Computer-Aided Facilities Diagnostics: A New Software Tool for the Armory of the Macro-Ergonomist

Abstract

A macro-ergonomic systems approach to evaluating the impact of office environment design on workers requires a variety of analytical tools. Computer-Aided Facilities Diagnostics (CAFD), is a new software tool which enables scientific visualization of data by graphically combining user survey information with spatial forms such as building floor plans. Preliminary work with CAFD suggests that the ability to visualize data may facilitate users in brainstorming about possible solutions to work environment problems. The potential benefits of CAFD for ergonomic intervention will be discussed.