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January 26, 2026
Book Article
Title
A Systematic Analysis of Measurement Methods for Human Factors in Remote Shipping
Abstract
Remote ship operation is an emerging technology that presents unique challenges for human operators. The development of robust test methods and standardised assessment procedures is a central basis for the investigation of human factors in the remote control of ships. A key factor for the safety and efficiency of these systems is the assessment of the situation awareness (SA) of remote operators compared with on-site navigators.
Systematic analysis of existing measurement methods is required to identify relevant metrics, test set-ups and performance indicators. The focus here is on the evaluation of existing studies that deal with the quantification of human factors in long-distance shipping. Test environments that have already been developed and the measurement methods used will be examined. A comparison of the evaluation methods for remote-controlled systems with established methods for conventional ship navigation provides a basis for assessing the performance and workload of remote operators.
Analysing the central challenges of remote control of ships is essential to develop realistic test environments that support future studies on human-machine interaction in remote-control systems. These challenges include limitations in sensory perception such as reduced visual field of view and lack of physical feedback, delays in communication and ergonomic deficits at human-machine interfaces. The possibilities to reproduce these challenges in test scenarios are discussed.
A particular focus is on the BEYOND method of the Fraunhofer CML. It enables a systematic evaluation of SA in reproducible scenarios through simulation-based testing and standardised performance metrics.
Finally, guidelines for standardised tests in remote-control environments can be derived from the knowledge gained. The development of methodological approaches for a structured evaluation of remotely controlled ship management contributes to creating a reliable basis for safe and efficient operating models.
Systematic analysis of existing measurement methods is required to identify relevant metrics, test set-ups and performance indicators. The focus here is on the evaluation of existing studies that deal with the quantification of human factors in long-distance shipping. Test environments that have already been developed and the measurement methods used will be examined. A comparison of the evaluation methods for remote-controlled systems with established methods for conventional ship navigation provides a basis for assessing the performance and workload of remote operators.
Analysing the central challenges of remote control of ships is essential to develop realistic test environments that support future studies on human-machine interaction in remote-control systems. These challenges include limitations in sensory perception such as reduced visual field of view and lack of physical feedback, delays in communication and ergonomic deficits at human-machine interfaces. The possibilities to reproduce these challenges in test scenarios are discussed.
A particular focus is on the BEYOND method of the Fraunhofer CML. It enables a systematic evaluation of SA in reproducible scenarios through simulation-based testing and standardised performance metrics.
Finally, guidelines for standardised tests in remote-control environments can be derived from the knowledge gained. The development of methodological approaches for a structured evaluation of remotely controlled ship management contributes to creating a reliable basis for safe and efficient operating models.
Author(s)
Open Access
File(s)
Rights
CC BY 4.0: Creative Commons Attribution
Language
English