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Research

Current projects being undertaken by researchers at the Centre for Cognitive Work and Safety Analysis include:

Cognitive Work Analysis for Human-System Integration

During major system upgrades, it is beneficial to adopt a holistic approach, focusing not only on the individual system elements being upgraded, but on all aspects of the organisation that work together to promote safe and efficient operations. In this project, Cognitive Work Analysis is being used to investigate the work demands of operating an over-the-horizon radar system, the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN), as part of ongoing upgrades and enhancements. The analyses of these work demands are being used to tailor the Human-Machine Interface (HMI), workspace layout, team design, training approach and organisational structure to the work demands of the system, in order to facilitate total human-system integration.

Developing an Operating Concept for Adapting Systems using Cognitive Work Analysis

The Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) Air Combat Capability will undertake a major transition over the coming decade as the existing fleet of fighter jets reach their end of service dates and are replaced by new, advanced aircraft. Major transition periods of this type place unique challenges on an organisation to determine how the adapting system can best be used to meet operational goals. In this project, Cognitive Work Analysis is being used to assist in developing an operating concept for the adapting system. Specifically, Cognitive Work Analysis is being used to determine how best to employ the various fighter jets within the adapting system and, therefore, how best to distribute work among, and train, operators within the adapting system.

Work Domain and Activity Analyses for a Future System for Maritime Surveillance

This project is concerned with the procurement of military systems to advance the Royal Australian Air Force’s maritime patrol and response capability. Traditionally, manned aircraft – the AP-3C Orion aircraft – have been used to fulfill this role, but for the first time a mix of manned and unmanned systems is being considered. While unmanned systems have a short history in land reconnaissance operations, they are yet to be employed for maritime surveillance operations. The exact work demands on the ground crew of a future Uninhabited Aerial System for maritime surveillance operations are, therefore, largely unknown. On this project, Work Domain Analysis and Control Task Analysis are being used to investigate some of the work demands of a future Unmanned Aerial System for maritime surveillance. Subsequently, these analyses may be used to design interfaces, teams, training, and workspaces for this system that are tailored to its work demands.

Work Domain Analysis: Concepts, Guidelines, and Cases

This project concerns the development of the following book:
Naikar, N. (in press). Work domain analysis: Concepts, guidelines, and cases. Boca Raton, FL: Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

This book will discuss the key concepts of Work Domain Analysis, describe guidelines for performing Work Domain Analysis, and present case studies that demonstrate that Work Domain Analysis can be applied to a range of problems in industrial settings. The concepts and guidelines for Work Domain Analysis will be illustrated with a range of examples, including examples from a home, a system with which readers will be highly familiar. Moreover, for the first time, the book will examine the impact, uniqueness, and feasibility of applying work domain analysis in industrial settings in detail.

Cognitive Work Analysis for Organisational Redesign

This project focuses on the use of Cognitive Work Analysis to assist in a major organisational redesign. The Royal Australian Air Force is currently undergoing a reshape in order to utilise its current capabilities and personnel more effectively, and also to prepare for planned system acquisitions, upgrades and retirements. On this project, Cognitive Work Analysis is being used to inform this organisational redesign, with the aim of ensuring that the Air Force has the right people, with the right skills, in the right distribution and organisational structure, to enable it to meet current and future Government requirements. Cognitive Work Analysis is also being applied to assist the Air Force in using new technology and equipment to maximum effect.

Selecting Measures of Performance and Effectiveness

This research centres on the use of Cognitive Work Analysis as a means to select measures of performance and effectiveness that can be used to identify where system improvements (human, hardware or software) may lie. The research concentrates on Cognitive Work Analysis because of its potential for the design and evaluation of first-of-a-kind systems. A series of experiments are being performed that aim to compare the measures, selected using Cognitive Work Analysis and traditional reductionist techniques, in terms of their usefulness (cost-benefit) to stakeholder groups. The research is being undertaken by David Crone as a part time PhD with the Department of Psychology at the University of Queensland (UQ), supervised by Professor Penny Sanderson at UQ and Dr Neelam Naikar of DSTO. The research was originally part of a joint Australia - United States program that aimed to develop future Electronic Warfare systems. Dr Simon Parker (DSTO) was the original Human Factors Task Manager for that program and is continuing to support research being conducted as part of the PhD.

Crone, D., Sanderson, P., Naikar, N., & Parker, S. (2007). Selecting sensitive measures of performance in complex multivariable environments. Proceedings of the 2007 Simulation Technology Conference (SimTecT 2007). Lindfield, Australia: Simulation Industry Association of Australia. (attachment available on publications page).