Showing papers on "Situation awareness published in 2001"

Understanding Information Age Warfare

Abstract: : Armed with a general understanding of the concepts of Information Superiority and Network Centric Warfare, enterprising individuals and organizations are developing new ways of accomplishing their missions by leveraging the power of information and applying network centric concepts. Visions are being created and significant progress is being made. But to date we have been only scratching the surface of what is possible.

On the Design of Adaptive Automation for Complex Systems

Abstract: This article presents a constrained review of human factors issues relevant to adaptive automation (AA), including designing complex system interfaces to support AA, facilitating human–computer interaction and crew interactions in adaptive system operations, and considering workload associated with AA management in the design of human roles in adaptive systems. Unfortunately, these issues have received limited attention in earlier reviews of AA. This work is aimed at supporting a general theory of human-centered automation advocating humans as active information processors in complex system control loops to support situation awareness and effective performance. The review demonstrates the need for research into user-centered design of dynamic displays in adaptive systems. It also points to the need for discretion in designing transparent interfaces to facilitate human awareness of modes of automated systems. Finally, the review identifies the need to consider critical human–human interactions in designing adaptive systems. This work describes important branches of a developing framework of AA research and contributes to the general theory of human-centered automation.

Model for Situation Awareness and Driving: Application to Analysis and Research for Intelligent Transportation Systems

Abstract: The concept of situation awareness (SA)—applied broadly over the last decade to human factors issues in aviation, nuclear power generation, and military combat systems—has only recently been introduced to the analysis of driver behavior. In a driving context, SA involves spatial, temporal, goal, and system awareness. These aspects of SA have been integrated into a goal-oriented model of driver behavior that encompasses strategic, tactical, and operational goals of driving. Maintenance of appropriate SA for each type of goal is based on three underlying processes: perception, comprehension of disparate information, and projection and prediction. The model can be used as a basis for understanding the possible impact of new generations of intelligent transportation systems (ITSs) on driver performance. The model allows ITSs to be analyzed for how they are likely to enhance or impair a driver's performance in pursuit of each type of driving goal. The model may provide a way to determine how an ITS supports or...

Introducing Structural Considerations into Complexity Metrics

Abstract: Field observations and focused interviews of Air Traffic Controllers have been used to generate a list of key complexity factors in Air Traffic Control. The underlying structure of the airspace was identified as relevant in many of the factors. A preliminary investigation has revealed that the structure appears to form the basis for abstractions that reduce the difficulty of maintaining Situational Awareness, particularly the projection of future traffic situations. Three examples of such abstractions were identified: standard flows, groupings, and critical points. Preliminary approaches to developing metrics including these structural considerations are discussed.

Application of sensor network communications

Abstract: The USA Army's future combat systems (FCS) will rely heavily on the use of remote, unattended sensors to detect, identify and track enemy targets in order to survive with less armor protection. Successful implementation of these critical sensor fields requires the realization of low cost transducers, processors and the communications infrastructure to report and disseminate sensor data to provide situational awareness to the FCS. The communications must support both static deployed and mobile ground and air robotic sensor arrays with robust, secure, stealthy, jam resistant links for sensor fusion and command and control. The applications and proliferation of such sensor arrays will ultimately depend on cost and performance. It is envisioned for broadest application that sensor networks can be deployed in a two tiered architecture that includes a lower sensor sub-layer consisting of acoustic, magnetic and/or seismic detectors and an upper sub-layer consisting of infrared or visual cameras. The upper sub-layer can be cued by the lower sub-layer and provides a gateway link to higher echelon tactical networks such as the tactical Internet. The sensor deployment geometries, networking constraints and distances to C2 nodes will be application specific. Application of the USA Army CECOM Networked Sensors for the Objective Force (NSOF) communications technologies is shown in a notional FCS environment.

Workload, Situation Awareness, and Teaming Issues for UAV/UCAV Operations

Abstract: A new partnership is forming between humans and uninhabited aircraft. To augment the abilities of military forces on the ground and in the air, the US Armed Forces have developed several Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to work in conjunction with human pilots and enhance surveillance and combat capabilities. Even with no onboard pilot, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and combat-tailored versions (UCAVs) rely on proficient human operators on the ground for proper guidance and munitions deployment. For this reason, system designers must consider several key human factors issues in the development of functional UAV/UCAV systems. This work addresses three of these issues: workload, situation awareness, and teaming concerns. Recommendations to maximize operator efficacy, based on findings from human factors and ergonomics research, are presented as well as implications for training.

