GULF - Graphical Design of Naval C2 Systems - a pre-study

This report consists of the results from a pre-study conducted on assignment from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), with the intended purpose of managing general questions from FMV regarding user interface design in future naval command and control systems. The study was conducted as a literature study using additional information from an interview made with SSS/PTK M, a unit of the Swedish Naval Warfare Centre conducting sea trials and continuous development with regard to existing and future ships serving in the Royal Swedish Navy. Essential assumptions for the study were that the introduction of integrated tactical data links (TDL) will likely increase the amount of information that is to be managed within the naval command and control systems, and that this will increase operators' workload. Based on the literature study, a number of key components were identified and examined, such as transparency in system behaviour and information, interaction with target symbols, and principles of automation. The results from the literature survey entail design principles and recommendations for development and design of C2 systems based in a user centred design approach. The analysis of the study indicates that the theoretical amount of data and information will probably increase when introducing the integrated TDL. Nevertheless, the actual extent of the effect is uncertain, which was discussed during the interview with SSS/PTK M. The present study recommends continued studies of the issues by conducting, for example, measurements of performance and workload with regard to specific systems as well as system operators. Moreover, studies should be conducted to identify what information system operators use and prioritise to maintain situational awareness. Such studies should involve task analyses in order to describe the tasks being performed by operators and identify what specific support the system needs to provide operators with in order to obtain an increased operational effect in future naval warfare.