Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) Test and Evaluation, Summary Report
Abstract
This summary report describes four sea trials and one man-in-the-loop simulator experiment conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center from 1990 to 1993 thoroughly test and evaluate the adequacy of the International Maritime Organization's Performance Standard for ECDIS. Issues examined include: the contribution to safety of navigation, the effects of the navigation workload, features and functions required during route monitoring, and the contribution of integration with radar. Each of the five tests were designed to incorporate known methodology and advanced technology to thoroughly test the contributions that ECDIS might make to the operational practices on a ship's bridge. As the experiments progressed, the technology became more sophisticated, with information being sought in more breadth and depth. Each experiment, building on the findings of the previous, was designed to ask more indepth questions, to gain more complete information. This four-year effort is one of the most comprehensive studies done on ECDIS performance. There are serveral key findings produced by this body of work. It was shown consistently that ECDIS can provide equivalent or greater safety than the paper chart and more traditional methods of navigation. Another key finding is that navigation workload is reduced, allowing the mariner to concentrate on collision avoidance or other tasks of similar importance. In the area of user-interface design, it was found that the mariner wanted an 'uncluttered' display during route monitoring, with more features immediately available if needed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA329592
Entities
People
- Irene M. Gonin
- Lee Alexander
- Marylouise K. Dowd
Organizations
- United States Coast Guard Research & Development Center