Toward Adaptive and Reflective Middleware for Network-Centric Combat Systems

Abstract: Software is increasingly important to the development of effective network-centric Department of Defense combat systems. Next-generation combat systems such as total ship computing environments, coordinated unmanned air vehicle systems, and national missile defense will use many geographically dispersed sensors, provide on-demand situational awareness and actuation capabilities for human operators, and respond flexibly to unanticipated run-time conditions. These combat systems will also increasingly run unobtrusively and autonomously, shielding operators from unnecessary details while communicating and responding to mission-critical information at an accelerated operational tempo. In such environments, it is hard to predict system configurations or workloads. This article describes how adaptive and reflective middleware systems (ARMS) are being developed to bridge the gap between military application programs and the underlying operating systems and communication software in order to provide reusable services whose qualities are critical to network-centric combat systems. ARMS software can adapt in response to dynamically changing conditions for the purpose of utilizing the available computer and communication resources to the highest degree possible in support of mission needs.

Air Traffic Control Specialist Decision Making and Strategic Planning – A Field Survey

Abstract: : This study investigated Air Traffic Control Specialists' perspective regarding decision making and planning and related cognitive processes such as learning, memory, and situation awareness. The results of 100 semi-structured interviews indicated that controllers emphasize the importance of safety, situation awareness, planning skills, backup strategies, and the collective nature of their task. Participants reported that they plan their first actions and start building their mental picture prior to assuming control of their position. They indicated using flight progress strips to support their memory. Controllers described that they become more conservative when facing difficulties like high workload, fatigue, aging, and bad weather. Concerning the respective effects of experience and facility type, the more experienced participants were, the more likely they reported formulating backup plans. Terminal controllers were more likely than en route controllers to report using the first strategy that they develop instead of considering alternatives when a potential conflict is detected or when workload is high. Terminal controllers also indicated that they were less likely to wait and see when they are not sure if there is a conflict. Finally, respondents expressed a need for conflict probes, better weather information, data link communication, and better radars.

On the Right Track: Systematic Implementation of Ergonomics in Railway Network Control

Abstract: At a time of change for the railway networks of Europe we have been developing tools to assess ergonomics aspects of railway network control. This is within the Railway Ergonomics Control Assessment Package (RECAP). Among the developments have been an audit instrument (REQUEST), tools to assess situation awareness (RESA) and staff loading (RELOAD), and workshops to predict opportunities for human error and organisational failure across rail network operations. This research is discussed with respect to the context of UK railway operations and the need for an expanding tradition of cognitive ergonomics fieldwork. From the findings we draw some conclusions about the roles filled by signallers, electrical controllers and zone controllers within a perspective of distributed cognitive/social networks.

Support concepts for Web navigation: a cognitive engineering approach

Abstract: Current Network User Interfaces (NUIs) provide entrances to an enormous amount of Web-based services, bringing about new use problems such as laborious and unsuccessful navigation. Such problems are generally more severe for users with regression of cognitive functions (e.g. for some elderly). This paper identifies four fundamental cognitive determinants of navigation performance that may explain these problems: situation awareness, spatial ability, task-set switching and user control of support. Based on an analysis of these demands and current support functions for navigation, three “refined” support concepts were developed: categorising landmarks, history map and navigation assistant. Via the specification of humancomputer co-operative processes and scenarios, the concepts were implemented for two rather different web-based services. The present paper provides an example implementation of the navigation assistant. The results of the study will feed into a cognitive engineering method for the design of NUIs.

Meeting others—supporting situation awareness on the WWW

Abstract: World Wide Web (WWW) techniques provide a simple interface, which is accessible almost everywhere. The WWW supports document sharing and information retrieval, but has no tools for direct user interaction, simply because the mechanisms to support user awareness are missing. The aim of this paper is twofold. First, we present general concepts of situation awareness, which concerns the user interaction on the WWW platform, and a theoretical framework, which is used in examining existing awareness support systems. Second, we provide an analysis of PeopleAwarenessEngine, which supports situation awareness and enables user communication and collaboration on the WWW.

Big is better? Human factors issues of large screen displays with military command teams

Abstract: This paper will report the outcome of a three-year study into the cognitive benefits of panoramic, large screen displays (LSD). Panoramic displays are intended to facilitate a common operational picture between multiple commanders or command centre operators, enabling personnel in the command centre to appreciate the 'big picture' of a tactical situation. Hence, the panoramic display may improve situation awareness and assessment of the situation, facilitate shared mental models, and improve team decision-making.

