A layered multi-dimensional description of pilot's workload based on objective measures

Abstract

Human factors have an important impact on aviation safety. The evaluation of pilot's workload is one of the most noteworthy human factors issues. After a brief overview of workload measurement techniques, a layered multi-dimensional description of workload is proposed, and the method is based on multiple objective measures. Heart rate, respiration, eye movements, control inputs and flight data are recorded in a simulated flight. The sensitivity and diagnosticity of several psychophysiological measurements are analyzed. Finally, a multi-dimensional pattern is constructed using the proposed method. The pattern can give a detailed description of pilot's workload throughout the flight. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.