A Direct Perception,Span-of-Control Overview Display to Support a Process Control Operator's Situation Awareness: A Practice-oriented Design Process

Abstract

This paper presents a practice-oriented design work process for designing effective, direct perception span-of-control overview displays for process control operator positions. Several industry-based failure modes of overview displays are discussed in the context of Endsley's model of situation awareness and the practice-oriented process. The three high-level steps of the design work process are: identify critical process variables, identify the critical interaction requirements, and identify the appropriate visualization requirements. This practice-oriented process draws from cognitive engineering techniques, namely cognitive work analysis and scenario-based design. A conceptual overview display for an actual process plant console operator position is presented and illustrative visualization requirements are discussed.

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