of multiple remote tower operations. The results demonstrated that ATCOs' visual scan patterns showed significant task related variation while performing different tasks and interacting with various interfaces on the controller's working position (CWP). ATCOs were supported by new display systems equipped with pan tilt zoom (PTZ) cameras allowing enhanced visual checking of airport surfaces and aircraft positions. Therefore, one ATCO could monitor and provide services for two airports simultaneously. The factors influencing visual attention include how the information is presented, the complexity of that information, and the characteristics of the operating environment. ATCO's attention distribution among display systems is the key human-computer interaction issue in single ATCO performing multiple monitoring tasks.
KW - Air traffic management
KW - Aviation safety
KW - Cost-efficiency
KW - Human-computer interactions
KW - Multiple remote tower operations
KW - Situation awareness
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ergon.2018.05.005
DO - 10.1016/j.ergon.2018.05.005
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85047439478
SN - 0169-8141
VL - 67
SP - 135
EP - 144
JO - International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
JF - International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
ER -
