On Glyph Design for Wind Information in En-Route Air Traffic Control

Abstract

Information about the wind situation is crucial for en-route air traffic controllers. In this paper, we compare several glyph designs for showing wind direction and speed by the means of an empirical study. The different designs are based on arrows, wind barbs, and text. During the study, we are measuring response times and accuracy. Moreover, we collect evidence of the applicability of those designs in en-route air traffic control by qualitative feedback from air traffic controllers. Our findings suggest, that the often-used wind barbs are less suited for assessing wind speed and direction. Instead, a combination of arrow and text should be favored