Driver situation awareness and carphone use

Abstract: The driving performance of 15 subjects in a simulated road environment has been studied both with and without a hands-free telephone conversation. Previous research on the interference of the manual use of handsets while driving, or when looking at handsfree conversations, has tended to focus on the operational control performance of the driver. This study sought to extend those lines of research by taking a wider view of driving performance, and introduce the higher order concept of Situation Awareness (SA). The performance indicators used were choice reaction time, braking profile, lateral position, speed, and situation awareness. The simulated driving task was a relatively undemanding motorway with low traffic volume. The young drivers studied were able to have a hands-free telephone conversation and perform well with respect to lateral position, the variation in lateral position of the car, and speed maintenance. However, significant differences were found in choice reaction time, especially in the beginning stages of the telephone conversation, and in situation awareness. In this situation, subjects reacted significantly slower to an unexpected event in the first two minutes of the telephone conversation and were, for a large part of the telephone conversation, unaware of traffic movements around them. This paper presents those results in detail, and focuses in the discussion on the methodological issues involved in tapping into higher order cognitive functions of tactical and strategic decision making within the confines of current driving simulator capability.

C3Fire : a microworld for collaboration training in the ROLF environment

Abstract: In team collaboration training, especially when the training is distributed on the net, it exists a problem of identifying the students' collaboration and work processes. An important design task when developing distributed interactive simulation systems for team training is therefore to define a proper monitoring functionality that will help training managers to evaluate the training. Thus a goal of a computer-based monitoring system is to give training managers help in understanding and assessing the performance of the trainees.This thesis deals with the design and implementation of monitoring strategies for distributed collaboration training. The aim has been to explore different automatic monitoring strategies, and how they can help a training manger in their task of understanding the students' collaboration during a training session.To explore possible monitoring strategies, a distributed, net-based micro-world simulation and training system, C3Fire, has been developed and three series of experiments has been performed. C3Fire provides a Command, Control and Communication training environment that can be used for team collaboration training of emergency management tasks. The training domain, which is forest fire fighting, acts as a micro-world, which creates a good dynamic environment for the trainees.In the three performed studies a total of 192 persons have participated as students. A 132 of these were computer-literate undergraduate students and 60 professional military officers. In these studies four monitoring goals have been explored: the effectiveness of the teams, the information distribution in the organisation, the students situation awareness, and the students work and collaboration methods.

Disruptions, Interruptions and Information Attack: Impact on Situation Awareness and Decision Making

Abstract: This paper presents a model of depicting the ways in which disruptions, interruptions and information attack can effect situation awareness and decision making in a variety of contexts. Those effected in military aviation include not just those in the cockpit, but also forward air controllers, ground based air traffic controllers and those in intelligence and support functions. The model incorporates the ways in which information attacks can effectively disrupt human decision making at various points in information processing. By carefully examining not just what cues might depict an attack to information systems, but also how human observers will be effected by such cues, more robust systems for protecting against disruptions and information attack can be developed.

Robotic vehicle uses acoustic array for detection and localization in urban environments

Abstract: Sophisticated robotic platforms with diverse sensor suites are quickly replacing the eyes and ears of soldiers on the complex battlefield. The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) in Adelphi, Maryland has developed a robot-based acoustic detection system that will detect an impulsive noise event, such as a sniper's weapon firing or door slam, and activate a pan-tilt to orient a visible and infrared camera toward the detected sound. Once the cameras are cued to the target, onboard image processing can then track the target and/or transmit the imagery to a remote operator for navigation, situational awareness, and target detection. Such a vehicle can provide reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition for soldiers, law enforcement, and rescue personnel, and remove these people from hazardous environments. ARL's primary robotic platforms contain 16-in. diameter, eight-element acoustic arrays. Additionally, a 9- in. array is being developed in support of DARPA's Tactical Mobile Robot program. The robots have been tested in both urban and open terrain. The current acoustic processing algorithm has been optimized to detect the muzzle blast from a sniper's weapon, and reject many interfering noise sources such as wind gusts, generators, and self-noise. However, other detection algorithms for speech and vehicle detection/tracking are being developed for implementation on this and smaller robotic platforms. The collaboration between two robots, both with known positions and orientations, can provide useful triangulation information for more precise localization of the acoustic events. These robots can be mobile sensor nodes in a larger, more expansive, sensor network that may include stationary ground sensors, UAVs, and other command and control assets. This report will document the performance of the robot's acoustic localization, describe the algorithm, and outline future work.

