Advances in Human Aspects of Transportation: Part II

AHFE International

Accelerating Open Access Science in Human Factors Engineering and Human-Centered Computing

Advances in Human Aspects of Transportation: Part II

book-cover

Editors: Neville Stanton, Steven Landry, Giuseppe Di Bucchianico, Andrea Vallicelli

Topics: Transportation Engineering

Publication Date: 2021

ISBN: 978-1-4951-2098-5

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe100662

Articles

Evolution of a New Adjustable Motorcycle Test Rig for Measuring Motorcyclist Fatigue during Prolonged Riding

Studies concerning motorcycle have been an overwhelming area of research interest since the past few years. This trend of studies focuses on many issues relating to motorcycle including design, safety, accident preventions, fatalities statistics, ergonomics and many more. In performing these studies, researchers have used many methodologies, tools and also equipment in acquiring their data. In this study, the evolution of a new adjustable motorcycle test rig is introduced. Combination of computer aided design (CAD) and finite element analysis (FEA) software made it possible to design and simulates the test rig’s conceptual design before being fabricated. The test rig was designed to provide full adjustability for researchers to replicate established motorcyclist riding postures based on the Riding Posture Classification (RIPOC) system. The test rig setup also provides elements of environmental effects to give a more real riding experience and better fidelity to motorcyclist respondents during experiments. By having such test rig that is coupled with electronic data logger and telemetry devices, studies concerning riding postures and fatigue can be done in a much proper method and controlled experimental setup with better safety for both the respondents and researchers. Adjustable attributes provided on the test rig makes it a unique design of its own and is being patented to protect the author’s Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) on the test rig design.

Helmi Rashid, Muhammad Izzat Nor Ma’arof, Abdul Rahman Omar, Sukarnur Che Abdullah, Roseleena Jaafar

Conference Proceedings

Motorcycling: Awkward Posture Is the Best Posture!

A study has documented that there are only four possible working postures for motorcycling, yet, all of these postures are argued by another study to be generally “unfitting” for human and hence a negative option as a mode of daily transportation. Even so, contradictory to this statement, motorcycle as a mode of transportation is becoming even more popular in Asia. The objective of this study is to show that the aforementioned “unfitting” value of the motorcycling working posture is a must in motorcycling. The significance of this study is to share a new perspective in ergonomics. Three studies were conducted: First, a descriptive within-subject design research of real world motorcycling experience using participant observation method. Second, an ethnographic controlled observation to support the findings. Third, an intrinsic case study on motorcyclists who experienced comfort related issues. Results showed that motorcyclists are relatively satisfied with the riding posture since it makes it possible for them to perform the motorcycling work tasks efficiently, thus, ensuring their safety. A too comfortable riding posture actually results in the deficit of the motorcyclist’s riding performance. In short, motorcycling requires a certain level of “discomfort” in order to ensure safely.

Muhammad Izzat Nor Ma’arof, Helmi Rashid, Abdul Rahman Omar, Sukarnur Che Abdullah, Ismail Nasiruddin Ahmad, Roseleena Jaafar, Shamsury Abd Karim

Conference Proceedings

Application of Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation for the Evaluation of Vehicle Settings in a Fixed-Base Simulator

Driving simulation is a well probed and accepted technology for virtual development in automotive engineering. In the usual driving task visual perception is the most important factor. However, for the evaluation of vehicle settings in the field of driving dynamics it is essential, not only to generate realistic visual, but also vestibular cues for the driver. Therefore, dynamic driving simulators are usually applied, though they are a costly investment.Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) creates the impression of accelerations by influencing the human equilibrium organ. In flight and driving simulation successful implementations of GVS systems already exist, mainly with the focus on reducing simulator sickness or to improve driver’s adaption to the simulator.Here, a concept for linking a GVS system with a fixed-base driving simulator is introduced. First, the adaption of the GVS system to individual preferences is conducted. In a second step, the evaluation in terms of objective driving behavior and subjective survey data is investigated to describe the influence of the GVS induced acceleration perception. Experiments are run for the driver as well as the passenger role. As a result the experiment should prove, whether the user is enabled to differentiate between various vehicle settings in the field of driving dynamics, as it would be possible in a dynamic driving simulator.

Matthias Wiedemann, Wolfram Remlinger, Klaus Bengler

Conference Proceedings

Comparison of Real and Simulated Driving for a Static Driving Simulator

A traffic light assistant on a smartphone is used in real and simulated driving in an experiment. The speeding behavior of the test subjects is assessed as metric of travelled distance with more than 5 km/h above the speed limit, subjective scores by NASA-RTLX, general fuel reduction and comparison of occurring accelerations. The speeding reduction showed numerically not the same values for real and simulated driving, but the reduction effect was present in both; in real with the smaller effect. According to subjective ratings the simulator driving is judged in tendency more demanding. A fuel reduction effect for the green wave coordination found in the simulator could also be found in real traffic, but also with lower effect. The experiments revealed no absolute validity for any metric, but relative validity for some metrics.

Michael Krause, Levent Yilmaz, Klaus Bengler

Conference Proceedings

How Do Immersive Driving Environments Influence User Performances and Experiences?

Prospective evaluations of human-vehicle-interactions during early prototyping stages are important (Mayhew, 1999) to ensure safety and usability for innovative solutions. To do so, highly realistic appearing test environments will help to provide reliable and valid findings. The high-end version of a realistic test environment is a real car driving study, of course. Nevertheless, they are difficult to control, manipulate and replicate and thus to standardize. They are also more time consuming and expensive. Therefore, one economizing suggestion is the implementation of immersive (driving) environments within simulator studies to provide users a more realistic feeling. This paper discusses research investigating the influence of different levels of immersivity within driving environments. Two important influencing factors were used to examine different levels of immersivity: visual parameters and auditory parameters. Objective data and subjective user impressions were measured and analyzed. Twenty participants took part in the driving simulator study and performed the Lane Change Task within different immersivity conditions. Objective and subjective data have shown advantages for the most immersive driving environment and provide evidence to suggest a more aware and realistic perception of the driving situation. Therefore, higher immersive driving environments are suggested regarding evaluations of prospective human-vehicle-interactions.

Diana Reicha, Hanna Jorinde Wittkugelb, Rainer Starkc

Conference Proceedings

Hands and Feet Free Driving: Ready or Not?

“Almost-driverless” cars are coming with an aim to improve the safety of our roads. Full automation of longitudinal and lateral control will enable the driver to become “hands and feet free” but without active control, one question remains. What is the driver actually doing? This paper looks at how multi-system automation that enables the driver to become “hands and feet free” may affect the driving system and the role of the driver within it. Using Operator Sequence Diagrams to explore Distributed Cognition in the driving system, the authors explore the interaction that may occur between the driver and vehicle subsystems in a “hands and feet free” driving system and how this may change the drivers position within the control-feedback driving loops. Acknowledging the role of the driver in this way highlights the need for ongoing Human Factors research into the implications of highly automated vehicles on driver behavior.

