Development of Integrated Common Operator Interface for Shovel Mine Vehicles
Final Project Report and Final Project Report UI Description now available online.
(see SA Technologies project presentation)
SA Technologies will be executing a three-task project beginning in July 2012, for the development of integrated common displays for shovel mine vehicles.
Task 1: Conduct Situation Awareness Requirements Analysis
- determine the SA requirements for Shovel Operators using a Goal-Directed Task Analysis (GDTA) process
- GDTA sessions will be conducted with 4-6 shovel operators through a series of observations and individual knowledge elicitation sessions
- Result: the needed SA requirements will be identified and documented in the form of a GDTA for this role. The functional requirements associated with the roles will be detailed and integrated with the GDTAs.
Task 2: Design User Interfaces for Shovel Operators
- Based on the GDTAs developed in Task 1, design prototype display designs for shovel operations
- Accompanying prototype screen designs, documentation for each display will describe the functionality provided by each button or tool
Task 3: Conduct Initial User Review and Testing of the Prototype Displays
- an initial user review of the draft Shovel Operator displays with subject matter experts
- cognitive walkthrough to determine initial usability, understandability, information completeness and functionality
- results used to iterate the UI Specification
SA Technologies is a cognitive engineering firm specializing in the development of training and operator interfaces for advanced systems, including the next generation of systems for aviation, air traffic control, medical, military and power operations. SA Technologies is considered an industry leader in the analysis, design and measurement of situation awareness. Customers include the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Army as well as many industrial clients.
Project Updates
MSGC SA Common User Interface – Shovels, Status Report – August2012
Update as of September 12, 2012:
One week into September, two site visits have been completed as part of Task 1 of the Development of a Common User Interface for Large Shovels project. SA Technologies personnel visited Teck’s Highland Valley Copper mine, in British Columbia, and Barrick Gold’s Goldstrike Complex in Nevada.
On site the focus was on operator interviews (4 to 5 per site) as well as plenty of onboard observations on different shovel models (P&H wire rope 2800s and 4100s). Significant differences in cockpit configurations were observed, site to site, but also between shovels at the same site. These differences are to be acknowledged by the output of this project.
A key focus of this project is that it is to be operator-driven, and will include operator feedback once the prototype is developed.
Currently, the information gathered during the site visits is under analysis. More information will be available during the MSGC General Meeting and Workshop on September 25, 8:00 – 11:30 (Las Vegas Hotel), during MINExpo.
Update as of December 13, 2012:
Task 2: Design user Interfaces for Shovel Operators has been completed and presented, and Task 3: Conduct Initial User Review and Testing of the Prototype Displays is well underway, with operator review/feedback follow-ups partially completed.
The Situation Awareness Working Group focus is now on looking beyond Task 3, to dig deeper into the GDTA results to establish an incremental approach to applying SA logic to mine operations. Engagement with stakeholders will remain a key priority. In particular, along with mining company and OEM Working Group members, there is a need for involvement of technology vendors. Interested parties please contact Heather Ednie at hednie@cim.org.
In 2013 efforts will be made to develop a case study scenario, to which certain GDTA results can be used directly to improve and/or solve an observed problem.
A conference call for the Situation Awareness Working Group will be scheduled for early 2013.
MSGC Shovel UI Progress Report Task 2
