COLFUN, a framework for
Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
J.A. Rypkema, M.A. Neerincx, P.O Passenier
TNO Human Factors
What is COLFUN?
• COLFUN = COgnitive Load FUNctional framework
• Envisioning operators task load
• Three components:
• Mental load model
• Functional model
• Scenario analysis
Example: operator Westerschelde motor-traffic tunnel
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
2
Westerschelde motor-traffic tunnel
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
3
Westerschelde motor-traffic tunnel
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
6.6 km long
2 tubes, each tube 2 driving lanes
Evacuation corridors every 250 m
Cameras every 150 m
20 monitor displays
Sensors (e.g. traffic speed, vehicle height, sight)
Controllers (e.g. traffic lights, speed reduction signs)
One operator to guard the tunnel
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
4
Westerschelde motor-traffic tunnel
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
5
Question:
Can the tunnel be controlled safely by
one tunnel operator?
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
6
Sub-questions
• What tasks does the tunnel operator have to perform?
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
7
Sub-questions
• What tasks does the tunnel operator have to perform?
• How complex are these tasks?
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
8
Sub-questions
• What tasks does the tunnel operator have to perform?
• Task analysis
• How complex are these tasks?
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
9
Sub-questions
• What tasks does the tunnel operator have to perform?
• Task analysis
• How complex are these tasks?
• Cognitive load analysis
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
10
Task analysis
Four generic process control functions:
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
11
Task analysis
Four generic process control functions:
• Situation Awareness (SA)
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
12
Task analysis
Four generic process control functions:
• Situation Awareness (SA)
• Disturbance Assessment (DA)
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
13
Task analysis
Four generic process control functions:
• Situation Awareness (SA)
• Disturbance Assessment (DA)
• Decision Making (DM)
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
14
Task analysis
Four generic process control functions:
•
•
•
•
Situation Awareness (SA)
Disturbance Assessment (DA)
Decision Making (DM)
Direction & Control (DC)
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
15
Functional model
DA
DM
Secondary level
Information transfer
SA =
DA=
DM=
DC =
Situation Awareness
Disturbance Assessment
Decision Making
Direction & Control
Primary level
SA
DC
Sensors
Actors
Tunnel
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
16
Example
• Situation awareness
• Alarm notifies slow speed
• Cameras show wrecked car
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
17
Example
• Situation awareness
• Alarm notifies slow speed
• Cameras show wrecked car
• Disturbance Assessment
• Accident
• One lane blocked
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
18
Example
• Situation awareness
• Alarm notifies slow speed
• Cameras show wrecked car
• Disturbance Assessment
• Accident
• One lane blocked
• Decision Making
• Close tube
• Close obstructed lane
• Speed reduction on other lane
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
19
Example
• Situation awareness
• Alarm notifies slow speed
• Cameras show wrecked car
• Disturbance Assessment
• Accident
• One lane blocked
• Decision Making
• Close tube
• Close obstructed lane
• Speed reduction on other lane
• Direction & Control
• Traffic lights on red
• Activate signs
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
20
Cognitive load analysis
Three cognitive load factors:
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
21
Cognitive load analysis
Three cognitive load factors:
• Time occupied
• Percentage of available time occupied with tasks
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
22
Cognitive load analysis
Three cognitive load factors:
• Time occupied
• Percentage of available time occupied with tasks
• Level of information processing
• Skill-based (‘back bone’)
• Rule-based (‘if…then’)
• Knowledge based (unfamiliar situations)
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
23
Cognitive load analysis
Three cognitive load factors:
• Time occupied
• Percentage of available time occupied with tasks
• Level of information processing
• Skill-based (‘back bone’)
• Rule-based (‘if…then’)
• Knowledge based (unfamiliar situations)
• Task-set switching
• Number of switches between tasks-sets (goals, objects, knowledge,
capacities)
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