Victoria A. Banks, Neville A. Stanton

Conference Proceedings

Taking Over Control from Highly Automated Vehicles

Future cars will be able to execute the longitudinal and lateral control and other subtasks of driving. Automation effects, known in other domains like aviation, rail traffic or manufacturing, will emerge in road transportation with consequences hard to predict from the present point of view. This paper discusses the current state of automation research in road traffic, concerning the take-over at system limits. Measurements like the take-over time and the maximum accelerations are suggested and substantiated with data from different experiments and literature. Furthermore, the procedure of such take-over situations is defined in a generic way. Based on studies and experience, advice is given concerning methods and lessons learned in designing and conducting take-over studies in driving simulation. This includes the test and scenario design and which dependent variables to use as metrics. Detailed information is given on how to generate proper control conditions by driving manually without automation. Core themes like how to keep situation presentation constant even for manual drivers and which measures to use to compare a take-over to manual driving are addressed. Finally, a prospect is given on further needs for research and limitations of current known studies.

Christian Gold, Klaus Bengler

Conference Proceedings

The 'Methods for Designing Future Autonomous Systems' (MODAS) Project: Developing the Cab for a Highly Autonomous Truck

Modern technologies have the potential to create a paradigm shift in the vehicle-driver relationship with advanced automation changing the driver role from “driving” to “supervising”. To design new driver environments that caters for these emerging technologies, traditional approaches identify current human and technical constraints to system efficiency and create solutions accordingly. However, there are two reasons why such approaches are limited within the technologically-evolving automotive domain. First, despite significant progress in the development of socio-technical systems theory and methods, the application of these methods is largely constrained to the existence of a current system. Second, there are few structured approaches for using the analysis results to support design. In MODAS, an attempt is made to overcome these challenges by developing and implementing a method for analyzing and designing a non-existent sociotechnical system—a highly autonomous truck. The starting point for MODAS is the Goals, Method, Observability, Controllability (GMOC) model (Sandblad, Andersson, Kauppi & Wikström, 2007). In MODAS we also consider safety in human-automation system interaction and identify suitable assessment methods via a systematic analyze of estimated situations, goals, actions and behaviors that are of high importance from a safety perspective. A summary of the project is provided.

Stas Krupeniaa, Anna Selmarkera, Johan Fagerlönnb

Conference Proceedings

End-users’ Acceptance and Use of Adaptive Cruise Control Systems

An online survey was distributed to end-users of adaptive cruise control (ACC). In total 90 drivers answered the questionnaire, which covered e.g. ACC usage and how such use affects driver behaviour. According the responses: the ACC is used primarily on roads with higher speed limits; the end-users trust the system even though it has some functional limitations; they have a very positive attitude towards the system; and positive effects on comfort and safety are observed including reduced inclination to overtake and increased compliance with speed regulations.

Niklas Strandab, I.C. MariAnne Karlssonac, Lena Nilssonab

Conference Proceedings

Ergonomic Issues in the Design of Innovative Means of Transport and Transportation Systems

This article focuses on the design of ‘a driver-passenger’ interface for two types of vehicles (Eco-car and PRT system). However, this solution has different purposes in each case. The Eco-car is driven by a human, so the issues under consideration are as follows: driving of the vehicle by upper limbs only and adaptation of key elements of the interface to the individual features of the driver. The PRT system itself combines some features of individual and public transportation. Despite the fact that the vehicle is not driven directly by the passenger, the passenger’s influence on the vehicle operations is much stronger than in conventional means of public transportation in urban areas. This article deals with the innovative design of such an interface. This research has been carried out as part of the ‘Eco-Mobility’ project, 85% co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the Operational Program-Innovative Economy.

Iwona Grabarek, Wlodzimierz Choromanski

Conference Proceedings

Lever Wheelchair for Disabled People: an Answer to the Increasing Demand for Wheelchair Mobility

Young, active disabled people with impairment of lower extremities tend to be as active, as possible considering their disabilities. For purposes of leisure and sport many wheelchair solutions have been already proposed, yet the struggle to provide efficient and economically rational means of transport that increase their mobility is still ongoing. According to various authors lever wheelchairs have certain advantages in the given field: ergonomic work conditions and high human work efficiency resulting from the lever drive concept. In our works we created a pre-prototype of such wheelchair. Our projects goal was to try to implement many different solutions which were to provide rich functionality: adjustment of levers’ length, adjustment of levers’ axis of rotation position, changeable gears including reverse gear, innovative brake mechanism. As a result we could assess which of the functional assumptions were reasonable and easy to implement and which could be useful however make the design very complicated, heavy and thus irrational. Our main conclusion was that if the lever driven wheelchair concept is to become popular, one of the key-issues in their design must be: simplicity. Additional functionality seems attractive during theoretical studies, but it’s implementation very often causes too much complication and weight gain.

Krzysztof Fiok, Włodzimierz Choromański

Conference Proceedings

Analysis of Ride Comfort on the Stairs Climbing Wheelchair

The paper presents an issue from the field of disabled people transport - analysis of ride comfort on the stairs climbing wheelchair. These studies were carried out in a simulation environment, and on a model prototype in the laboratory. The study was conducted for the author's design of a stairs climbing wheelchair and a wheelchair which is available in the commercial offer.

Grzegorz Dobrzyński, Włodzimierz Choromański, Iwona Grabarek

Conference Proceedings

Traffic Fatalities and Serious Injuries in Europe – A study of association with cultural, demographic and income variables

This contribution reviews key data on road traffic fatalities across Europe and seeks associative links between the afore-mentioned data and per capita income, new car sales and national cultural dimensions of European countries. The rate of population shift from poverty to affluence has been exponentially growing in many countries, with access to products and systems having increased. Understanding the association between cultural dimensions and road fatalities can point, at the European level, to the countries, where national dimensions of culture represent a predisposition for greater or less risk adversity and safe or unsafe road behaviors. This study may hence assist decision makers, nationally and at European level to tailor prevention campaigns and safety programs and measures to each national reality and culture. The regression model showed a single independent variable within the model of traffic fatalities per capita, which was power distance.

Isilda G. Barata a, Denis A. Coelho b

Conference Proceedings

Simulation Study of Wheelchair Manoeuvrability

The article presents simulation study results of maintaining a pre-set trajectory by wheelchairs. The objects of the study were the models of electric and manual wheelchairs. The aim of these simulations was to analyse the influence of various drive models on the capability of maintaining a pre-set trajectory.

Grzegorz Dobrzyński, Włodzimierz Choromański, Krzysztof Fiok

Conference Proceedings

Augmented Reality Head-Up-Display for Advanced Driver Assistance System: A Driving Simulation Study

Research and technological advance in the field of Augmented Reality (AR) is growing rapidly (Mas, 2011). One of the new application domains is the automobile industry, linked to the necessary men machine aspects of Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS). Relevant road traffic as well as useful navigation or path planning information may be displayed using partially or totally the windshield surface thanks to these emerging technologies. However, the way road traffic, signs or vehicle information is displayed impacts strongly driver’s attention with increased mental workload and safety concerns. Research in perceptual and human factors assessment is needed for relevant and correct display of this information for maximal road traffic safety as well as optimal driver comfort. At Renault, research is carried out in a number of automotive AR domains: the used information type and visual grammar, visual perception for the displayed information (depth, localization), and real time mixed reality, that is matching virtual and real environment. The main goal of this presented experiment was to study whether head movement impacts AR depth perception and thus modifying displayed image quality and decreasing driver performance. For this purpose, a driving simulator experiment, carried out in the CAVE Immersive Integration Platform (P2I) Driving Simulator, we analyzed: driver head movements during different realistic situations, preferences scale in each specific situation, and thus with and without head tracked conditions. Primary data shows a strong preference for the tracked system condition and the statistical scale factor was very significant.

