How process control operators derive, update, and apply mental models

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanqing Yin ◽  
Jason Laberge
Keyword(s):  
Process Control ◽  
Mental Models ◽  
Control Operators

Operator Aids and Expert Systems in User Computer Interfaces

1986 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 1082-1085
Author(s):  
William R. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Expert System ◽  
Process Control ◽  
Expert Systems ◽  
Research Program ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Decision Aids ◽  
The United States ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Control Operators

Recent events have demonstrated the potential for catastrophic accidents at process control facilities, resulting in severe economic damages or loss of human life. Human operators play a central role in the outcome of accidents in process control plants, because of their responsibility to make decisions regarding the appropriate corrective actions needed to control the event. In recent years, researchers have been attempting to apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods for developing computer-based decision aids for process control operators. Much of this research activity has taken place within the nuclear industry. In order to assess the implications of expert systems for nuclear reactor operators, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) has sponsored a research program at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL). Included in this program have been the development of a prototype expert system for nuclear reactor operators, as well as two experiments to measure the effects of the expert system on operator performance in simulated accident conditions. This paper briefly summarizes the experience gained during this research program and assesses the potential future of expert system decision aids for process control operators.

Placement of Crew's Communication and Coordination Training in Process Control

1994 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 527-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin M. Fjelde ◽  
Fred S. Switzer
Keyword(s):  
Process Control ◽  
Mental Models ◽  
System Performance ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Industrial Process ◽  
Coordination Training ◽  
Industrial Process Control ◽  
Task Training ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Communication And Coordination

The effects of placement of crew's communication and coordination training for teams on system performance and communication were examined using 40 two-person teams operating an industrial process-control simulator. Analysis indicated that the best performance resulted when operators were given communication and coordination training during or after task training had occurred. However, performance differences were not directly due to the number or type of communications exchanged between operators. The difference in performance is probably attributable to differences in the memory load of the conditions or in the mental models adopted by the subjects.

scholarly journals User-Initiated Notification: A Concept for Aiding the Monitoring Activities of Process Control Operators

1996 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 283-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Guerlain ◽  
Peter Bullemer
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Process Control ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Control Environment ◽  
Important Process ◽  
Working Memory Load ◽  
Plant Personnel ◽  
Monitoring Activities ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Control Operators

Monitoring activities in a process control environment are quite unique depending on the current situation and the operator's current understanding of that situation. Furthermore, the operator may be required to monitor multiple simultaneous events over potentially long periods of time. Currently, operators must periodically scan displays to gather such information, or manipulate the alarm or control system in ways not originally intended in order to gather that information as appropriate. Furthermore, if the monitoring activities span multiple operating shifts, then there is the potential for operators to forget to communicate these requirements at shift change. Despite the uniqueness of the situations that will require process events to be monitored, it is hypothesized that there is a limited set of conditions that can be pre-defined in a tool that will allow operators to set up their own monitoring “agents” according to their current diagnostic needs. Such a tool is predicted to decrease the working memory load of operators, and reduce the time it takes them to detect important process changes (or lack of them). Furthermore, it is proposed that this concept is extensible to other plant personnel and to other domains that have similar monitoring requirements. Although some potential pitfalls can be predicted with the introduction of this tool, the number of predicted benefits warrant the further exploration of this concept. This will be the next step in our design process.

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