Design and Evaluation of a Modern Controller Working Position using High-Fidelity Mock-Ups

Kurzfassung

One of the most important tools for air traffic controllers (ATCO) is the controller working position (CWP) software, whose human-machine interface (HMI) design is crucial for enabling ATCOs to work safely, efficiently, and with proper situational awareness. To ensure the CWP meets the ATCO's needs and achieves high user acceptance, it is essential to involve them in early design decisions and throughout the development process. This study presents approaches of a more modern CWP design that was developed in a user-centered approach using high fidelity mock-ups with the goal of improving existing CWP designs and integrating advanced features such as weather visualization and trajectory advisories. The design was validated in multiple workshops with ATCOs, focusing on both basic features (e.g., colors, track label design and layout) and more sophisticated functionalities. The quantitative user experience evaluation and qualitative feedback analysis showed very positive results in regards to usability and acceptance, particularly for the integration of conflict advisories and the overall air situation display design. The findings also revealed areas for further enhancement, such as the presentation of weather information and the layout preferences. The validation methodology proved to be an effective and cost-efficient way to evaluate designs with users in early software development stages. The findings of this research provide valuable insights for the development of future CWPs, highlighting the potential benefits of adopting a usercentered design approach. While the low number of participants limits the generalizability of the findings, the study demonstrates the feasibility and benefits of this design approach and the use of high-fidelity mockups in the safety-critical air traffic control domain.