Simulation of human performance in time-pressured scenarios

Abstract

This paper reports on the application of the single-channel theory of selective attention to the simulation of human actions in time-pressured scenarios. The paper demonstrates the applicability and benefits of using computer discrete event simulation tools to imitate hazardous scenarios possibly taking place at a potentially hazardous installation with a focus on operators' performance. One of the outcomes of the modelling is the probability of action failure, and this probability is thought of as being dependent on the characteristics of the incoming tasks to be attended to and operated on by the actor and also on the actor's individual abilities, which are in turn influenced by performance-shaping factors. A case study on the simulation of operators' performance under a medium loss of coolant accident scenario at a nuclear power plant is briefly described in the paper.

Keywords

human performance simulation queuing system action failure probability

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