Lynda Halit abc, Andras Kemeny ab, Hakim Mohellebia, Samir Garbayab, Frédéric Mérienneb, Sylvain Michelinc, Valentin Albautd

Conference Proceedings

Eco-Driving with Electric Cars: Effect of Continuous and On-Demand Feedback on Driving Behavior and Safety

Analysis of driver behavior has been the purpose of many studies for several years. A new aspect is the introduction of electric vehicles on the car market and the fact drivers are more concerned with their consumptions in EV (Electric Vehicle) due to the lack of the appropriate infrastructures. However, only a few studies focusing on ecological behavior and consumption have been carried out. The primary goal of the present study was to assess empirically the impact of feedback on EV driving behavior involving autonomy management performance. We hypothesized that we could help the driver to manage his autonomy more efficiently if we’d give him feedback on his driving behavior and battery consumption. Our second hypothesis is that participants would allocate more attention on feedback information when they reach a critical battery autonomy situation, so the subjects had to drive a course with 100% and 15% autonomy left. Preliminary results indicate better driver performances and enhanced safety with Econometer gauge feedback, probably due to the increased driver control and better applied driver attention.

Beloufa Sabrinaabc, Vailleau Benjamina, Boucheix Jean-Michelb, Kemeny Andrasab, Mérienne Frédéricb

Conference Proceedings

Effects of Interface Complexity of Head-up Display on Drivers’ Driving Performance and Self-Perception

This paper focused on the effects of interface complexity of HUDs on drivers’ driving performance and self-perception. During the experiment, participants need to perform four tasks, namely car-following, lane changing, speed control, and response to an urgent event, all with either of five randomly chosen HUD interfaces with different levels of complexity shown to the drivers. The questionnaires to investigate drivers’ driving easiness, satisfaction, efficiency, mental workload and task complexity were collected immediately after finishing the tasks. Results showed that both perceived effectiveness and satisfaction have reverse “U” shape relationship with HUD interface complexity. This paper made a contribution to interface design of HUDs on automobiles as well as made suggestions on information complexity design, which can improve drivers’ driving performance and safety.

Shuling Li, Dunxing Wang, Wei Zhang

Conference Proceedings

Influence of Information Flows on the Results of a Driver’s Activity in the System «Driver – Car – Road – Environment»

The article deals with the impact of information flows on results of the driver’s activity in the system «driver – car – road – environment». Existing research on the impact of information flows on the characteristics of the driver are analyzed in this paper. It is determined that the previous studies do not study sufficiently the impact of information obtained from the additional sources (bill-boards on the side of roads, cell phones etc.) on the activity of the driver and do not research time of driver’s distraction from performing main activities. As a result of laboratory studies the mathematical model of the impact of information flows based simultaneously on indicators of Electroencephalography (EEG) and EEG and ECG of time of driver’s distraction from performing main activities is formed. Correlations of impact of information obtained from additional sources on time of driver’s distraction from performing of main activity are received. Statistical evaluations of the obtained models demonstrate their adequacy and possible implementations.

Viktor Dolya, Ivetta Afanasieva, Urii Davidich, Iryna Englezi, Nizami Gyulyev, Oleksii Prasolenko

Conference Proceedings

Deconstructing the Whole Journey Traveler Experience

Understanding travelers’ experiences across the whole journey lifecycle is becoming increasingly important for defining and optimizing mobility for all travelers (active travelers and those using public and/or private modes of transport), for transport operators, transport authorities, municipalities and the designers of transport technology. Integrated transport solutions will see greater amalgamation of journey planners, route navigation systems and advanced parking and payment applications, through to vehicle prioritization. The FP7 project, METPEX aims to create a suite of measurement instruments which will capture in real time or retrospectively the whole journey experience, from planning to arrival at destination, across different transport modes. The paper will firstly outline the human factors of each stage of the traveler’s journey. Secondly, it will review the approaches currently used by transport operators to measuring the quality of the passenger experience. Thirdly, the aims and objectives of the METPEX project will be discussed together with work undertaken in the first year of the project, in relation to the development and validation of an extensive set of variables.

Andree Woodcock, Jane Osmond, Gabriela Rodica Hrin, Olympia Papadopoulou, Oded Cats, Yusak Susilo, Tiago Pimentel, Owen O’Reilly

Conference Proceedings

Comparative Analysis of Driving Maneuvers Using 3D Body Posture Data

Research has shown that driver inattention is the most prevalent cause of traffic collisions accounting for an estimated 25 to 56% of crashes in the US. Driver inattention may result from drivers engagement in secondary activities (such as texting or cell phone use), or lack of awareness of the surrounding environment. The main objective of this research is to investigate the relationship between potentially unsafe driving events and the actual driver body posture and movements when performing a driving maneuver under different traffic configurations. The paper presents results from a pilot study that captured the 3-D posture and activity of three drivers while performing both mandatory (merging) and discretionary (lane changing) maneuvers on freeway and arterial segments in Gainesville, Florida. The body posture of the drivers was captured through the use of a low-cost infrared depth sensor. A 7-point human skeletal model was fit to the captured depth frame sequences using our proposed framework. The comparative analysis of the participants’ body movements while performing the maneuvers revealed differences between the participants’ body activity when performing the same maneuvers. The findings of this research provide significant insights regarding which body movements may hide unsafe situations while performing a driving maneuver that requires the attention of the surrounding environment.

Alexandra Kondyli a, Virginia P. Sisiopiku b, Liangke Zhao c, Angelos Barmpoutis c

Conference Proceedings

Driving Behavior at Intersections Equipped with Red Light Cameras – A Monte Carlo Simulation Based on Driving Simulator Data

Background: Various impact evaluation studies of red light cameras (RLCs) showed an increase of rear-end collisions (up to 44%). Objective: To evaluate the driving and looking behavior of drivers at intersections equipped with RLCs in an urban area. Method: 63 participants passed an intersection without RLC, with RLC, and with RLC + warning sign (RLCWS) in a driving simulator. These data were used to estimate the risk of rear-end collisions by means of a Monte Carlo Simulation. Results: The relative risk of rear-end collisions for the intersection without RLC, with RLC, and with RLCWS was 1.97%, 12.65%, and 7.89% respectively. A higher percentage of participants observed the RLC when they stopped for the yellow light at the intersection with RLC, compared to the participants who did not stop (62% vs. 28%). Conclusion: Based on the Monte Carlo Simulation, risk of rear-end collisions increases when RLCs are installed. However, this risk decreases when a RLCWS is placed upstream. Application: Road administrations must consider the installation of RLCs very carefully. When RLCs are needed at certain intersections (e.g. to prevent red light running), road administrations should also deliberate about the potential of RLCWS in order to reduce the risk of rear-end collisions.

