Workload modeling using time windows and utilization in an air traffic control task

In this paper, we show how to assess human workload for continuous tasks and describe how operator performance is affected by variations in break-work intervals and by different utilizations. A study was conducted examining the effects of different break-work intervals and utilization as a factor in a mental workload model. We investigated the impact of operator performance on operational error while performing continuous event-driven air traffic control tasks with multiple aircraft. To this end we have developed a simple air traffic control (ATC) model aimed at distributing breaks to form different configurations with the same utilization. The presented approach extends prior concepts of workload and utilization, which are based on a simple average utilization, and considers the specific patterns of break-work intervals. Copyright 2011 by Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Inc. All rights reserved

Effects of non-acoustic factors on annoyance caused by floor impact sounds: A structural equation analysis

Previous research studies have addressed the relevance of non-acoustic factors in the perception of noise. However, the majority of these studies have focused on environmental noise, such as road traffic, railway and aircraft noises, and no attempt has been made to investigate the impact of building noises. In this paper, a conceptual model which explains the annoyance caused by floor impact sounds in apartment buildings was proposed based on previous findings and is subject to empirical testing. Online and paper questionnaire surveys were conducted in Korea and the questionnaire included questions designed to assess the impact of non-acoustic factors on annoyance caused by floor impact sounds, such as noise sensitivity and neighbourhood satisfaction. The structural equation model developed from the survey indicated that a negative relationship with neighbours resulted in greater annoyance, while a greater sensitivity to noise leaded to a greater perception of disturbance from noise. The various types of noises also produced different effects on relationship between noise annoyance and relationship with neighbours

A qualitative study of annoyance caused by floor impact sounds in apartment buildings

A qualitative study was conducted to investigate how residents in apartment buildings perceive and are affected by floor impact sounds. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in South Korea and Grounded Theory was used to analyse the data. Through three coding phases of Grounded Theory (open, axial and selective), verbatim transcripts of each interview were probed and the relationship between non-acoustic factors and noise annoyance was formulated. It was found that past experience of the issue, actual disturbance and each individual’s noise sensitivity influenced noise annoyance as causal conditions. In addition, the development from noise annoyance to coping behaviours was discovered to be influenced by intervening conditions: empathy and house or neighbourhood satisfaction. As consequences of individuals’ coping behaviours, having negative attitudes to the issue or relevant authorities, considering moving house as avoidance behaviour, health and relationship problems were identified

An experimental study of psychophysiological responses to floor impact sounds

The present study investigates the adverse effects of floor impact noise using both subjective and physiological methods. A total of 21 subjects participated in the experiments and they were instructed to press a button when they noticed a sound and rate noise annoyance. Heart rate (HR), electrodermal activity (EDA), and respiration rate (RR) were measured while subjects were exposed to floor impact sounds induced by real impact sources and standard heavyweight impact source (impact ball). It was found that noise annoyance and noticeability were highly correlated with noise levels. The floor impact sounds caused by impact ball was found to be more noticeable than real impact sounds when A-weighted maximum noise levels (LAFmax) were greater than 35 dBA. The results showed that listening to floor impact noise lowered HR and raised EDA and RR. The results also indicated that EDA and RR were significantly affected by noise levels

Engineering education opportunities, perceptions and career choice of secondary school students in Hong Kong SAR, China

Session Title: Engineering Education and Comparative Studies at Universities throughout Asia, Far East: AC 2012-5321This paper presents an investigation into engineering education opportunities and engagement among secondary school students in Hong Kong SAR, China (HK). We adapted and validated an international questionnaire and executed it in HK secondary schools. The questionnaire is designed to identify pedagogy, students' perception, and experience (formal and informal) of engineering education, and measure their effects on students' career choice in engineering. We investigate how do factors like age, gender, family background (local versus new immigrants), subjects taken at school, and perceptions of the engineering profession affect their career choice in engineering. Identifying factors affecting young people's career choice in engineering is interesting as HK is in an early post-industrial position. Such study can provide an excellent comparative example to contrast between post-industrial societies such as the United States and industrializing societies such as other cities in the mainland China. © 2012 American Society for Engineering Education.postprin

Collaborative information sensemaking for multi-robot search and rescue

In this paper, we consider novel information sensemaking methods for search and rescue operations that combine principles of information fusion and collective intelligence in scalable solutions. We will elaborate on several approaches that originated in different areas of information integration, sensor data management, and multi-robot urban search and rescue missions

Influence of noise sensitivity on physiological responses to floor impact sounds

This study investigated the changes in physiological responses to floor impact sounds under a laboratory condition. A total of 34 normal-hearing participants took part in the experiment and were categorised into two groups with low and high noise-sensitivity scores. The participants were exposed to five-minute floor impact sounds produced by a standard impact noise source (an impact ball) and a real impact noise source (human footsteps). For comparison, road traffic noise was used as a reference stimulus. After being exposed to each stimulus, the participants were asked to rate annoyance. During the experiments, heart rate (HR), electrodermal activity (EDA), and respiratory rate (RR) were measured. Annoyance was found to be influenced by noise level, noise source, and noise sensitivity. All physiological responses were found to be changed significantly due to noise exposure. HR decelerated, EDA decreased, and RR decelerated for five minutes of noise exposure. The physiological responses were significantly influenced by noise sensitivity. However, there were no significant effects of noise level or noise source on the physiological responses