As ATM systems evolve, controller performance becomes a critical constraint on capacity, safety, and efficiency.
This interactive presentation explores how Human Factors influences real-world operations, helping you understand how workload, system design, and user interaction affect performance — and what can be done to optimise it.
Think’s Human Factors approach delivers real safety benefits, increased efficiency and reduced costs through improved Human Performance. We use Human Centred Design principles, tools and methodologies to integrate Human Factors in the project life-cycle, support concept development and deliver cost-efficient solutions into operations.
Within any ATM operational system, smooth interaction between users and other components is critical in delivering an effective, safe and cost-efficient day-to-day service to aircraft. These effective system interactions are especially important when implementing new solutions to maximise the performance benefits.
The consideration of Human Factors throughout all phases of concept development and implementation enables the timely identification of any potential issues while still in the early stages. This both mitigates additional costs where possible and provides full opportunity to capitalise on staff’s expert insight to improve final solutions.
In the latter stages of maturity, Human Performance Assessment applied within the validation process can ascertain overall usability, confirm human performance benefits such as optimal workload and enhanced situational awareness, and identify key considerations for the transition into operations. Once a solution is in place, periodic follow-up assessments monitor performance trends and highlight any interoperability issues.
At Think, we have a history of incorporating a human-centric approach into everything we do. Integration of Human Factors yields the most value when applied from initial concept development through to post-implementation support. It is only through the consistent involvement of the end users that a solution can be introduced without unexpected negative impacts to Human Performance and user acceptability. By confirming that the demands of the solution fall within the bounds of human capabilities, a crucial change process can be considerably de-risked.
By including Human Factors experts in your project team, we can develop a tailored user-centred methodology to ensure that the human operator will benefit from the solution rather than be hindered by it. This involves regular consultation with users and stakeholders to positively direct and prioritise development. This role later shifts to assessment at increasing levels of fidelity to expose any shortcomings in the human-machine interaction. This may range from workshops and paper exercises, to real-time simulation and shadow-mode trials, depending on the solution’s characteristics. We can provide the assurance you need as to whether your investment will bear fruit in the form of overall benefit to operations.
Through a pursuit of the Human-Centred Design (HCD) approach, a vast number of methodologies have been developed by Human Factors practitioners. As part of our support to ATM clients, we either identify the ideal methods or develop a novel methodology where appropriate to generate the outputs needed to recommend the optimal decision supported by robust evidence. The interactive exploration below gives an appreciation of the HCD methods best suited at each stage of ATM development.