University of Twente Student Theses
The Effect of the Number of Camera Feeds on Mental Workload and Monitoring Performance in Tunnel Traffic Control Room Operators
Schlimme, Léon D. (2025) The Effect of the Number of Camera Feeds on Mental Workload and Monitoring Performance in Tunnel Traffic Control Room Operators.
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| Abstract: | Previous research suggests that the number of closed-circuit television (CCTV) feeds monitored in tunnel traffic control rooms affects operator mental workload and performance. Research suggests a maximum of 12-16 feeds per operator, but operators often monitor more. This study investigated how feed count affects subjective and objective mental workload and performance. In a within-subjects design, 16 operators monitored prerecorded traffic across 8, 16, or 24 feeds, responding to incidents via keypress, signaling incident detection. Subjective mental workload was assessed via NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), objective mental workload was measured via blink rate and pupil diameter, and performance was measured using response count, total response time and post-fixation response time. Data were analyzed using mixed effects models, with Karolinska Sleepiness Scale scores as a covariate. NASA-TLX scores, blink rates, response counts and response times did not differ with the number of camera feeds. Feed count influenced pupil diameter, with post-hoc tests unexpectedly showing larger pupil diameters at 8 feeds than 24, potentially due to screen brightness differences. Overall, results suggest that tunnel traffic control room operators may be able to monitor up to 24 feeds while maintaining good performance and experiencing no substantial changes in mental workload when only two distinct scenes are displayed. This highlights the importance of the complexity of visual information alongside feed count alone. |
| Item Type: | Student Thesis (Master) |
| Clients: | vhp human performance, Den Haag, The Netherlands |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/106635 |
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