A Preliminary Examination of Situation Awareness and Pilot Performance in a Synthetic Vision Environment

Abstract: Synthetic vision displays utilize computer generated imagery derived from an onboard database of terrain, obstacle, and airport information to provide pilots with an unobstructed view of the world ahead. A major goal of these displays is to reduce low visibility related aviation accidents such as CFIT. In addition to improving pilot performance, synthetic vision displays may also affect pilot situation awareness. Prototype synthetic vision displays were examined in a high-resolution graphics simulation facility at NASA Langley Research Center. Two display sizes, two fields of view, and the presence of a tunnel guidance system were manipulated to investigate the effects on pilot performance and situation awareness. Use of a tunnel guidance system improved pilot performance and lowered reported mental workload. Participants reported lower workload and increased situation awareness with the smaller display size. There were no profound performance differences as a function of display size. Implications of ret...

Team optimal signaling strategies in air combat

Abstract: Modern fighter aircraft are equipped with a data link system for relaying encrypted messages containing information on the states of friendly or hostile aircraft within a team of friendly aircraft. During a many-versus-many air combat, only the most important and essential information must be transmitted in order to achieve the best possible situation awareness of pilots. In this paper, we introduce a prioritization approach for solving the team optimal signaling strategy referring to the best sequence of relayed information with respect to the overall goals of the friendly pilots. The approach is based on a value function that captures the preferences of the pilots and prioritizes the existing information. Uncertainty about the states of the aircraft as well as about incomplete preference statements is incorporated into the prioritization by utilizing interval analysis. We also describe a software that is designed for simulating the evolution of team members' information and trajectories in an air-combat game. The prioritization approach is illustrated by numerical examples

Design and evaluation of an integrated avionics alerting system

Abstract: While today's aircraft have integrated alerting systems for conditions inside the aircraft (ECAM, EICAS), there is no comparable fully integrated alerting system for conditions outside of the aircraft. Current and near-future, separate alerting systems warn of conditions such as time-critical terrain, traffic, wind shear, clear air turbulence, wake vortices, each using different alerting and display philosophies to present information to the flight crew. Separate systems contribute to alert proliferation and the potential for multiple conflicting alerts during emergency situations. An integrated alerting system should deconflict alerts, and present information in an integrated fashion. In response to these issues, we have developed the Alerting and Notification of Conditions Outside the Aircraft (ANCOA) concept. Key aspects of the concept include: (1) deconflicting currently separate alerts such as TCAS and EGPWS; (2), categorization (weather, traffic, ground) and prioritization (time-critical, tactical and strategic) of alerts to reduce pilot information processing requirements; (3) directional, multidimensional aural cueing to allow quick "pre-processing" of the condition (this aids in time-critical responses and prioritizing the alerted condition relative to the ongoing task); and (4) integrated graphic presentation of conditions external to the aircraft to support better situation awareness. This paper discusses the theory and implementation of the ANCOA concept, and presents a usability study to evaluate the display configuration, ease-of-use, functionality, and navigation of information within an initial simulator prototype. Nine pilots participated in six scenarios under various conditions in the Honeywell Laboratories Medium-Fidelity Flight Simulator. Additionally, pilots conducted an information categorization task, filled out pre- and post-questionnaires, and were interviewed for qualitative assessments. The data were used to assess if the ANCOA integrated system could effectively prioritize and de-conflict information, support improved detection and identification of threats, increase overall situation awareness, and support better planning decisions. A revised prototype is presented, based on the results of the evaluation.

Shared-Knowledge and Team Performance: A Cognitive Engineering Approach to Measurement

Abstract: : A three-year research effort is described in which a synthetic team task was developed in the context of Uninhabited Air Vehicle operations. The synthetic task was abstracted from actual team operations of Air Force's Predator, guided by multiple research and pragmatic constraints. This synthetic environment, including a number of custom-designed experimental control and data collection measures and tools, provided a backdrop for various methodological developments and research on team cognition and its relation to team performance. Team cognition can be viewed as the collective cognition of the individual team members as processed by team behaviors such as communication and coordination. A number of measurement issues were identified relevant to this perspective. In this light, measures and metrics of team knowledge and team situation awareness were developed and evaluated in two empirical studies in the synthetic environment. Results indicate that a measure of team taskwork knowledge based on relatedness ratings and a query-based measure of team situation awareness were predictive of team performance differences. Further, patterns of team skill acquisition and effects of a training intervention were examined. Findings support the premise that the synthetic environment provides a rich and complex test bed for future research on team cognition.

