Interruptions in time-critical, dynamic, and collaborative environments, such as air traffic control (ATC), can provide valuable, task-relevant information. However, they also negatively impact task performance by distracting the operator from on-going tasks and consuming attention resources. This thesis develops and assesses a tool to assist radar air traffic controllers in managing interruptions. Field observations and interviews with air traffic controllers were utilized to develop an understanding of how interruptions occur in real ATC environments, and to identify where opportunities exist to use technology to support the interruption management process. It was identified that operators in these environments could better manage the effects of interruptions if there were indications to one operator of the availability of a collaborator and the urgency of an interruption from a collaborator. Present communication systems do not facilitate the awareness of these functionalities. An initial prototype for providing these functionalities in operational ATC displays was designed. Feedback on the prototypes was solicited through Participatory Design (PD) sessions with air traffic controllers. Based on the refinement of these prototypes, the Working Awareness Interruption Tool (WAIT) was developed to support more efficient and appropriate interruption timing in the context of complex, real-time, distributed, human operator interactions. Variations of the tool demonstrated several ways of showing the availability of the controller to be interrupted (either through manual settings or automatic detection) as well as incorporating a means of conveying the urgency level of the interruption. In order to examine the utility of the tool and to assess the importance and validity of its features, an experiment was conducted in a laboratory-based setting. The results of the experiment show the potential of this tool in an environment representative of air traffic control tasks and communication. Although the sample size was limited, the WAIT facilitated improved performance on both objective measures and self-reported measures, and reduced the distraction effects of interruptions from other operators. These improvements occurred without affecting perceptions of the effectiveness of communications. Questionnaire and interview results showed that participants appear to prefer an automated setting of availability to be shown to other collaborators. Identifying two examples of key features supporting interruption management (communicating availability and urgency) in air traffic control is one of the key contributions of this work. The work also makes a contribution by demonstrating that providing a tool incorporating these features can improve performance in an environment representative of ATC, albeit with naïve participants. Finally, the research makes a contribution by presenting the challenges associated with evaluating interruption management tools that require collaboration between operators in a system.

Workload and complexity measures are, as of today, often imprecise and subjective. Currently, two commonly used workload and complexity measuring formulas are Monitor Alert Parameter and the “Bars”, both using the same measurement variables; amount of aircraft and time. This study creates formulas for quantifying ATC complexity. The study is done in an approach environment and is developed and tested on Stockholm TMA by the creation of 20 traffic scenarios. Ten air traffic controllers working in Stockholm TMA studied the complexity of the scenarios individually and ranked the scenarios in reference to each other. Five controllers evaluated scenario A1-A10. These scenarios were used as references when creating the formulas. The other half of the scenarios, B1-B10, ranked by another five controllers, was used as validation scenarios. Factors relevant to an approach environment were identified, and the data from the scenarios were extracted according to the identified factors. Moreover, a regression analysis was made with the ambition to reveal appropriate weights for each variable. At the first regression, called formula #1, some parameter values were identical. Also, some parameter weights became negative in the regression analysis. The basic requirements were not met and consequently, additional regressions were done; eventually forming formula #2. Formula #2 showed stable values and plausible parameter weights. When compared to a workload measuring model of today, formula #2 showed better performance. Despite the small amount of data samples, we were able to prove a genuine relation between three, of each other independent, variables and the traffic complexity.

Our intended topic is a general discussion of the basic elements of liability related to airline accidents to which fully automated cockpits have constituted an associated contributory factor. In addition we addressed the liability of air carriers arising from injuries or death caused to passengers traveling on international flights. For this purpose, we reviewed the Warsaw System and the different international instruments that constitute it. We also reviewed principles of common law applicable to aircraft manufacturers and the "Free Flight" as an example of the growing automation environment, which is a general benefit to commercial aviation but also a likely contributory cause for accidents in particular cases. In the last part we briefly discuss a personal view regarding the interplay between manufacturers and airlines under the 1999 Montreal Convention, which is an international treaty unifying the desegregated Warsaw System into one single instrument that is expected to enter into force in a few years.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, June, 2001. / Title from PDF t.p.

