Hierarchical Conflict Detection in Air Traffic Control

Abstract

Experienced air traffic controllers and naïve college students participated in 2 experiments we conducted to test a hypothesis that controllers evaluate potential conflicts between aircraft in a hierarchical manner, comparing altitudes first for vertical separation, then extrapolating aircraft trajectories for lateral separation, and finally performing speed-distance computations for longitudinal separation. The results clearly support the hypothesis and imply that controller workload in terms of time pressure could be determined by momentary conflict geometries between aircraft pairs in a sector. Similarity of results between the groups has implications on both our understanding of controller expertise and on experimental research on air traffic control-related issues.

Measuring Sector Complexity: Solution Space-Based Method

“…A previous study by Rantenan and Nunes [27] has suggested speed as a confounding factor to conflict or intercept angles and the ability to detect a conflict. It was indicated in their research that increasing the speed differential between converging objects increased the temporal error, resulting in a lower accuracy.…”

“…Previous research on sector complexity showed that the aircraft intercept angle [27,28,29], speed [27] and horizontal proximity [3,16] are some of the variables that are responsible for the sector complexity. The goal of the present study is to systematically analyze the properties of the SSD due to changes in the sector design.…”

“…Based on previous researches, the ability of the controller to ascertain whether or not an aircraft pair will lose separation (more commonly known as conflict detection) is affected by a variety of variables that include, but are not limited to, the convergence angle [27,28,29]. However, previous research also found that conflict angle as a factor affecting conflict detection ability, is often confounded with speed [27].…”

“…However, previous research also found that conflict angle as a factor affecting conflict detection ability, is often confounded with speed [27]. Nonetheless, in order to understand the intercept angle as part of the sector complexity measure, the effect of intercept angle on the SSD area property is important.…”

The Impact of Time Efficacy on Air Traffic Controller Situation Awareness and Mental Workload

“…It has been shown that controllers indeed mind their time and regulate their workload by employing a set of strategies that are more economical in a demanding situation than under lighter workload (Sperandio, 1978). Furthermore, Rantanen and Nunes (2005) showed that controllers tended to opt for the quickest and least effortful solutions in determining possible conflicts between pairs of aircraft, exhibiting time management with a definitely conservative bias.…”