Impact of Operating Context on the Use of Structure in Air Traffic Controller Cognitive Processes
This paper investigates the influence of structure on air traffic controllers’ cognitive processes in the TRACON, En Route, and Oceanic environments. Radar data and voice command analyses were conducted to support hypotheses generated through observations and interviews conducted at the various faci...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Technical Report |
| Language: | en_US |
| Published: |
2007
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35814 |
| _version_ | 1826201972055736320 |
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| author | Davison, H. J. Histon, J. M. Ragnarsdottir, M. D. Major, L. M. Hansman, R. J. |
| author_facet | Davison, H. J. Histon, J. M. Ragnarsdottir, M. D. Major, L. M. Hansman, R. J. |
| author_sort | Davison, H. J. |
| collection | MIT |
| description | This paper investigates the influence of structure on air traffic controllers’ cognitive processes in the TRACON, En Route, and Oceanic environments. Radar data and voice command analyses were conducted to support hypotheses generated through observations and interviews conducted at the various facilities. Three general types of structure-based abstractions (standard flows, groupings, and critical points) have been identified as being used in each context, though the details of their application varied in accordance with the constraints of the particular operational environment. Projection emerged as a key cognitive process aided by the structure-based abstractions, and there appears to be a significant difference between how time-based versus spatial-based projection is performed by controllers. It is recommended that consideration be given to the value provided by the structure-based abstractions to the controller as well as to maintain consistency between the type (time or spatial) of information support provided to the controller. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T12:00:14Z |
| format | Technical Report |
| id | mit-1721.1/35814 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | en_US |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T12:00:14Z |
| publishDate | 2007 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/358142019-04-10T09:58:46Z Impact of Operating Context on the Use of Structure in Air Traffic Controller Cognitive Processes Davison, H. J. Histon, J. M. Ragnarsdottir, M. D. Major, L. M. Hansman, R. J. air transportation air traffic control Cognition Projection This paper investigates the influence of structure on air traffic controllers’ cognitive processes in the TRACON, En Route, and Oceanic environments. Radar data and voice command analyses were conducted to support hypotheses generated through observations and interviews conducted at the various facilities. Three general types of structure-based abstractions (standard flows, groupings, and critical points) have been identified as being used in each context, though the details of their application varied in accordance with the constraints of the particular operational environment. Projection emerged as a key cognitive process aided by the structure-based abstractions, and there appears to be a significant difference between how time-based versus spatial-based projection is performed by controllers. It is recommended that consideration be given to the value provided by the structure-based abstractions to the controller as well as to maintain consistency between the type (time or spatial) of information support provided to the controller. This work was supported by the FAA under NEXTOR Contract SA 1603JB/PO No1-000244882, NASA under NAG-2-1229, NAG-1-0206, the FAA/NASA Joint University Program for Air Transportation FAA 95-G-017 and the Icelandic Civil Aviation Authority. 2007-01-26T17:44:10Z 2007-01-26T17:44:10Z 2003-06-23 Technical Report http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35814 5th Eurocontrol / FAA ATM R&D Seminar, Budapest, Hungary en_US 911068 bytes application/pdf application/pdf |
| spellingShingle | air transportation air traffic control Cognition Projection Davison, H. J. Histon, J. M. Ragnarsdottir, M. D. Major, L. M. Hansman, R. J. Impact of Operating Context on the Use of Structure in Air Traffic Controller Cognitive Processes |
| title | Impact of Operating Context on the Use of Structure in Air Traffic Controller Cognitive Processes |
| title_full | Impact of Operating Context on the Use of Structure in Air Traffic Controller Cognitive Processes |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Operating Context on the Use of Structure in Air Traffic Controller Cognitive Processes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Operating Context on the Use of Structure in Air Traffic Controller Cognitive Processes |
| title_short | Impact of Operating Context on the Use of Structure in Air Traffic Controller Cognitive Processes |
| title_sort | impact of operating context on the use of structure in air traffic controller cognitive processes |
| topic | air transportation air traffic control Cognition Projection |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35814 |
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