Simulator-based Human Factors Studies Across 25 Years (eBook)

Ann Britt Skjerve holds a Bachelor of Art (Psychology), Master of Art (Psychology) and a PhD (Psychology) from the Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. She joined the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) in 1997, and currently holds positions as Principal Scientist and Deputy Division Head in the Industrial Psychology Division. Ann Britt has been working with a broad range of applied human factors issues within the domains of nuclear power plant operation, train traffic control and petroleum production, both in terms of laboratory-based studies and in consultancy settings. Her main research interests include human-automation interaction, facilitating team performance, teamwork training of distributed teams, and usability assessments. Andreas Bye holds an MSc in Engineering Cybernetics from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway. He joined the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) in 1989, where he is currently Head of the Industrial Psychology Department. Until 2001, he worked in the Computerized Operation Support Systems Department at IFE on topics including alarm systems and function allocation. His current professional interests include human and organizational factors for industrial safety, human reliability, and the use of empirical human performance data to support probabilistic safety assessment.

Foreword 5
Editors’ Preface 7
Contents 13
List of Abbreviations 16
Introduction 20
The Use of Simulators in Human Factors Studies Within the Nuclear Industry 21
1.1 The Emergence of Simulators in Nuclear Power 21
1.2 The Need for Simulator Research 23
1.3 The Complementary Nature of Training and Research Simulators 25
1.4 Discussion 28
References 29
The History of HAMMLAB 31
2.1 Introduction 32
2.2 What Were the Drivers to Build the HAMMLAB Facility? 36
2.3 HRP Research as a Consequence of TMI 37
2.4 HAMMLAB: First Generation (1983–1990) 38
2.5 HAMMLAB: Second Generation-I (1991–1995) 42
2.6 HAMMLAB: Second Generation-II (1995–2000) 44
2.7 HAMMLAB: Second Generation-III (2001–2004) 46
2.8 HAMMLAB: Third Generation (2004–2008) 48
2.9 Lessons Learned Reports 52
2.10 HAMMLAB Experiments and Lessons Learned Reports 52
References 55
Perspectives on Simulator Studies 61
The Purpose of HAMMLAB and the Theoretical Basis for Experimental Research 62
3.1 Introduction, the Purpose of HAMMLAB 62
3.2 Traditions in the Philosophy of Science 65
3.3 Approaches to Causal Explanation 66
3.4 Experimental Validity 68
3.5 A Way Forward 69
3.6 Conclusion 72
References 72
Methodological Challenges in HAMMLAB 74
4.1 Introduction 74
4.2 Experimental Design 76
4.3 Human Performance Measurement 81
4.4 Conclusion 85
References 89
Simulator Studies: The Next Best Thing? 92
5.1 Introduction 92
5.2 The Simulated Worlds 97
5.3 The Changing World of Human–Machine Systems 98
5.4 Synthesis 105
References 106
Human Performance and Plant Safety Performance 108
6.1 Introduction 108
6.2 Human Performance and Plant Safety 109
6.3 Changing Plant Technology 115
6.4 Evaluation of New HSI 119
6.5 Conclusions 122
References 122
Simulator Studies in HAMMLAB: Early Studies 124
More than 40 Years of Operator- Process- Communication Research 125
7.1 The Beginning 125
7.2 The OPCOM Project 126
7.3 Between OPCOM and HAMMLAB: Control Room Research with the STUDS Simulator 135
7.4 Concluding Remarks 139
References 140
Experiments with Conventional and Advanced Modes of Instrumentation in HAMMLAB 141
8.1 Introduction 141
8.2 Definitions 144
8.3 The Experimental Programme 145
8.4 Experiment 1 146
8.5 Experiment Series 2 149
8.6 Experiment 3 150
8.7 Conclusions 151
References 153
The Advanced Control Room Project ISACS 154
9.1 Introduction 154
9.2 Background 155
9.3 General Approach 156
9.4 The ISACS Concept 156
9.5 The Development of ISACS-1 158
9.6 Evaluation of ISACS-1 163
9.7 Upgrading of ISACS-1 164
9.8 Lessons Learned from the ISACS Project 164
References 165
Simulator Studies in HAMMLAB: Recent Studies 167
Alarm Systems 168
10.1 Introduction 168