Cornu Joris, Brijs Kris, Daniels Stijn, Brijs Tom, Hermans Elke, Wets Geert

Conference Proceedings

Electric Vehicle Drivers Overcome Range Anxiety Prior to Their First Trip

Consumers’ concerns over the drive range of an electric vehicle (EV) are widely acknowledged as the key reason for the non-acceptance of EVs. Yet to-date, the underpinnings of the phenomenon ‘range anxiety’ remain under researched and poorly understood. Pre-trial interview data were analysed from drivers in the United Kingdom BMW MINI E trial in order to explore the psychosocial factors drivers experience vis-à-vis range and to understand how drivers perceive and mentally construct range. Results revealed a four-stage process of cognition, whereby drivers’ preconceptions of the EV range precipitated anticipatory concerns regarding running out of charge, leading to one of four strategies that directly guided their intended behaviour, in a manner that enabled them to avoid experiencing range anxiety. The results are discussed in relation to challenging drivers’ pre-trial mind-sets, in order to change the way in which the range is perceived.

Sarah Mansbridge, Mark Burgess, Margaret Harris

Conference Proceedings

Parking Behaviors for Inductive Charging

It is well established that the efficiency of transfer of electrical energy through induction is highly reliant on accurate alignment of the coils involved – in this case, between a primary coil in the parking bay and a secondary coil mounted on the vehicle. Whist inductive charging technology is market ready, understanding the issue of misalignment is an important human factors question and the focus of this paper. A retrospective assessment of parking behavior was conducted by recording parking orientation and alignment of 100 vehicles, parked in perpendicular bays, in three different car parks at the University of Warwick. Results showed on average vehicles tended to park 3.1 cm to the left of the bay, with an angle of practically zero. Parking was typically towards the rear of the bay; however the presence of a physical barrier led to vehicles being parked more centrally. The orientation of the parked vehicle had little impact on accuracy. Tolerances for misalignment with inductive charging systems are small in comparison to the distribution of parking accuracy observed in this study, at 15-20 cm verses 120 cm respectively. Conclusions were that only 5% of vehicles were parked sufficiently accurately to allow inductive power transfer to commence.

Stewart Birrell, Daniel Wilson, Gunwant Dhadyalla

Conference Proceedings

Combining Human Factors Methods with Transport Data Recordings

Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) is the process by which data from on-board recorders, or so-called ‘black boxes’, is analysed after every journey to detect subtle trends which, if allowed to continue, could lead to an accident. An opportunity has been identified to advance the state of the art in FDM processes by coupling recorder data to established Human Factors methodologies so that issues arising from the strategically important human/machine-system interface can be better understood and diagnosed. The research has also identified a significantly underused source of recorder-data within the railway industry. Taking this data, the paper demonstrates how key areas of driver performance can be quantified using a simple behavioural cluster detection method coupled to sensitivity and response bias metrics. Faced with a class of operational accident that is increasingly human-centred, an underused source of data, and methods that can join it to established human performance concepts, the potential for detecting risks in advance of an accident are significant.

Guy Walker, Ailsa Strathie

Conference Proceedings

Key Players and Their Interactions Within the Young Driver Road Safety System: Perspectives and Partners

Young driver road safety has persisted as a global problem for over 50 years, despite a plethora of intervention. Interventions have emerged from a driver-centric approach, and as such predominantly focus upon “fixing-the-driver”. An alternative approach with traction in other safety critical, high risk, domains is systems thinking, which recognises there are a multitude of influential actors (eg, government agencies, community groups) within the broader road safety system that influence young driver safety. Premised on a description of the young driver road safety system (YDRSS) that describes the actors across six levels, interviews were held with 42 actors important in young driver road safety. Synthesis of semi-structured interview transcripts revealed some horizontal integration (interaction amongst actors in the same level) and limited vertical integration (interaction between actors in lower and higher levels), suggesting the current YDRSS is ineffective. A systems approach integrating findings from the driver-centric approach whilst deepening understandings of the complex web of interrelationships amongst actors offers a unique solution to a complex problem. Thus the interviews have revealed avenues of intervention in the YDRSS that can lead to improvements in their road safety and in the road safety of all who share the road with them.

Bridie Scott-Parkera, Paul Salmona, Natassia Goodea, Teresa Senserrickb

Conference Proceedings

Pathways to Failure? Using Work Domain Analysis to Predict Accidents in Complex Systems

Forecasting accidents before they occur is the final frontier for safety science. Although this has long been recognized, the discipline of human factors has yet to produce an appropriate methodology for achieving this. This paper presents some of the findings from an exploratory study in which the abstraction hierarchy method from the work domain analysis phase of cognitive work analysis was used to predict potential accidents. Using rail level crossings as a test case, the exploratory study revealed that the abstraction hierarchy method was able to predict a range of failure pathways that could potentially lead to a collision between a road user and a train at rail level crossings. In addition, certain features of the abstraction hierarchy method were found to make it highly consistent with contemporary systems level views on accident causation, including that it provides a systems level analysis of potential accident pathways, that is does not support a focus on broken human components (since the abstraction hierarchy model is actor independent), and that the primary focus is on the relationships between components rather than the components themselves. Further testing of the approach is recommended, including sensitivity and validity testing whereby the predictions made are compared to real world events.

Paul M. Salmona, Michael G. Lenneb, Gemma Readb, Guy H. Walkerc, Neville A. Stantond

Conference Proceedings

How Much Route Guidance is Enough?

Four archetypal street patterns were modelled using traffic microsimulation, populated with vehicles possessing various levels of route guidance, and run multiple times to reveal outcomes in terms of journey length, duration, cost and carbon emissions. The findings show that the topology of urban street patterns interacts strongly with the amount of route guidance provided. In some network types the amount of route guidance provided led to consistent improvements in network and vehicle performance, whilst in other networks the same performance could be achieved with 100% route guidance as it could with 0%. A fundamental relationship is revealed between the universal network coefficient Beta (β) and the overall level of route guidance required to optimise performance across all variables. The implications for telematics strategies are profound: it seems every driver does not need to know everything in order to bring about optimal network performance. Indeed, there may be more self-optimization than we think.

Guy Walker, Alastair Manson

Conference Proceedings

Life in the Wild? Using Ergonomics Systems Methods and Field of Safe Travel Theory to Evaluate Intersection Designs

A safe systems approach has been acknowledged as the underlying philosophy of contemporary road safety strategies. Despite this, systemic applications in road transport evaluation and design remain sparse. This paper explores the value of using Ergonomics design and evaluation methods such as Cognitive Work Analysis in conjunction with road transport theories such as the field of safe travel to provide easily interpretable analyses of road designs. The goal is that this would provide a facilitation platform for communication between Ergonomics analysts and road transport designers, aiming to facilitate systemic applications in road transport. The application of Cognitive Work Analysis and the field of safe travel theory in the evaluation of a new intersection design concept demonstrated that this proves a promising cross method collaboration. Cognitive Work Analysis provided the analytical detail of road user behavior possible as a result of the interaction between the intersection design, road users, vehicles and the environment. Subsequently, the field of safe travel theory provided a visual means to communicate these findings directly related to the intersection designs. The application furthermore provided additional insights into the constraints acting upon the field of safe travel and the paths that road users can possibly take within this field.

