Modelling the human as a system component

Appropriate consideration of the human is an important element of the design process. Man-in-the-loop simulation has often been used as a method of assessment. However, this may not always be practicable or cost-effective, for example where a system is at an early stage of design. This paper addresses the application of mathematical modelling to the assessment of human performance in a system environment. The differences between human and non-human elements are outlined and a simple worked example is given. The human element can be considered as a system component for the purposes of system modelling, provided appropriate consideration is given to its special characteristics. The system and the human must always be simulated together in order to guard against specific system dependencies and non-linearities