10.2 Handling Alarms with Logics—HALO System 169
10.3 Critical Function Monitoring System—CFMS 170
10.4 Success Path Monitoring System—SPMS 171
10.5 Computerised Alarm System Toolbox—COAST 171
10.6 Computerized Alarm System for HAMMLAB—CASH 172
10.7 HAMMLAB Boiling Water Reactor Alarm System— HAMBO 173
10.8 An MFM Based Alarm System 176
10.9 An Example of Retrospective Use of HAMMLAB Data for Alarm Analyses 177
10.10 Summary 178
References 179
Information Display Design: Three Attempts at Superseding the Traditional Process Mimic Display 181
11.1 Introduction 181
11.2 Task-Based Displays 183
11.3 Ecological Displays 186
11.4 Function-Oriented Displays 188
11.5 Conclusion 191
References 192
Staffing Levels: Methods for Assessing Requirements 193
12.1 Introduction 193
12.2 Techniques for Assessing Staffing Requirements 194
12.3 Case Study 1: Experimental Evaluation - The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Staffing Research 195
12.4 Case Study 2: Human Performance Modeling - The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Staffing Research 203
12.5 Implications 207
References 207
Computerized Procedures 209
13.1 Introduction 209
13.2 Evolution of Procedure Implementation Tools 210
13.3 Studies in HAMMLAB Relating to Computerized Procedures 211
13.4 The COPMA-III Procedure Automation Study 214
13.5 HAMMLAB Studies Involving Task Based Displays 219
13.6 Experiments in Korea Relating to Computerized Procedures 221
13.7 What have we Learned from the HRP Studies on Computerized Procedures? 224
13.8 Computerized Procedures and Future Research 224
References 225
Can Human Operators and High-Level Automatic Systems Work Together? 227
14.1 Introduction 227
14.2 Handling of Minor Disturbance Situations: Misplaced Trust and Faulty Assessment of Performance Effectiveness 230
14.3 Increased Observability of the Automatic System’s Performance: Increased Operator Satisfaction and Performance Effectiveness 233
14.4 A Potential Future Scenario for Human-Automation Interactions: the Automatic System Cannot Replace a Co- Located Human Colleague 237
14.5 Lessons Learned 240
References 241
Task Complexity: What Challenges the Crew and How Do They Cope 244
15.1 Introduction 244
15.2 Task Complexity and Identification of Complexity ‘‘ Factors’’ 246
15.3 Complex Scenarios and Crew Operation 249
15.4 Summary and Discussion 257
References 261
International HRA Empirical Study, Overall Methodology and HAMMLAB Results 263
16.1 Introduction 263
16.2 Overview of Study Design 264
16.3 HAMMLAB Data and Integration 268
16.4 HAMMLAB Results 273
16.5 Conclusions 276
References 278
Work Practices and Cooperation in a Near Future and Far Future Operational Environment 280
17.1 Introduction 280
17.2 Near Future Operational Environments 282
17.3 Far Future Operational Environments 288
17.4 Conclusion: Future Research Needs 292
References 294
Augmented and Virtual Reality Research in Halden 1998– 2008 296
18.1 Introduction 296
18.2 Background 297
18.3 Establishing VR as a Halden Project Research Topic 297
18.4 Research Activities 1998–2001 298
18.5 The Second VR Workshop 303
18.6 Research Activities 2001–2005 303
18.7 The VR Laboratories 306
18.8 The 2005 VR Workshop 307
18.9 Recent Research Activities 308
18.10 Conclusions 309
References 310
Outlook 312
Knowledge Transfer to Industry from HAMMLAB Related Research Activities 313
19.1 Pre-HAMMLAB Period (1967–1983) 314
19.2 HAMMLAB 1983–1990 315
19.3 HAMMLAB 1991–2000 318
19.4 HAMMLAB 2001–2008 321
19.5 Development of User Interface Management Systems 326
19.6 Conclusions and Further Prospects 330
References 331
Human Performance Research and Its Uses to Inform Human Reliability Analysis 335
20.1 Background 335
20.2 A Role for Halden in Human Reliability Research 337
References 346
Studies for the Future 347
21.1 Introduction 347
21.2 Trends in Nuclear Power Plant Development 348
21.3 Future Research Topics 349
21.4 Future Research Approaches 356
21.5 HAMMLAB: Technical Requirements in the Future 360
21.6 HAMMLAB: Staff Requirements 363
21.7 Conclusion 365
References 366
Index 367