New project develops models for air traffic control safety

In what is believed to be a world first, UQ researchers are using advanced computer modelling to work out why air traffic controllers make mistakes.

UQ computer scientists and psychology researchers have joined forces in the pilot project, which focuses on operator interaction with machines.

The prototype method potentially could apply to any industry where safety hazards and fatalities sometimes result from operator decisions.

Co-chief investigator Dr Andrew Hussey says about 80 to 90 percent of aviation accidents can be attributed to human error

"While we can produce models of how the computerised systems are likely to perform, the wildcard is the human operator. The challenge is to produce accurate models simulating the human-machine interaction for hazard analysis," said Dr Andrew Hussey of the Software Verification Research Centre.

The project involves researchers from the University's Software Verification Research Centre and the Key Centre for Human Factors and Applied Cognitive Psychology.

Key Centre researcher Dr Andrew Neal said the project team had created an air traffic control simulation based on the system currently used by air traffic controllers.

"A series of laboratory experiments are being run to examine the conditions under which people make errors on this task. For example, one of the most common errors in air traffic control occurs when a controller gets distracted and forgets to carry out an action that they had previously planned," he said.

"We are using the data from these experiments to create models that can predict when people make errors. These models can be used to design better interfaces that can ?capture' human errors and prevent them from causing serious accidents."

Researchers also include Dr Peter Lindsay, Professor Mike Humphreys and Mr David Leadbetter. The one year pilot project has received Australian Research Council and Key Centre funding.

Media: Further information, Dr Andrew Hussey, telephone 07 3365 2936; Dr Andrew Neal, telephone 07 3365 6372; or Jan King at UQ Communications, telephone 07 3365 1120.

Enquiries can also be directed to communications@mailbox.uq.edu.au