Document

Author
Neville A. Stanton and Aaron P. J. Roberts
Abstract
This is a world’s first-of-a-kind study that compares three operational scenarios in a simulated submarine control room: Returning to Periscope Depth (RTPD), Inshore Operations (INSO) and Dived Tracking of Contact (DT). The Event Analysis of Systematic Teamwork (EAST) method was used to model the social networks. 10 teams were recruited for the study. Results indicate that, across all scenarios, the Operations Officer (OPSO) and Sonar Controller (SOC) are particularly loaded, with communication between these operators being revealed as a potential bottleneck. The type of operation being performed affected the type of information used significantly, with a higher reliance on sonar information (and the sonar operators) during a RTPD and a higher reliance on visual information (and the periscope operator) during INSO. Implications are discussed alongside suggestions for future work.