The use of eye-tracking in maritime simulator-based training

Abstract

Incorrect human behavior is a significant contributor to maritime accidents. Navigation skills therefore represent a critical factor for safety at sea. Integration, digitalization, and intelligent navigation technologies impact Maritime Education and Training (MET).The study aims at understanding how maritime experts and maritime trainees allocate their visual attention to avoid collision during intense maritime traffic in a full-mission bridge simulator. A sample of two experienced active navigators and seven maritime students were fitted with a wearable eye-tracker and placed in different navigational watchkeeping simulation contexts. Individual visual attention was quantified through the analysis of areas of interest (AOIs) and gaze shifts between these AOIs.Experts and novices differ in their gaze patterns. The most prominent difference is that experts make less use of instruments and look out more for information gathering. As ships are complex socio-technical systems, the results of this study may provide Integrated Bridge Systems (IBS) designers and MET professionals with useful insights on the interaction between humans and navigation instruments.

Keywords: Eye-Tracking, Simulator, Training, Skills, Design

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006898