Miranda Cornelissen ab, Paul Salmon c, Neville Stantond, Roderick McClure a

Conference Proceedings

Extracting Design Information from the Outputs of Systems Analysis: A Case Study in Public Transport Ticketing

Analysis and design activities underpinned by the systems thinking are required for the design of modern complex sociotechnical systems. Cognitive work analysis is a commonly used analysis framework for understanding complex systems. Although the framework was developed with a view to then using analysis outputs to inform system design, questions about its direct application to design remain. This paper will describe an approach that was developed to support the translation of cognitive work analysis outputs into design-relevant information. The approach was applied to a case study analysis of a public transport ticketing system, with the insights documented during the analysis being used to prepare design materials for a participatory design workshop. The process of identifying design-relevant information from the analysis outputs and applying this to the preparation of design materials was found to be structured and efficient, providing the potential for traceability between analysis and design without constraining the creativity required for design innovation.

Gemma J. M. Reada, Paul M. Salmonb, Michael G. Lennéc, Daniel P. Jenkinsd

Conference Proceedings

Social Media Monitoring as a Tool for the Development of Disruptive Innovations

Understanding how electric vehicles (EVs) are driven in the real world has massively advanced with the implementation of the MINI E and BMW ActiveE field trials. The results of these studies served as a key learning project for the development of the BMW i3, the first purpose-designed EV produced by the BMW Group. Especially in the early phases of the fields trial in 2009, the design of user research and analysis methods posed a challenge as it was unclear how users would react to an EV. As with all disruptive innovations, the collection of immediate and unbiased feedback as well as long-term feedback was required to separate first-contact phenomena from permanent effects. Our research partners from academia therefore established a research schedule with repeated face-to-face interviews and diaries. In order to make sure that the questions asked also sufficiently reflect the customers’ everyday life with the EV, social media monitoring was established as a means to participate in usual driving and charging experiences and to support the development of the methods tool set. This approach proved to be very fruitful as early tendencies in customer satisfaction and dissatisfaction were identified and later on systematically reviewed with quantitative methods. Several examples of relevant findings in the MINI E field trial are presented and social media monitoring is discussed as a tool for customer feedback in the development chain. Presented as a case study for the development of electric vehicles, the data basis for this discussion are 2242 Facebook and relevant blog comments of US MINI E users between April 2009 and October 2011.

Andreas Keinath, Roman Vilimek

Conference Proceedings

Does Range Anxiety Exists? Experiences from the ELVIRE Project

This paper reports on the results from the EU-project ELVIRE regarding the phenomenon of range anxiety, the fear of not reaching the destination in an electrical vehicle (EV). Presented is the initial analysis of a questionnaire study with 42 Swedish EV drivers targeting their experience of range from a behavioural perspective (e.g., driving habits), as well as from a psychological perspective (e.g., experience of unease while driving). The following questions are addressed: (a) How is range anxiety portrayed by EV drivers? and (b) What is the role of experience of EVs for range anxiety? Regarding (a), findings show that the drivers’ posses a behaviour indicating that they suffer from range anxiety, although, they explicitly state that they have a low level of range anxiety; highlighting the unconscious nature of range anxiety. Regarding (b), statistical analysis show that there is a significant difference in level of experienced range anxiety and understandings of vehicle information but no significant difference in driving style between drivers who has more than 6-months experience compared to those with less than 6-month experience; indicating that driving style are manifested early on and stays stable over time.

Maria Nilsson ab

Conference Proceedings

Attitude Towards Electric Vehicles in the Czech Republic

Present study deals with the attitudes of people in the Czech Republic towards electric vehicles. Research was carried out in the form of a questionnaire, which was filled by 245 persons aged 17-81 years from all over the Czech Republic. The results show that for most respondents is the acquisition of electric vehicle few conceivable. The most common reason is the cost. Other reasons are a small number of charging stations, small trunk and limited commuting travel. The results also show that between men and women is not a statistically significant difference in attitudes to electric vehicles in general. The exception is the attitude to the fact that electric vehicles are environmentally friendly and the area of the purchase price. Women, compared to men, perceive less the cost of electric vehicles as excessive. At the same time women (unlike men) consider electric vehicles as much more environmentally friendly.

Petr Zámečník a, Matúš Šuchab, Pavel Řezáč a, Kateřina Bohmová a

Conference Proceedings

New Features on Noise, Vibration and Harshness Posed by the Next Generation of Vehicles

Traffic noise is generally considered one of the most important sources of environmental pollution in urban and interurban areas. Each individual vehicle in the traffic flow contributes to the total emission by means of three different sub-sources: noise emitted by engine, exhaust and transmission; aerodynamic noise; and noise radiated during tire/road interaction. Those sub-sources play a different role depending on the characteristics of the traffic, i.e. for low speed traffic – less than 30km/h – mechanical noise coming from engine and drive chain is the prominent, whilst for high speed – above 30km/h – the main contribution is related to tire/road noise. The new generation of hybrid and electric vehicles (HEVs) will contribute to a reduction of noise pollution through reduced use or inexistence of the internal combustion engine. That feature, which is positive for environmental noise control, carries a negative connotation since low noise emissions of HEVs represent an actual danger to pedestrians. Also drivers of HEVs should adapt their driving style and behavior to the new features related to noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) inside the cabin. In order to solve that problem, warning sounds are being designed by HEVs manufacturers, but, it is not actually known how those new sounds will integrate into urban soundscapes. These and many other questions arise related to the increased presence of electric vehicles in city car fleets. The Research Group in Applied Mechanical Engineering of Miguel Hernandez University in Spain is currently coordinating the COST TU1105 Action “NVH analysis techniques for design and optimization of hybrid and electric vehicles”, together with the Noise and Vibration Research Group of KU Leuven in Belgium. The aim of the Action is to engage NVH experts from vehicle industry and renowned research groups in the accumulation, development and dissemination of novel analysis techniques to be developed for the next generation of vehicles and their drivers. In this article, new features posed by HEVs are discussed and latest developments on the topic are presented.

Nuria Campillo-Davoa, Miguel Sanchez-Lozanoa, Ramon Peral-Ortsa, Bert Pluymersb, Wim Desmetb

Conference Proceedings

Pushing the Limits? Regenerative Braking in Takeover Situations

The aim of the study was to investigate if individual experience in driving an electric vehicle (EV) influences the interaction with regenerative braking. Therefore, a field experiment was developed to explore driver behavior in takeover situations. Here regenerative braking reaches its limits, so drivers must use the conventional brake to come to a stop in a safety manner. Furthermore, it was tested, if trust towards regenerative braking changes as experience in driving an electric vehicle increases. Especially the changes in trust when regenerative braking meets its limits were investigated. Results showed that drivers with little EV-experience come closer to a stop in front of stop line and overshot this stop line more often compared to inexperienced drivers. Trust towards regenerative braking increased slightly after the subjects without driving experience gained experience in driving an electric vehicle und decreased after takeover situations. Altogether subjects with little EV-experience showed a higher trust in regenerative braking than subjects without EV driving experience. Finally, the impact of trust on driver behavior is discussed as a possible explanation for our findings.

