Soft system analysis to integrate technology & human in controller workstation

Computer-based decision support tools (DST), shared information, and other forms of automation are increasingly being planned for use by controllers and pilots to support Air Traffic Management (ATM) and Air Traffic Control (ATC) in the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). Successful adoption of these automation concepts depends on both technology and human performance using the technology. System engineering and design needs to account for technology and human performance as co-partners to obtain the intended National Airspace System (NAS) benefits. The particular subject of this work is to develop functional requirements for the en route controller workstation so that the controller can effectively and safely use the planned technology to obtain the desired benefits. The approach used to accomplish this is designed to: 1) focus on truly integrating technology and human performance by addressing requirements for each at the same time and 2) focus on how technology and human performance work to provide the desired benefits. This approach is called soft systems analysis in this study. The steps include: 1. Define technology capabilities that will enable intended benefits. Typically technology functions are developed as the first steps in concept design, and these can be built upon for this step. 2. Develop task descriptions for the roles of technology and humans. 3. Develop functional requirements for technology that enable the technology human performance to function as an integrated set. 4. Develop benefit flow mechanisms and performance measures for technology and human performance. 5. Identify feasibility issues of technology performing as intended and humans performing their tasks. 6. Characterize interactions among technology and humans for multiple ATM/ATC concepts. Examples of applying this approach to integrate and assess technology and human performance as co- elements in providing benefits are presented.