A method to estimate air traffic controller mental workload based on traffic clearances

Workload estimation is a complex domain which has been investigated extensively over the years. Past estimation techniques have focused on measuring workload directly from the air traffic controllers (ATCOs) or inferring it from traffic factors. The limitations of these techniques are interfering into the ATCO job and not being able to capture the differences amongst individual ATCOs respectively. This paper presents a novel technique overcoming these limitations, able to accurately estimate the workload experienced by the ATCO based exclusively on the clearances provided to air traffic. The technique, which was calibrated for the EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control (MUAC) Centre, thereby has the potential to more accurately estimate actual airspace capacity. It is independent of the level of system automation and therefore applicable not only with the current air traffic management (ATM) system, but also in the anticipated future highly automated environments as well as during the transition period. The paper discusses potential applications such as real time monitoring of operational workload and post-operations identification of sector workload imbalances. Both can contribute towards enhancing the performance of the ATM system.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jairtraman.2014.04.002
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969699714000490
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/31005945
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Tobaruela, Gonzalo
  • Schuster, Wolfgang
  • Majumdar, Arnab
  • Ochieng, Washington Y
  • Martinez, Luis
  • Hendrickx, Peter
• Publication Date: 2014-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 59-71
• Serial:
  • Journal of Air Transport Management
  • Volume: 39
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0969-6997
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09696997

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air traffic control; Air traffic controllers; Estimation theory; Workload
• Identifier Terms: Maastricht Airport
• Geographic Terms: Maastricht (Netherlands)
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01538777
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 26 2014 2:24PM