Mental workload of the VTS operators by utilising heart rate

This study clarifies the mental workload of VTS Operator; by understanding their characteristics during carrying out their task, with a physiological index. The objective is to determine VTS Operators’ mind stress that might trigger any human error based on their mental workload during their watches. For this purpose, Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) is utilized as physiological index. The VTS Operators fitted the HRM and all of them have experience as a Master Mariner. During the all experiments, their heart rates and behaviours were recorded on the Event Record Form based on the time scale. After getting the heart rate variability, it is matched with the events, and then Operators’ behaviour is understood as the mental workload due to such kinds of events. Furthermore, these workloads include the Operators’ mind stress and their decisions under these circumstances. This study provides the fundamental information for understanding the VTS Operators’ characteristics.