Claudia Witzlack, Peter Cocron, Josef F. Krems

Conference Proceedings

Examining User-Range Interaction in Battery Electric Vehicles – a Field Study Approach

In order to provide users with an optimal range-related user experience, it is essential to develop a comprehensive understanding of everyday user-range interaction. For this to happen, it is important to sample a high amount of situations where battery-electric vehicle (BEV) users must actively interact with the range resources of their BEV. The present contribution presents the methodology (i.e., a toolbox to study user-range interaction) and preliminary results of a field study that was designed to reach this objective: The BMW ActiveE long-distance commuter field trial in the area of Leipzig, Germany. Within this study, a sample of 75 customers was given the opportunity to drive a BEV for three months. Applicants were recruited via an online screening questionnaire. In order to be selected, participants had to drive at least 90 km per day. A comprehensive data set was generated based on qualitative interviews, questionnaires, diary methods, and data loggers. Relevant constructs were identified and translated into items/scales or specific score definitions. Initial results show that even users who have high daily mobility needs can cope with the limited range of a BEV. However, results also point to the potential of strategies aimed at supporting users in adapting to BEV range to reach an optimal user experience even under conditions of high range demand.

Thomas Frankea, Madlen Günthera, Maria Trantowa, Josef F. Kremsa

Conference Proceedings

Advanced In-Vehicle Applicationsto Mitigate Driver Aggression

Aggressive behavior at the steering wheel has been indicated as a contributing factor in a majority of crashes and anger has been compared to alcohol impairment in terms of probability to cause a crash. It has been shown that being in a state of anger or excitement while driving can decrease the drivers’ performances. . This paper reports the evaluation of 6 novel design alternatives of In-Vehicle Information Systems (IVIS) aimed at mitigating driver aggression. Each application presented was designed to tackle the following contributing factors to driver aggression: competitiveness, anonymity, territoriality, stress as well as social and emotional isolation. The 6 applications were simulated using computer vision algorithm to automatically overlay the real traffic conditions with ‘Head-Up Display’ visualizations. Two applications emerged over the others from participant’s evaluation: shared music combined the known calming effect of music with the sense of sympathy and intimacy caused by hearing other drivers’ music. The Shared Snapshot application provided an immediate gratification and was evaluated as a potential prevention of roadside quarrels. The paper presents Theoretical foundation, participant’s evaluations, implications and limitations of the study.

Alessandro Soroa, Sabine Wollstädterb, Andry Rakotonirainya

Conference Proceedings

Experimental Studies on Driver’s Expectations Regarding the Positions of Display and Control Elements in the Car Cockpit

The number of functions within the car cockpit is increasing continuously independent from the class of vehicle. The driver’s cognitive resources are mainly occupied by the traffic, while there are several other possible tasks which can be diverting. Driver’s tasks include tasks of controlling the vehicle, checking relevant display information, adjusting navigation or infotainment systems etc. Despite these sources of diversion in safety relevant situations the driver must be able to find crucial display and control elements immediately and without confusion to avoid an accident. In these situations the driver is using evolutionary developed patterns of behaviour which are activated unconsciously and differing from learned system knowledge. The present work is meant to reveal driver’s expectations regarding the positions of relevant interface elements in the car cockpit. Results are concluded on the basis of a standardised cockpit to give independent design recommendations. The effects and relevance of intuitively expected positions in comparison to unfavourable positions of different interface elements are verified by reaction time measurements.

Matti Schwalk, Stephan Hetzinger, Thomas Maier

Conference Proceedings

Evaluation of Telematic Applications for Information Provision in Public Transport

This paper investigates various parameters that are related with the information provided by telematics applications in public transport. The telematics applications examined are a) a web site portal that provides real time information to PT users, b) a smartphone application that utilizes the advantages of location identification and c) an interactive voice response (IVR) system. The examination was performed through a revealed and stated preference questionnaire-survey that was addressed to public transport users in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece. The parameters investigated are related with the socioeconomic background of the public transport users, their mobility patterns and attitudes as well as with stated opinions about changes that telematics applications may have on their current travel behavior. Finally, a linear multiple regression model was developed, indicating that the parameters which may have an impact on the perceived cost of these application (as a percentage of the total fare level) are related with the application itself, the age of the PT user as well as with his/her educational level.

Andrzej Szarataa, Olga Kokkinoub, Socrates Basbasb, Ioannis Politisb

Conference Proceedings

A Driving Simulator Study on the Effect of Transversal Rumble Strips Located Nearby Dangerous Curves Under Repeated Exposure

This study examined drivers’ behavior nearby dangerous curves when they are repeatedly exposed to the same transversal rumble strips which were located on the tangent before the curve. During a period of five successive days, sixteen participants completed a 17km test-drive in a driving simulator with four dangerous curves (two without and two with transversal rumble strips) in a within-subjects design. The selection of these curves was based on the official Belgian accident database and both curves were replicated in the driving simulator as detailed and realistic as possible. Results indicated that the transversal rumble strips induced a speed reduction of 2.3 to 5.9 kph on the tangent before the curve. This speed reduction effect sustained over the experimental period of five days. Taking the speed reduction effect into account, we can conclude that transversal rumble strips have a potential positive traffic safety effect because the reduced speed on the tangent provides more time to the drivers to make a good evaluation of the curve characteristics and environment and adapt their driving behavior in an appropriate way. Notwithstanding, we advise policy makers to make a good selection of potential dangerous curves to avoid excessive implementation of transversal rumble strips.

Caroline Ariën, Kris Brijs, Wesley Ceulemans, Giovanni Vanroelen

Conference Proceedings

Development of a Concept for Ergonomic Design and Work Organization of Remote Lock Operation Centers

A trend can be observed towards grouping and shifting local operations to centralized remote lock operation centers (RLOCs) due to costs and limitations in personnel resources and the increasing automation level of technical systems. However, safety-critical activities still require active monitoring of processes by a human operator with help of adequate technical systems and interfaces. Therefore, many video images and abstract representations must be shown simultaneously at one workplace to guarantee an all-inclusive overview. Given this situation, it has to be determined from an ergonomic point of view how many systems (e.g. lock chambers) can be controlled by one operator. Therefore, the challenge is to develop a new efficient and ergonomic control concept for RLOCs that prevents straining work conditions in terms of mental over- and underload. This control concept should enable the short-term and situation-dependent allocation of systems to operators. Moreover, prospective personnel resource planning and the design of the control panels have to be adapted to the control concept and human performance factors.The following paper presents a study covering the analysis of tasks and processes in remote lock operation centers around Germany including soft- and hardware design components in use. Based on the results, a new concept integrating ergonomic requirements for remote control and monitoring has been developed. This concept enables the assignment of optimal workload to one workplace by determining the potential straining condition within one shift. For the purpose of integrating prospective and retrospective evaluation, a practical guide for personnel management and scheduling has been developed. It includes a questionnaire and calculation specifications that can be generically adapted to other remote operation centers. In addition to the strain which is evoked by the main tasks of lock control and monitoring, it also considers the impact of additional tasks. Based on the developed concept for remote control and monitoring and in accordance with the assessed ergonomic design requirements, the control panel layout has been determined with regard to anthropometric dimensions.

