High-fidelity Tower Simulation for operational validity of Remote Tower Control

Abstract

This work was conducted within the context of the Remote Airport Traffic Control Center (RAiCe) project, to investigate the control of several smaller and middle sized airports from a distant location. The distant control is in this project realized with a high resolution video panorama system and an experimental workplace to present these video data, called RTO (Remote Tower Operation)-Console. There is no certainty that the direct view onto the airfield from the tower is mandatory to control air traffic, but for smaller airfields with little sensor technology it is one of the most important sources of information. The central question for developing a remote workplace is: Which information does an air traffic controller need to make the same save and efficient decisions while remotely controlling an airport? This paper describes a high-fidelity simulation study with twelve tower controllers working on the RTO-Console. The study focuses on the feasibility of the new work environment for controlling air traffic and the analysis of the information acquisition process. Therefore the test design includes three variations of the workplace: first a conventional 200° tower simulator, second the RTO-Console and third the RTO-Console with additional augmentation of information on the video panorama. Objective eye tracking data were gathered during the simulations runs, questionnaires and interviews gave subjective ratings. The eye tracking data was analyzed for relative frequencies for the main information sources to quantify and understand the information acquisition process of the tower controller. The ratings and interviews gave insights into the usability. The results do not only show that air traffic controllers characterize the work with the RTO-Console as realistic, but their attention on the RADAR display is dependent on the form of information augmentation.

Available Versions of this Item

• High-fidelity Tower Simulation for operational validity of Remote Tower Control. (deposited 25 Feb 2010 11:30) [Currently Displayed]
  • High-fidelity Tower Simulation for operational validity of Remote Tower Control. (deposited 21 Oct 2010 14:55)
    • High-fidelity Tower Simulation for operational validity of Remote Tower Control. (deposited 17 Oct 2012 09:30)
    • High-fidelity Tower Simulation for operational validity of Remote Tower Control. (deposited 17 Dec 2010 14:55)