FOREWORD

This research explored lessons that have been learned involving human factors in the design and operation of control centers that were similar to a generic, IVHS-class traffic management center (TMC). During an initial phase, brief visits were made at 10 existing operation control centers. Three of these were selected for more detailed study, along with eight additional centers that were strongly recommended by center managers and other researchers. During the second phase, structured interviews were completed with operators and managers at the 11 centers located in the United States, Canada, and Europe.

This report summarizes the critical input, data processing, and output functions that are expected to be performed by IVHS-class TMC's. It describes how these functions are currently performed by the sample of existing high-technology centers and how the functions might evolve with near-term technology advancements and automation. It addresses a series of important TMC design considerations, including the user-centered design process, operator selection and training, system evolution and advanced automation, user interface design, and job performance aids.

Lyle Saxton Director, Office of Safety and Traffic Operations Research and Development

FHWA-RD-94-147

COMPARABLE SYSTEMS ANALYSIS: DESIGN AND OPERATION OF ADVANCED CONTROL CENTERS

August 1995

Michael J. Kelly, Jeffrey M. Gerth, and Christopher J. Whaley

Electronic Systems
Georgia Tech Laboratory Research Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, Georgia 30332

Office of Safety and Traffic Operations R&D
Federal Highway Administration
6300 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101-2296

Task Report (June 93 to November 93

Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR): Nazemeh Sobhi (HSR-30)
The authors are grateful to the management and operators of the pioneerin facilities we visited for their time, insight, and candor. By sharing with us both their successes and missteps, they will make the path toward IVHS smoother for those who follow.

This research explored lessons that have been learned involving human factors in the design and operation of control centers that were similar to a generic, IVHS-class traffic management center (TMC). During an initial phase, brief visits were made at 10 existing operation control centers. Three of these were selected for more detailed study along with 8 additional centers that were strongly recommended by center managers and other researchers, During the second phase, structured interviews were completed with operators and managers at the eleven centers located in the United States, Canada and Europe. This report summarizes the critical input, data processing, and output functions that are expected to be performed by IVHS-class TMC's. It describes how these functions are currently performed by the sample of existing high-technology centers and how the functions might evolve with near-term technology advancements and automation. It addresses a series of important TMC design considerations including the user-centered design process, operator selection and training, system evolution and advanced automation, user interface design, and job perfomance aids.

Comparable s Center (TM stems, C IVHS, also, Traffic Management ), Advanced Traffic Management

No Restrictions. This document is available to the public (ATMS) through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161.

Unclassified

Unclassified

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