Cognitive Workload and Visual Attention Analyses of the Air Traffic Control Tower Flight Data Manager (TFDM) Prototype Demonstration

Abstract

This paper presents two methods of analyzing air traffic controller activity: cognitive workload measurement through the novel comparison of controller-pilot verbal communications, and visual attention quantification through manual eye gaze analysis. These analyses were performed as part of an evaluation of the Tower Flight Data Manager (TFDM) prototype system. Cognitive workload analyses revealed that, when comparing participant controllers utilizing TFDM to a control group utilizing existing air traffic control (ATC) equipment, participants issued commands sooner than the control, and thus were perceived to have a lower workload. While visual attention data were not available for the control group, analyses of participant gaze data revealed 81.9% of time was spent in a head-down position, and 17.2% of time was spent head-up. Results are related back to system inefficiencies to find potential areas of improvement in design.