Complexity and Automation Displays of Air Traffic Control: Literature Review and Analysis

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA460107 | Open PDF

Abstract:

This report reviewed a number of measures of complexity associated with visual displays and analyzed the potential to apply these methods to assess the complexity of air traffic control ATC displays. Through the literature review, we identified three basic complexity factors numeric size, variety, and rules. Essentially, all the complexity measures could be described by these factors. Through the analysis of available complexity measures, we showed that neither information complexity that focused on the system nor cognitive complexity that aimed at observers could provide a complete description for ATC application. The great variety in complexity measures reflected the fact that the contribution of each of the three factors to overall complexity depended on how information is processed by users. We generalized that complexity is the integration of the observer with the three basic factors. Therefore, to develop objective complexity measures for ATC displays, the methods presented in this report need to be integrated with the ATC display specifications.

Author(s):
Xing, Jing ; Manning, Carol A.
Author Organization(s):
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION OKLAHOMA CITY OK CIVIL AEROMEDICAL INST
Descriptive Note:
Final rept.
Supplementary Note:
Work was accomplished under approved task BHRR522., The original document contains color images.
Pagination:
0024

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Report Number(s):
DOT/FAA/AM-05/4
Monitor Series:
DOT/FAA/AM
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_5.5_Direct; JCA_5.6.1_Assess Compliance with Guidance; JCA_5.6_Monitor; JCA_5.2_Understand; JCA_5.2.3_Share Knowledge and Situational Awareness; JCA_5.5.1_Communicate Intent and Guidance; JCA_5.5.2_Task; JCA_5.3.2_Apply Situational Understanding; JCA_5.3.3_Develop Strategy; JCA_5.3.4_Develop Courses of Action; JCA_5.3.5_Analyze Courses of Action; JCA_1.2.6_Concepts; JCA_5.2.2_Develop Knowledge and Situational Awareness; JCA_1.2.3_Educating; JCA_1.3.2_Personnel Management; JCA_5.4_Decide; JCA_4.6_Engineering; JCA_1.2.7_Experimentation
Modernization Areas:
Quantum Science and Computing
Communities of Interest:
Space
Descriptor(s):
*AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS, OBSERVERS, SIZES(DIMENSIONS), DISPLAY SYSTEMS, VISUAL FLIGHT RULES, VISUAL AIDS, NUMBERS, LITERATURE SURVEYS, SPECIFICATIONS
Field(s)/Group(s):
Air Navigation and Guidance
Keyword(s):
INFORMATION COMPLEXITY, COGNITIVE COMPLEXITY, VISUAL DISPLAYS, INTERFACE DESIGN
Report Date:
2005 Apr 01
Creation Date:
2007 Jan 31