We present a decision support tool for the analysis and redesign of railroad intermodal terminals. It is a simulation-based platform which provides indicators of service level, resource use and productivity linked to the terminal operations and infrastructures. The platform is composed of two basic elements: a simulation model implemented in a commercial simulator, Witness®, and a configuration interface implemented in MS Excel®. The combination of these components has facilitated building a very flexible and easy-to-use platform so that a user without any knowledge of the simulation software will be able to implement a simulation model of the terminal, by only filling in the required data through an MS Excel file. As the design of the platform has focused on flexibility, a wide range of terminals can be implemented, in terms of infrastructures, handling material, lay out and train and demand patterns. We also present a case study to demonstrate the use of the platform.
The Advanced Cockpits Branch of Wright Laboratory (WUFIGP) conducted a study to assess the utility of a prototype decision aid to support the pilot's use of electronic approach plates and assist the pilot in flying instrument approaches.The prototype decision aid system that was evaluated in this study is the Approach Procedures Expert System (APES). The study consisted of 16 pilots jlying a series of instrument approaches in a cockpit simulator. Performance data, subjective workload, situational awareness and acceptability ratings were collected. The results showed that the APES reduced pilot workload, increased situational awareness, and improved Pight peformance compared to flying approaches without the decision aid. Refinements to the APES algorithm and pilot-vehicle interface were indicated.Implications for further research are discussed.instrument approaches by evaluating PES in a pilot-inthe-loop simulation.Because the decision aid is inseparable from its interface, both the decision aid and the pilot-vehicle interface (PVI) were evaluated. The emphasis of the study, however, was placed on the value of the decision aid advice. The objectives of the study were to: 1) Assess the effectiveness of APES for supporting instrument approaches and its potential for reducing pilot workload, increasing situational awareness, and improving performance.2) Assess the performance of the decision aid to determine if APES advice was accurate and timely enough to assist the pilot in flying instrument approaches.3) Assess the understandability and usability of the pilot-vehicle inteface to determine if the interface allowed the pilot to easily interpret and use APES advice.
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