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Integration of conflict resolution automation and vertical situation display for on-ground air traffic control operations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 January 2021

Fitri Trapsilawati Open the ORCID record for Fitri Trapsilawati [Opens in a new window] ,
Chun-Hsien Chen ,
Chris D. Wickens  and
Xingda Qu
Fitri Trapsilawati
Affiliation:
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Chun-Hsien Chen*
Affiliation:
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Chris D. Wickens
Affiliation:
Colorado State University and Alion Science and Technology, Louisville, CO, USA.
Xingda Qu
Affiliation:
Institute of Human Factors and Ergonomics, College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: mchchen@ntu.edu.sg
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Abstract

Both conflict resolution aid (CRA) and vertical situation display (VSD) systems may contribute to air traffic control (ATC) operations. However, their effectiveness still needs to be examined before being widely adopted in ATC facilities. This study aims to examine empirically the use of CRA and VSD as well as the systems’ interaction in ATC operations. It was found that CRA benefited conflict resolution performance by 13⋅7% and lowered workload by 46⋅4% compared with manually performing the task. The VSD could also reduce the air traffic controllers’ (ATCOs) workload and improve their situation awareness. Ultimately, when the first CRA failure occurred, the situation awareness supported by VSD offset the performance decrements by 30%. The findings from this study demonstrate that integrating VSD with CRA would benefit ATC operations, regardless of the CRA's imperfection.

Keywords

automationair traffic controlconflict resolutionvertical displaytransparency
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Navigation , Volume 74 , Issue 3 , May 2021 , pp. 619 - 632
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Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 2021

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