Human Factors research determines and analyzes perception, cognition, and environmental factors that impact the safe and effective performance of jobs and tasks. This theme focuses on the areas of auditory and visual perception, cognition, workload, and skill acquisition.
The Human Factors projects and the respective outcomes are:
Applied Game Theory to Enhance ATC Training: Prototype of virtual reality for aircraft landing scenarios that require decision analysis techniques and applies game theory for air traffic controller practice in uncertain operating conditions. Project completed.
ATC Scenario Training Technology (ASTT): Scenario exploration technology platform prototype to enable on demand practice of air traffic control scenarios to enhance En Route training. This project is categorized primarily as Workforce Development and Training and secondarily as Human Factors. Project completed.
ATC Visual Search Patterns: Concrete training examples of visual scanning and aircraft control strategies related to conflict detection and resolution in ENROUTE and TRACON. Recommend designs to better provide characterized and classified visual search and control strategies based on expert ATCO’s visual search patterns and aircraft control strategies. Provide multimedia package with examples of scan patterns related to different types of conflict, graphed categories of visual scanning patterns mapped to actual eye movement data and associated control actions, and videos from data showing patterns with narration. Project completed.
Effective Training and Checking Methods for the Emerging Pilot Workforce: Provide scientific and technical data on effective training and checking methods for the current and projected pilot workforce, with emphasis on pilot information management, decision-making, and command judgment.
Employee Footprint: 21st Century Approach Towards Employee Development: Based on corporate strategies for hiring, training, and retaining employees, cost-effective approach to providing training. This project is categorized primarily as Workforce Development and Training and secondarily as Human Factors. Project completed.
Optimize Simulation: Benefits and return on investment for simulation and recommend when and how to optimize simulation for use in training and process for updating simulations concurrent with equipment changes. This project is categorized primarily as Workforce Development and Training and secondarily as Human Factors. Project completed.
Part 141 Pilot School Model Feasibility Study: With emphasis on determining feasibility of a 141 pilot school model, recommended model to deliver currency/proficiency and training services to aviation safety participants in FAA Flight Program. This project is categorized primarily as Human Factors and secondarily as Workforce Development and Training. Project completed.
Training of Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers in Weather-Related Decision Making: Prototype simulation-based weather scenarios, including hazard displays and probabilistic display to enable controllers to rapidly and accurately assess emerging weather situation to effectively and safely vector aircraft around weather. This project is primarily a Safety project, with Human Factors as a secondary cross-classification. Project completed.
Universal Design for Leaning and Multi-Modal Training: Mapping of current training techniques to UDL principles using eye tracking and brain wave activity to recommend training methods for air traffic controller trainees. Project completed.