EEG-Based human factors evaluation of air traffic control operators (ATCOs) for optimal training

To deal with the increasing demands in Air Traffic Control (ATC), new working place designs are proposed and developed that need novel human factors evaluation tools. In this paper, we propose a novel application of Electroencephalogram (EEG)-based emotion, workload, and stress recognition algorithms to investigate the optimal length of training for Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) to learn working with three-dimensional (3D) display as a supplementary to the existing 2D display. We tested and applied the state-of-the-art EEG-based subject-dependent algorithms. The following experiment was carried out. Twelve ATCOs were recruited to take part in the experiment. The participants were in charge of the Terminal Control Area, providing navigation assistance to aircraft departing and approaching the airport using 2D and 3D displays. EEG data were recorded, and traditional human factors questionnaires were given to the participants after 15-minute, 60-minute, and 120-minute training. Different from the questionnaires, the EEG-based evaluation tools allow the recognition of emotions, workload, and stress with different temporal resolutions during the task performance by subjects. The results showed that 50-minute training could be enough for the ATCOs to learn the new display setting as they had relatively low stress and workload. The study demonstrated that there is a potential of applying the EEG-based human factors evaluation tools to assess novel system designs in addition to traditional questionnaire and feedback, which can be beneficial for future improvements and developments of the systems and interfaces.