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Cognitive model of team cooperation in en-route air traffic control

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Abstract

Since controller teams are in charge of en-route air traffic control, team cooperation is a key issue for good control performance. We conducted ethnographic field observation at the Tokyo Area Control Center and then analyzed the obtained data to develop a cognitive model of team cooperation in en-route air traffic control. We segmented conversational records, behavioral records, and so on by control unit, and then clarified relations between the segments and identified expert knowledge and judgment behind them. Cognitive processes of controller teams were reconstructed based on a concept of distributed cognition. The analysis revealed that the mutual belief model is applicable to team cooperation processes, the role assignment of tasks within a controller team is implicit and that control plans are implemented smoothly once team situation awareness has been established. A cognitive model of controllers’ team cooperation has been constructed based on these findings.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their thanks to Japan Railway Construction, Transportation, and Technology Agency (JRTT) for funding this research. They also appreciate the air traffic controllers of the Tokyo Area Control Center who kindly participated in the field observation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Systems Innovation, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan

    Yusuke Soraji, Kazuo Furuta & Taro Kanno

  2. Electronic Navigation Research Institute, 7-42-23 Higashi-machi, Jindaiji, Chofu, 182-0012, Japan

    Hisae Aoyama & Satoru Inoue

  3. Department of Management Science and Technology, Tohoku University, 6-6-11 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8579, Japan

    Daisuke Karikawa & Makoto Takahashi

Authors
  1. Yusuke Soraji
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  2. Kazuo Furuta
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  3. Taro Kanno
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  4. Hisae Aoyama
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  5. Satoru Inoue
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  6. Daisuke Karikawa
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  7. Makoto Takahashi
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Correspondence to Kazuo Furuta.

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Soraji, Y., Furuta, K., Kanno, T. et al. Cognitive model of team cooperation in en-route air traffic control. Cogn Tech Work 14, 93–105 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-010-0168-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-010-0168-x

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