Situation Awareness Information Requirements for Mine-Hunter's Sonar Operators

Bijkomende beschrijving

During mine countermeasure (MCM) operations mine hunting (MH) operators are responsible for maintaining optimal performance throughout their mission to ensure vessel's transit safety within a designated area. Specifically, for mine detection and classification, sonar operators must meticulously and comprehensively examine large bodies of water, thoroughly differentiating actual mines from harmless debris on the seafloor. However, this task can often place a significant cognitive burden on MH sonar operators, as is the case when dealing with complex and dynamic sea bottoms.
While AI-based aid systems have the potential to assist MH operators in detecting and classifying threats, the risks inherent in mine warfare necessitate the continued involvement of human operators in these missions. This highlights the importance of human-centred design, emphasizing the value of human expertise in high-risk environments while acknowledging the limited capacity of human operators to maintain vigilance over long periods.
To address these challenges, this study explores the goal structure and information requirements for sonar-based mine detection and classification during MCM operations. To achieve this, a goal-directed task analysis (Endsley & Johns, 2024) was employed based on interviews with subject matter experts experienced in sonar instruction and operation.
The outcomes of this study will have a significant impact on the design of mine detection and classification aid systems intended to support MH sonar operators. More importantly, these results will be also relevant for the design of training protocols intended to prevent operators from becoming disengaged from their tasks due to the implementation of AI-based systems.

Periode	25 sep. 2025
Evenementstitel	International Military Psychology Conference 2025: Military Psychology Today - New Horizons in the psychological study of the Armed Forces
Evenementstype	Congres
Conferentienummer	1
Locatie	Antwerp, BelgiëToon op kaart
Mate van erkenning	Internationaal