24
3D cognitive load model
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
25
Scenario analysis
5 scenarios, based on:
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
26
Scenario analysis
5 scenarios, based on:
• Frequency
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
27
Scenario analysis
5 scenarios, based on:
• Frequency
• Severity
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
28
Scenario analysis
5 scenarios, based on:
• Frequency
• Severity
• Expected mental effort
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
29
Scenarios
• Scenario 1
• Accident with bus with elderly people, fire
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
30
Scenarios
• Scenario 1
• Accident with bus with elderly people, fire
• Scenario 2
• Cargo falls of truck, collision, fire
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
31
Scenarios
• Scenario 1
• Accident with bus with elderly people, fire
• Scenario 2
• Cargo falls of truck, collision, fire
• Scenario 3
• Driver heart attack, car hits barrier
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
32
Scenarios
• Scenario 1
• Accident with bus with elderly people, fire
• Scenario 2
• Cargo falls of truck, collision, fire
• Scenario 3
• Driver heart attack, car hits barrier
• Scenario 4
• Short circuit, no camera images
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
33
Scenarios
• Scenario 1
• Accident with bus with elderly people, fire
• Scenario 2
• Cargo falls of truck, collision, fire
• Scenario 3
• Driver heart attack, car hits barrier
• Scenario 4
• Short circuit, no camera images
• Scenario 5
• Car without fuel standing still in tunnel
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
34
Method scenario analysis
Time
System
(TUBES)
Operator
Event
Bus hits car and
catches fire,
two lanes blocked
0
1
5
Notification
(auditory/visual)
Detection on
MMI
5
5
Autostart ventilation
(after 60s)
35
Auto CCTV selection
Build-up
internal image
30
35
Perform calamity
procedure
Press calamity
button
0
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
35
Results scenario analysis (1)
Scenario
Time (in sec)
Time occupied (in %)
Complexity (in %)
Task-set switches
(number)
Task-set switches
(average time between
switches)
1
44360
100
21
28
2
21310
100
25
26
3
14875
100
19
23
4
4320
100
15
6
5
1240
100
7
8
1584
819
647
720
155
1
0 - 675
100
52
13
2
0 - 1105
100
54
12
3
0 - 920
100
23
10
52
92
92
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
Critcal period
Scenario
Time (in sec)
Time occupied (in %)
Complexity (in %)
Task-set switches
(number)
Task-set switches
(average time between
switches)
36
Results scenario analysis (2)
2
Level of
information
processing
3
23
1
4
1
5
Time occupied
Task-set switches
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
37
Conclusions
Cognitive load too high at the start of incidents, because:
• Too many tasks in short time (especially with evacuation)
• Tasks too complex because lack of (clear) procedures
• Sometimes number of task-set switches too high as a
result of intertwined task-sets
And:
• Sudden change from monotonous vigilance task to
highly demanding crisis situation
• Responsibility until emergency services arrive
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
38
Recommendations
• Develop / improve procedures related to the
categorisation of incidents.
• Develop evacuation procedures. Pay attention to
communication and guidance.
• Improve procedures for communication with third
parties. Restrict communication tasks during crisis
situations.
• Cluster the operator tasks in sets.
• Provide a second person for assistance during crisis
situations.
• Rearrange the calamity buttons
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
39
Recommendations training
• Train “on the job” for normal situations
• Use a simulator to train for critical situations
• Repeat training frequently (3-6 monthly)
• Organize interdisciplinary training with emergency
services
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
40
Cognitive load functional framework
(COLFUN) supports ...
• Envisioning high demand situations in process
control
• Task analysis
DA
DM
• Cognitive load analysis
Secondary level
• Attuning task design
Information transfer
• Procedures
Primary level
• Manning
SA
DC
Sensors
Actors
• Organisation
• Training
• Support systems
Tunnel
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
41
PRISM FG3 - Human factors in Highdemand situations
Best Practice Guide
• Practical theory on high-demand situations
• Best practices on example domains
• Tools and techniques
Free access for PRISM members on:
www.prism-network.org
(PRISM registration is free)
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
42
Questions?
COLFUN, a framework for Envisioning, Assessing and
Managing High-Demand Situations
Human Factors
43