Human Factors of Homeland Security

Abstract

Humans play a role in all aspects of homeland security, including the functions of deterrence, detection, and response and in the capacities of both administrators and recipients of security procedures. The field of human factors has contributed to homeland security functions through design of user-centered technology and training programs, through metrics for assessing human performance, through environmental design, and through organizational changes targeting the larger sociotechnical system. In this chapter, we review these and other contributions and propose an agenda for future research and development on human factors of homeland security. We conclude that the field of human factors provides many lowcost, high-impact solutions that reach beyond the bounds of the human-single machine interface. On September 11, 2001, an attack on U.S. soil of previously unimagined magnitude drew increased attention to homeland security. Humans, and thus human factors, pervade nearly every aspect of homeland security. Most obvious and visible to the public are the human factors issues surrounding security screening, which occurs primarily at airports. These issues include human-technology interaction (i.e., with passenger metal detectors and checked baggage x-ray systems) and the selection and training of the operators. Also of interest are the interactions among the technology, the environment in which it is embedded, the screeners, and the traveling public, who may inadvertently exert pressure on the screeners to move quickly through the process. Perhaps less obvious are the human factors issues surrounding other, less visible aspects of homeland security, such as those integral to the analysis of intelligence information and, specifically, the presentation, understanding, and sharing of that information. Questions of how humans process large amounts of information and coordinate as part of a larger information system are of critical importance. There are also human factors issues associated with the response to threatening events. Flight crew procedures for dealing with hijackings are relevant, as is the adaptive behavior of crews under unanticipated circumstances. Communications, interorganizational dissemination of information, group situation assessment, teamwork, interagency coordination, and adaptation are necessary for effective emergency response to such events. Humans indeed have an important role to play in homeland security functions, and a consideration of the human factors of homeland security is needed to maximize human effectiveness in this complex system. In this chapter, we explore the topic of human factors of homeland security by identifying the scope of the problem, reviewing the relevant human factors literature, and proposing an agenda for future work in the area.

Detection measures for visual inspection of X-ray images of passenger baggage

“…An airport security officer's (screener's) decision on whether a bag is harmless ( target absent ) or might contain a prohibited item ( target present ) determines whether a secondary search must be conducted at airport security checkpoints (typically using explosive trace detection and a manual search of passenger bags; Sterchi & Schwaninger, 2015). Table 1 presents the four possible decision outcomes and associated terminology from visual search studies (e.g., Biggs & Mitroff, 2015; Eckstein, 2011; Wolfe, 2007, p. 99), signal detection theory (SDT; e.g., Gescheider, 1997, p. 106; Green & Swets, 1966, p. 34), and X-ray baggage screening (e.g., Cooke & Winner, 2007; Schwaninger, Hardmeier, & Hofer, 2005).…”

Situation Picture Through Construction Information Management

“…Dynamic and complex environments can be found in aviation, air traffic control, ship navigation (Craig, 2012), health care (Schulz et al, 2013), emergency response, military command and control operations (Cooke and Winner, 2007), and offshore oil and nuclear power plant management (Mearns et al, 2001). Most of the SA research is conducted in the military context.…”

Interviewing to Detect Deception

“…In addition, intelligence interviewing is often about the prevention of a crime rather than dealing with the aftermaths of a crime. Such information often comes from interviewing individuals about issues other than 'traditional crimes' and many of these interviews take place outside the police station, including at country Interviewing to detect deception 7 borders, security checkpoints, bus terminals, train stations, shopping malls, and sports venues (Cooke & Winner, 2008;Driskell, Salas, & Driskell, 2012;Kimery, 2008).…”