Thesis (Ph. D. in Engineering-Civil and Environmental)--University of California, Berkeley, 2004. / "Fall 2004." Includes bibliographical references (p. 145-147). Also available online via the ITS Berkeley web site (www.its.berkeley.edu).

Thesis (doctoral)--Rijksuniversiteit Groningen), 1996. / In English, with summary in Dutch.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Berkeley, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 145-147). Also available online via the Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Berkeley web site (www.its.berkeley.edu).

Esta pesquisa analisou o trabalho dos controladores de tráfego aéreo em diferentes cenários reais, no controle de Aproximação (APP) de tráfego aéreo de Porto Alegre (APP PA). Com base em entrevistas, questionário e filmagens de cenas reais, foram analisadas as percepções de 14 controladores quanto às demandas da profissão; quanto aos fatores cognitivos (conhecimento, estratégia, dinâmica atencional) utilizados para o desempenho da atividade; e quanto à carga de trabalho com base no questionário adaptado do NASA TLX. Os resultados mostram que, entre outras variáveis, a complexidade da tarefa depende das condições meteorológicas, do número e tipo de aeronovaves em observação, sendo que os controladores percebem as cenas de forma semelhante, independente do tempo de profissão e de controle no APP PA. Os controladores tomam as decisões de forma coordenada, sendo que a condução de um tráfego aéreo seguro depende da coordenação bem executada. / This research analyzed the job of the air traffic controllers in different real scenes, at the Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) of the air traffic in Porto Alegre (TRACON PA). Based on interviews, a questionnaire and shootings of real scenes, the perception of 14 controllers were analysed in relation to the demands of their job, in relation to the cognitive factors (knowledge, strategy, attencional dynamic) used for the performance of the activity; and related to the workload based on the adapted questionnaire of NASA TLX. The results show that, among other varieties, the complexity of the task depends on the meteorological conditions and on the number and type of aircrafts observed. The controllers understand the scenes in a similar way, not related on how much time they have working on the job nor working controlling time at TRACON PA. The controllers take the decisions in a coordinated way, because the conduction of the safe air traffic depends on a well done coordination.