J. Bützler, F. Motz, A. Mertens, H. Horoufchin, C. Bröhl, N. Jochems, C. M. Schlick

Conference Proceedings

Perceived and Real Impacts of Digital Advertising Billboards on Driving Performance

This paper explores perceived and real impacts of digital advertising billboards on driving performance of individuals from representative samples across the lifespan. Perceived impacts were assessed through an online driver questionnaire that documented perceptions and attitudes of Alabama motorists as they relate to roadside billboards. The questionnaire solicited demographic information, inputs on driving patterns and attitudes, drivers’ experiences with advertising billboards, and perceptions regarding presence and type of advertising billboard and traffic safety. Actual impacts of digital advertising billboards on driving performance were examined using a data-informed, empirical driving simulator study. Driving performance variables of interest were electronically coded by the simulator (i.e., lane deviations, speed exceedances, and crashes and statistical analyses were performed to test whether digital billboards presented driving performance decrements. The paper provides detailed description of the study approach and major findings and discusses conclusions and recommendations. The study sheds light on the impact of roadside advertisements on driving performance across the lifespan which, in turn, provides useful insights on the potential links between digital outdoor advertising and traffic safety.

Virginia P. Sisiopiku, Md Mozahidul Islam, Shannon Wittig, Sharon C. Welburn, Despina Stavrinos

Conference Proceedings

Recording and Evaluation Procedure of Drivers’ Distraction in Accordance with Driver’s Characteristics in High Speed Arterials

Over the last years, distracted driving constitutes a considerably increasing road safety problem with disastrous results and it possesses a leading position among the accidents causes. The present study deals with driver’s distraction due to out of the vehicle factors as well as factors related to the driver such as age, gender, driving experience etc. Considering exterior factors as the most significant, we can group them in four categories: built roadway, situational entities, the natural environment, and the built environment. Regarding the fourth category, it is related to the wide variety of civil infrastructure, the commercial land use combined with the high vehicle speeds. All these contribute to the setup of a very dangerous environment by increasing driver’s distraction and inattention. This research is based on a medium scale experimental procedure which took place in three urban freeways in Greece, using a sample of 77 drivers. The distraction of the driver’s attention is evaluated via a continuous recording of his gaze which acts as the main indicator regarding driver’s performance. The main objective of this paper is to assess the side effects of roadside advertising and overloaded informational signs to driver’s distraction and inattention. The results of this type of research procedures are very useful as a tool to prevent the forthcoming pressure for more and more billboards and trademarks on the roads as well as to encourage the adaptation of more precise regulations with regard to the road infrastructure, the placement of roadside elements, etc.

Eleni Misokefalou, Nikolaos Eliou

Conference Proceedings

Driving Maneuver Prediction Based on Driver Behavior Observation

With respect to an increasing amount of driver assistance systems and automated driving functions, a higher chance of unappreciated action and intervention of these systems can be registered, which in turn lowers the acceptance by drivers and passengers. A reduction of unnecessary warnings and interventions can be achieved by making them adaptive to driver’s intentions and maneuvers planning. In order to learn which driver behavior indicates certain maneuver intentions, a rater-based method using video recordings is proposed in this paper. Three driving maneuvers, namely turning, changing lane and braking for a pedestrian who intends to cross the road, were chosen for analyzing their predictability due to behavior observation. As a first step, a driving simulator study was conducted in order to collect behavior data of 24 drivers. Subsequently, clearly distinguishable behavior classes for each maneuver were extracted from video data, resulting in five superior behavior categories with 29 behavioral classes. Based on these classes four human observers were trained to detect at the earliest convenience maneuver intentions. Overall in 97 % of all cases the observers could predict the maneuvers. Inter-rater reliabilities showed to be between κ= 0.30 and κ = 1.00.

Frederik Diederichsa, Gloria Pöhlerb

Conference Proceedings

Impact of Music Tempo on Simulated Driving Performance

It is known that drivers often listen to music when they are in their vehicle. Listening to music while driving can impact drivers’ behaviours in several ways, through emotion induction or arousal changes for instance. It has already been shown that various musical tracks with different tempos (i.e. the music pace) can impair drivers’ performances (Brodsky, 2002). The current study focused on the impact of music tempo on vehicular control by using the same music track played at different tempos. Four experimental conditions associated with four different versions of the same track, differing only by their tempos, have been used while participants had to follow a lead vehicle and then drive with no particular constraints. Participants had to drive in a simulated environment without music, with the music track of their choice, with the music of their choice but with a modified tempo (+10% of the regular tempo and -10% of the regular tempo). Results indicated that the music tempo slightly changed the level of arousal of participants as observed through heart rate and subjective questionnaires data. However these changes in the arousal level did not translate into driving behaviours modifications (i.e. inter-vehicle time while following a lead vehicle and speed in free driving context).

Jordan Navarro, Emanuelle Reynaud

Conference Proceedings

Development and Application of a Hybrid Control Theory Model to Quantify Human-Machine Interaction Problems on the Flight Deck

Previous work has been conducted by McRuer [McRuer, 1973] to model the gain and delay of the pilot-aircraft system using classic control theory methods. However, a continuous extraction of gain and delay further enhances the ability to gather valuable, quantitative data to make inferences about human-machine interaction problems that occur on the flight deck. A parameter tracking system, based on McRuer’s crossover model, has been developed to simultaneously and continuously track the gains and delays at the pilot-machine interface with which pilots track particular axes. The values extracted for gain and delay may be indicative of particular human factors issues that are prevalent in the cockpit, such as inattention, complacency, low situational awareness, and high workload. This model has been developed for use in an artificial tracking task, where it has been observed that if gain and delay are allowed to change freely, the model is overfit and not realistic, as it is believed that gain and delay change rarely, though not necessarily slowly. To combat this, one gain/one delay is applied to the system to find time periods where the fit is poor, and these frames of time are then re-evaluated to find a gain/delay value that fits, and this method is applied across all poorly fit time periods to create a well-fit model. This method of modeling is then applied to a realistic flight simulation task for pilots and is intended to evaluate the levels of gain and delay for specific human-machine tasks incurred on the flight deck, and which axis are affected the most in flight.

Caitlin Anne Surakitbanharn a, Steven J. Landry b

Conference Proceedings

How Can Procedures and Checklists Help Pilots in Abnormal Flight Situations?

This paper introduces a flight simulator study to evaluate procedures and checklists for use in abnormal situations. These utilities are meant to support pilots in hazardous situations, but for extreme situations, they might be inappropriate. Sixty crews (A340, A320) were required to fly in an abnormal flight scenario with a technical defect (loss of one main hydraulic system), which leads to several subsequent events. The aircrews had to mitigate these situations in order to safely land. The decreasing remaining fuel intensified time pressure while overloaded procedures had to be performed. In this study, the provided procedures were tested in this simulated crisis scenario.

Andreas Haslbeck, Patrick Gontar, Ekkehart Schubert

Conference Proceedings

Using System-wide Trust Theory to Analyze Passenger Loss of Trust in Aircraft Automation

The current study focuses on airline passengers and how they might be affected by the contagion of an unreliable automated device. Participants took part in an online survey where they were presented with a scenario in which they were on an airline flight and oxygen masks erroneously dropped from the compartment above. They were then asked to rate their trust in that automated device, along with four other unrelated devices (auto-pilot system, flaps, landing gear, and video screen). In a control condition, no error occurred with the oxygen masks, and trust was high for all automated devices. In the experimental condition, trust was lower for all automated devices. In fact, in most cases, trust in the other automated devices dropped nearly as much as it did for the unreliable device. These results show that system-wide trust theory can make accurate predictions about the contagious effects of unreliable automated devices on otherwise unknown or reliable devices for non-expert airline passengers. This provides evidence that people tend to: a) view different automated components of an aircraft as part of a system even when they are logically independent of each other; and b) distrust other components of that “system” when one component fails.

