Evaluation methodology and measurement of physiological data to determine operational preparedness of air defense staff: Preliminary results

Abstract

The aim of the article is to introduce new evaluation methodology to determine operational preparedness of air defense staff based on measurement of physiological data. The individuals working with air defense systems are under very high level of stress and long‐term monotone air picture observation workload during the mission. We designed an experiment and a method of measuring the biomedical signals for monitoring the actual operator condition during long‐term work on air picture simulator that shows real‐time aircraft flight information. Long‐term monitoring and recording of potential airborne targets in the area of interest to which operators are subjected is accompanied by monitoring the physiological data such as heart rate, body temperature, movement activity and perspiration intensity of operators. The proposed methodology and measurements were tested on four air defense system operators of the Army of the Czech Republic. Operators took part in a 4‐h intensive measurement without any break and their training was evaluated. Designed methods could help to monitor, on the base of physiological data and data from simulators, the stress load level and operational preparedness.