Evaluating functional displays for hydropower system: model-based guidance of scenario design

Abstract

We discuss the human role in hydropower system control, noting how it is different from other supervisory control environments and noting the typical shortcomings in current displays provided to hydropower system controllers. We describe steps towards evaluating proposed functional displays with industry hydropower controllers whose time with us was limited to a few hours. This involves selecting test scenarios that may maximally demonstrate advantages, if any, of the functional displays. Here we propose a scenario design approach based on a simplified human-control loop model. Starting from a basic human control cycle: detect→analyse→act→evaluate, we identify scenarios in which the functional displays are expected to provide information in a more effective way than current displays. Based on this approach, the prototype of new functional display was tested with industry controllers. The experimental method and subjective results are reported, and the lessons we learned are discussed.