Scott R. Winter, Stephen Rice, Katie M. Reid

Conference Proceedings

Fuzzy Model of Air Traffic Controller Attitude to the Risk During Decision Making

Air traffic controllers (as “first line” operators) professional activity may be described as a continuous chain of decisions, being developed and implemented under influence of different natural factors, including risks of stochastic and deterministic type. Thus, taking into account air traffic control (ATC) influence upon flight safety, problem solution of ATC danger estimation that may appear under conditions of aircraft flight levels separation failure is permanently urgent. For that purpose term set of linguistic variable “risk level” was formed. This set includes terms “very high”, “high”, “above common”, “common”, “below common”, “low” “very low”. Using modified Cooper-Harper scale and information gather method that may be described as “point on research interval” along with membership function construction procedure based on “supplementary matrices”, fuzzy generic models of 132 ATC students attitude to 10-kilometer interval between aircrafts (for horizontal en-route flight in АС (Approach Control) ТМА (Terminal Control Area) with ATC AS (automated system)) violation was received. This allows to place in correspondence quantitative and qualitative factors of flight conditions and to define human factor influence upon acceptance of distances between aircrafts. Since formation of initial term set includes modifier “very”, use of procedures reverse to concentration and dilation may reduce term set to five terms in it. That is exact number of ICAO recommended quantity of danger identifiers. This allowed to transform correspondent membership functions. Received connections between quantitative and qualitative estimates of distances between aircrafts was basics for solving ICAO’s “risk triangle” in response to “event danger” parameter.

Alexii M. Reva, Sergii P. Borsuk

Conference Proceedings

Air Traffic Controller Workload Impact by Integration of Datalink System in an Advanced Airport Controller Working Position

Integrating a new system in the air traffic control system is always a big challenge, in particular when the new system impacts the controller human machine interface (HMI). The Controller Pilot DataLink Communication system for airport controller is a new concept that aims to reduce the voice communication and increase safety at airport. To prove and evaluate the concept, an experiment took place at airbus in Toulouse last December 2013 with the participation of air traffic controller from Germany, Italy and France. In this paper we explain the concept, we detail the experiment, we discuss its impact on the controller mental workload, we determine the side effects and we provide some recommendation for future implementation.

Mohamed ELLEJMI, Stephane Dubuisson, Marc Bonnier, Roger Lane

Conference Proceedings

Air Traffic Controller Supportby Speech Recognition

Air traffic controllers (ATCO) are a core element of the flight guidance process. Decision support systems with accurate output data could increase the controllers’ performance or reduce their workload. Nowadays radar data based identification of controllers’ intent causes delays of up to 30 seconds. The intents could be predicted better and earlier if their spoken commands would be taken into account. Therefore, the project AcListant® combines an arrival manager (AMAN) with an automatic speech recognizer (ASR). Spoken commands are automatically recognized and forwarded to the AMAN. The AMAN updates its plan (e.g. sequence and aircraft trajectories). The ATCO also receives a direct feedback of ASR recognition performance via an (optional) visual interface. The ATCO gets better support from the assistance system without additional personal effort. This has an impact on the controller’s work and behavior like adhering closely to the radio telephony procedures and articulating more clearly. Together with the suggestion of most probable commands depending on the air traffic situation, this would lead to higher speech recognition rates and result in better AMAN assistance. Current results of a pre-study performed by the Düsseldorf Approach Area foreshadow significant positive effects of ATCO support by ASR.

Oliver Ohneiser, Hartmut Helmke, Heiko Ehr, Hejar Gürlük, Michael Hössl, Thorsten Mühlhausen

Conference Proceedings

What About the Next Generation? Assessing Experts’ Judgments of Human Abilities Required for Working in a Future ATC Environment

With the implementation of the European ATM Master Plan (SESAR, 2012) job requirements for air-traffic controllers (ATCOs) will alter significantly. Especially the introduction of time-based operations is considered to impose large changes in task operations. A controller-in-the-loop simulation study was designed to assess experts’ judgments on the main human abilities required for working in time-based arrival scenarios with different levels of assistance by an arrival-management system. Five male controllers (mean age: 32.5 years; mean job experience: 10.8 years) licensed for the simulated sector performed on one baseline scenario and four future scenarios. Gaze-data were tracked and questionnaires on situation awareness and workload, as well as a modified Fleishman Job Analysis Survey (F-JAS) were applied. The experts judged the ability to identify problems produced by automation, as well as the ability to stay vigilant as being increasingly required in a highly automated time-based environment. The high number of gaze transitions between aircraft-targets adds objective indication: Under the simulated future conditions ATCOs were hardly able to build up attention guiding expectations which are necessary to keep up with the system- and traffic-parameters. This was also reflected in low situation awareness and high workload ratings.

Dirk Schulze Kissing, Hinnerk Eißfeldt

Conference Proceedings

Evaluation of an Arrival Coordinator Position in a Terminal Metering Environment

A human-in-the-loop (HITL) simulation investigated the performance of an integrated arrival-management solution developed by NASA, called the Interval Management Terminal Area Precision Scheduling System (IM-TAPSS). The focus of this paper is on the operator who, during the simulation, served as both the terminal radar approach control (TRACON) traffic management controller and Arrival Radar Coordinator (ARC), and played an integral part in coordinating, adjusting, and instantiating the arrival schedule computed by the IM-TAPSS system. Analyses of the simulation data highlight the role of the ARC within the terminal metering environment, describe his planning strategies, tool interactions, and coordinations with controllers, and lend insights to the impact of the ARC’s actions on the arrival problem. High levels of comfort and confidence were reported when working with the IM-TAPSS system. Challenges included the sequencing of unscheduled satellite arrival flights during periods of peak demand, in response to which, the ARC had to identify sequence slots while minimizing disruptions to the overall schedule.

Michael Kupfer, Joey Mercer, Todd J. Callantine, Vimmy Gujral, Ashley Gomez

Conference Proceedings

Identifying Markers of Performance Decline in Air Traffic Controllers

Air traffic control (ATC) is a safety critical environment in which air traffic controllers (ATCOs) must maintain a consistently high standard of human performance in order to maintain safety. It is therefore essential to understand the impact, of human factors such as workload on human performance. Traditionally, a wide range of methods have been utilized to investigate the association between performance-influencing factors and human performance, from experimental to research in the wild (Sharples et al., 2012). However, little research has focused on the identification of ‘signs and symptoms’, or indicators, that a factor may be negatively influencing human performance. The aim of this study was to identify indicators that were commonly associated with specific factors (workload, stress and situation awareness) and the associated influences on human performance. Findings identified internal and external, observable indicators that were common across all controllers and signified when ATCO performance was threatened. Findings also suggest that controllers use internal markers to adapt control strategies in order to maintain performance. Findings have relevance for existing aviation training, online measurement of performance during live operations, and measurements during simulations. Further research should investigate the application of indicators in measurement of live operations.

Tamsyn Edwards, a Sarah Sharples a, Barry Kirwan b, John Wilson a, Nora Balfe c

Conference Proceedings