The Air Traffic Controller's Picture as an Example of a Mental Model

Review and Evaluation of Applied Research Techniques for Documenting Cognitive Processes In Air Traffic Control

“…Whitfield and Jackson (1982) used three key techniques for defining the nature of the air traffic controller's mental picture of the traffic situation: 1) interviews with training controllers; 2) elicitation of concurrent verbal protocols from mock-relief controllers who described how they establish the mental picture prior to assuming control of a position; and 3) elicitation of retrospective verbal protocols from controllers during replay of radar displays and verbal transactions recorded during real-time simulations.…”

On the history and prospects of three-dimensional human–computer interfaces for the provision of air traffic control services

“…In [15] Brown and Slater define the picture as the "overall awareness which enables controllers to carry out their tasks and stay ahead of the game". Whitfield and Jackson formulated a similar statement, saying that the picture is the "overall appreciation of the traffic situation for which they [controllers] are responsible" [22]. Further research can be found in [24][25][26].…”

“…In [20], Jeannot, Kelly and Thompson report that both theoretical and empirical studies on the picture have been carried out since the late 60s, particularly in France [21,22]. A synthesis can be found in [23].…”

“…Also, they take advantage of their knowledge of typical routes and procedures and sometimes focus on nonroutine flights [17]. Some evidence suggests that FS play a key ro1e in building and maintaining the picture [17,22]. Other indicates that the mental model is mainly built on top of the PVD image [28,29].…”

Expressing the effectiveness of planning horizons

“…A mental representation of the state of the domain corresponds to what the operator knows, from moment to moment, about the state of the managed traffic -the work being undertaken (Dowell & Long, 1998). This representation is frequently referred to as the operator's 'picture' (Cox, 1992;Whitfield & Jackson, 1982), and it is used to predict the future states of aircraft on the sector, and thereby plan.…”