O controle centralizado do tráfego tem como objetivo integrar e gerenciar informações, auxiliando na tomada de decisão em tempo real. Devido ao aumento da complexidade da malha viária, principalmente em grandes cidades, muitos estudos têm focado em sistemas de controle de tráfego, incluindo desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias e ferramentas. Para gerenciar essa complexidade, é necessário que as organizações públicas, onde estão inseridos os Centros de Controle de Tráfego (CCT), conheçam e melhorem seus processos, alinhando e integrando-os aos seus sistemas de informação, de maneira a possibilitar o atendimento das demandas de forma eficiente. Nesse sentido, esta pesquisa baseia-se nos conceitos e práticas do Business Process Management (BPM) com objetivo de propor um modelo de estruturação dos processos para a gestão inteligente das informações no controle centralizado do tráfego. O trabalho, portanto, se desenvolve ao longo das fases e etapas do ciclo do BPM, contemplando desde o planejamento até a modelagem de processos e apresentando como resultado final uma proposta para um plano de otimização de processos. Assim, para atender ao objetivo principal da pesquisa, o trabalho foi desmembrado em três artigos com níveis crescentes de glanuralidade: (i) Inicialmente foi apresentada, baseada em estudo de caso, uma aplicação abrangente da metodologia, percorrendo da primeira à terceira fase do ciclo de BPM em que a empresa está apta para executar os processos e seguir para a quarta fase, Controle e Análise de Dados. (ii) O segundo artigo apresenta o detalhamento da segunda fase do ciclo de BPM, que consiste na modelagem e otimização dos processos. Os processos As Is foram, então, modelados e analisados para que pudesse ser proposta a melhoria na forma de um macroprocesso To Be. (iii) Para embasar a proposição do macroprocesso To Be, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática de literatura, na qual foram compiladas as melhores práticas no tema e verificadas para a realidade brasileira através de entrevista com especialistas. O resultado foi o Mapeamento de Melhores Práticas associado a um Modelo Referência para o Processo de Controle de Tráfego. Em complemento, foram determinadas diretrizes a serem seguidas para a gestão inteligente das informações no controle centralizado do tráfego. Esses resultados definem, portanto, um modelo de referência To Be dos processos de trabalho em CCTs. A principal contribuição teórica desta pesquisa é, então, a consolidação de melhores práticas associadas a um Modelo de Referência do Processo de Controle do Tráfego, ajustado para a realidade dos CCTs brasileiros. Do ponto de vista prático, a metodologia e os resultados apresentados incentivam a implantação de BPM não só em CCTs, mas em qualquer setor de uma organização pública. / The centralization of traffic control aims to integrate and manage information, aiding decision making in real time. Due to the increasing complexity of the road network, especially in large cities, many studies have focused on traffic control systems, including development of new technologies and tools. To manage this complexity, it is necessary that public organizations, where the Traffic Control Centers (TCC) are inserted, understand and improve their processes, aligning and integrating them into their information systems in order to enable the fulfillment of demands efficiently. In this sense, this research is based on the concepts and practices of Business Process Management (BPM) in order to propose a structuring model of processes for the intelligent management of information in centralized traffic control. The work, therefore, is developed through the phases and stages of the BPM cycle, covering from planning to process modeling and presenting as the final result a proposal for a process optimization plan. Thus, to meet the main goal of the research, the work was divided into three articles with increasing levels of detail: (i) initially it was presented, based on case study, a comprehensive application of the methodology, that cover from the first to the third phase of the BPM cycle in which the company is able to run the process and move on to the fourth phase, Control and Data Analysis. (ii) The second article presents the details of the application of second phase of the BPM cycle, which consists of modeling and optimization of processes. The processes "As Is" were modeled and analyzed in order to propose improvements trough a Macro process "To Be". (iii) To support the proposition of macroprocess “To Be”, a systematic review of the literature was applied in order to compile best practices on the subject that were checked for the Brazilian reality through interviews with experts. The result was a Map of Best Practices in association with a Reference Model for Traffic Control Process. In addition to the map, the paper presents guidelines to be followed for the intelligent management of information in centralized traffic control. These results define a reference model "To Be" of work processes in TCCs. From a practical standpoint, the methodology and results presented encourage the deployment of BPM not only in TCCs, but also in any department of a public organization.

Esta pesquisa analisou o trabalho dos controladores de tráfego aéreo em diferentes cenários reais, no controle de Aproximação (APP) de tráfego aéreo de Porto Alegre (APP PA). Com base em entrevistas, questionário e filmagens de cenas reais, foram analisadas as percepções de 14 controladores quanto às demandas da profissão; quanto aos fatores cognitivos (conhecimento, estratégia, dinâmica atencional) utilizados para o desempenho da atividade; e quanto à carga de trabalho com base no questionário adaptado do NASA TLX. Os resultados mostram que, entre outras variáveis, a complexidade da tarefa depende das condições meteorológicas, do número e tipo de aeronovaves em observação, sendo que os controladores percebem as cenas de forma semelhante, independente do tempo de profissão e de controle no APP PA. Os controladores tomam as decisões de forma coordenada, sendo que a condução de um tráfego aéreo seguro depende da coordenação bem executada. / This research analyzed the job of the air traffic controllers in different real scenes, at the Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) of the air traffic in Porto Alegre (TRACON PA). Based on interviews, a questionnaire and shootings of real scenes, the perception of 14 controllers were analysed in relation to the demands of their job, in relation to the cognitive factors (knowledge, strategy, attencional dynamic) used for the performance of the activity; and related to the workload based on the adapted questionnaire of NASA TLX. The results show that, among other varieties, the complexity of the task depends on the meteorological conditions and on the number and type of aircrafts observed. The controllers understand the scenes in a similar way, not related on how much time they have working on the job nor working controlling time at TRACON PA. The controllers take the decisions in a coordinated way, because the conduction of the safe air traffic depends on a well done coordination.