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EEG-Based Analysis of Air Traffic Conflict: Investigating Controllers’ Situation Awareness, Stress Level and Brain Activity during Conflict Resolution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2019

Fitri Trapsilawati ,
Muhammad Kusumawan Herliansyah ,
Agustyandini Sekar Asih Nur Sari Nugraheni ,
Mifta Priani Fatikasari  and
Gharsina Tissamodie
Fitri Trapsilawati*
Affiliation:
(Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jalan Grafika no. 2, Yogyakarta55281, Indonesia)
Muhammad Kusumawan Herliansyah
Affiliation:
(Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jalan Grafika no. 2, Yogyakarta55281, Indonesia)
Agustyandini Sekar Asih Nur Sari Nugraheni
Affiliation:
(Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jalan Grafika no. 2, Yogyakarta55281, Indonesia)
Mifta Priani Fatikasari
Affiliation:
(Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jalan Grafika no. 2, Yogyakarta55281, Indonesia)
Gharsina Tissamodie
Affiliation:
(Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jalan Grafika no. 2, Yogyakarta55281, Indonesia)
*
(E-mail: [email protected])
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Abstract

The effects of air traffic conflict geometry have been well investigated in prior studies, particularly in the context of the pilot, though little in the context of the air traffic control officer (ATCO). No study to date has investigated the effects of conflict geometry on human factors variables of ATCOs through objective and physiological approaches. This study examines the effects of conflict geometries on ATCO situation awareness, stress level and brain activity during conflict resolution. Fifteen participants were instructed to resolve six different conflict geometries: crossing level, crossing non-level, converging level, converging non-level, overtaking level, and overtaking non-level. The results indicate that converging and crossing conflicts led to lower situation awareness (SA), higher stress level, and higher theta activation at the temporal and parietal lobes. Level conflict led to lower SA. The findings offer two implications, providing insights for the formal guidelines in ATC conflict resolution training and provision of inputs for the conflict resolution aid development.

Keywords

Conflict geometryAir traffic controlSituation awarenessEEG, brain activity
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Navigation , Volume 73 , Issue 3 , May 2020 , pp. 678 - 696
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 2019

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