Third generation control centre design

This paper describes experience gained in designing modern control centres with the aim of identifying what we know and what we need to know to resolve current and future design problems. The paper presents the design problems now being addressed. This is based on experience with a range of military applications and network control systems. Third generation control centres have taken advantage of new technology and can be identified by new hardware such as large screen displays. Changes to integrated windowing environments can be seen including use of multi-media, although the problems of legacy software are still to be resolved. Changes in communications methods (including human-human communication) can also be seen. Less visible are the changes to the nature of control. Modern control centres are adopting integrated control, including overall management. The operator and the machine are starting to make decisions at the screen face. Decision support, reactive re-planning and the use of fused data are starting to appear