On-Line Situation Assessment for Unmanned Air Vehicles

Abstract: Future conflicts may involve composite striker packages composed of manned and unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) supervised by mission controllers. Since situation awareness (SA) contributes to and is a crucial part of mission success, significant effort is now being placed on developing new technologies that have the potential of increasing SA for the mission controller. This paper describes the design and development of an on-line situation assessment model for unmanned air vehicles that is based on human behavior representation (HBR). The essential feature of this model its organization around the skilled human’s situation assessment behavior in a complex multi-task environment. Simulation results are presented for a SEAD mission.

Human-computer interface for the study of information fusion concepts in situation analysis and command decision support systems

Abstract: Situation Awareness (SAW) is essential for commanders to conduct decision-making (DM) activities. Situation Analysis (SA) is defined as a process, the examination of a situation, its elements, and their relations, to provide and maintain a product, i.e., a state of SAW for the decision maker. Operational trends in warfare put the situation analysis process under pressure. This emphasizes the need for a real-time computer-based Situation analysis Support System (SASS) to aid commanders in achieving the appropriate situation awareness, thereby supporting their response to actual or anticipated threats. Data fusion is clearly a key enabler for SA and a SASS. Since data fusion is used for SA in support of dynamic human decision-making, the exploration of the SA concepts and the design of data fusion techniques must take into account human factor aspects in order to ensure a cognitive fit of the fusion system with the decision-maker. Indeed, the tight human factor aspects in order to ensure a cognitive fit of the fusion system with the decision-maker. Indeed, the tight integration of the human element with the SA technology is essential. Regarding these issues, this paper provides a description of CODSI (Command Decision Support Interface), and operational- like human machine interface prototype for investigations in computer-based SA and command decision support. With CODSI, one objective was to apply recent developments in SA theory and information display technology to the problem of enhancing SAW quality. It thus provides a capability to adequately convey tactical information to command decision makers. It also supports the study of human-computer interactions for SA, and methodologies for SAW measurement.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

The Knowledge Wall for the Global 2000 War Game: Design Solutions to Match JOC User Requirements

Abstract: : A wall-sized, shared display, or 'Knowledge Wall', fusing all information relevant to mission status, has been proposed as a tool to support shared situation awareness and decision-making in the Joint Operation Center (JOC). A Knowledge Wall is being implemented on-board the USS Coronado (AGF 11) and at the Naval War College (NWC) for the Global 2000 War Game. What features and content should this new display possess? This report presents a Knowledge Wall design capable of meeting these requirements and elaborates its design features from the 'ground-up'. The advantages and disadvantages of the proposed design solutions are discussed. The proposed design is compared and contrasted to those for other wall-sized displays that are being prototyped for other military command centers and for non-military applications.

Situation awareness and its implications for human–systems interaction

Abstract: This paper describes the nature of situation awareness in the command and control of emergency ambulances in a large metropolitan centre. In a field study using the Critical Decision Method, situation awareness has been found to play a crucial role in ensuring that real-time decisions are made in the context of the situation. A descriptive model of how dispatchers interact with their control systems to develop and maintain this mental picture was developed. This paper proposes four challenges that systems developers must address when designing command and control systems for emergency ambulance dispatch management.

Air-ground integration experiment

Abstract: : The concept of free flight is intended to provide increased flexibility and efficiency throughout the global airspace system. This idea could potentially shift aircraft separation responsibility from air traffic controllers to flight crews creating a 'shared-separation' authority environment. A real-time, human-in-the-loop study was conducted using facilities at NASA Ames Research Center and the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center. The goal was to collect data from controllers and pilots on shared-separation procedures, information requirements, workload, and situation awareness. The experiment consisted of four conditions that varied levels of controller and flight crew separation responsibilities. Twelve controllers and six pilots were provided with enhanced traffic and conflict alerting systems. Results indicated that while safety was not compromised, pilots and controllers had differing opinions regarding the application of these new tools and the feasibility of the operational concept. This limited investigation demonstrated the need to further explore the shared-separation concept.

Mobile Computing at the Department of Defense

Abstract: This paper is designed to relate the rationale used by the Department of Defense, to utilize Telemedicine, to meet increasing global crises, and for the U.S. military to find ways to more effectively manage manpower and time. A mobile Telemedicine package has been developed by the Department of Defense (DOD) to collect and transmit near-real-time, far-forward medical data and to assess how this improved capability enhances medical management of the battlespace. Telemedicine has been successful in resolving uncertain organizational and technological military deficiencies and in improving medical communications and information management. The deployable, mobile Teams are the centerpieces of this Telemedicine package. These teams have the capability of inserting essential networking and communications capabilities into austere theaters and establishing an immediate means for enhancing health protection, collaborative planning, situational awareness, and strategic decision-making.