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Title: Naturalistic Decision Making For Power System Operators

Abstract

Abstract: Motivation -- As indicated by the Blackout of 2003, the North American interconnected electric system is vulnerable to cascading outages and widespread blackouts. Investigations of large scale outages often attribute the causes to the three T’s: Trees, Training and Tools. A systematic approach has been developed to document and understand the mental processes that an expert power system operator uses when making critical decisions. The approach has been developed and refined as part of a capability demonstration of a high-fidelity real-time power system simulator under normal and emergency conditions. To examine naturalistic decision making (NDM) processes, transcripts of operator-to-operator conversations are analyzed to reveal and assess NDM-based performance criteria. Findings/Design -- The results of the study indicate that we can map the Situation Awareness Level of the operators at each point in the scenario. We can also identify clearly what mental models and mental simulations are being performed at different points in the scenario. As a result of this research we expect that we can identify improved training methods and improved analytical and visualization tools for power system operators. Originality/Value -- The research applies for the first time, the concepts of Recognition Primed Decision Making, Situation Awareness Levels andmore » Cognitive Task Analysis to training of electric power system operators. Take away message -- The NDM approach provides an ideal framework for systematic training management and mitigation to accelerate learning in team-based training scenarios with high-fidelity power grid simulators.« less

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
974001
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-62694
TRN: US201007%%176
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: The 9th Bi-Annual International Conference on Naturalistic Decision Making , 37-44
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION; DECISION MAKING; LEARNING; MANAGEMENT; MITIGATION; OUTAGES; PERFORMANCE; POWER SYSTEMS; SIMULATORS; TRAINING; power system operators; naturalistic decision making

Citation Formats

Greitzer, Frank L, Podmore, Robin, Robinson, Marck, and Ey, Pamela. Naturalistic Decision Making For Power System Operators. United States: N. p., 2009. Web.
Greitzer, Frank L, Podmore, Robin, Robinson, Marck, & Ey, Pamela. Naturalistic Decision Making For Power System Operators. United States.
Greitzer, Frank L, Podmore, Robin, Robinson, Marck, and Ey, Pamela. 2009. "Naturalistic Decision Making For Power System Operators". United States.
@article{osti_974001,
title = {Naturalistic Decision Making For Power System Operators},
author = {Greitzer, Frank L and Podmore, Robin and Robinson, Marck and Ey, Pamela},
abstractNote = {Abstract: Motivation -- As indicated by the Blackout of 2003, the North American interconnected electric system is vulnerable to cascading outages and widespread blackouts. Investigations of large scale outages often attribute the causes to the three T’s: Trees, Training and Tools. A systematic approach has been developed to document and understand the mental processes that an expert power system operator uses when making critical decisions. The approach has been developed and refined as part of a capability demonstration of a high-fidelity real-time power system simulator under normal and emergency conditions. To examine naturalistic decision making (NDM) processes, transcripts of operator-to-operator conversations are analyzed to reveal and assess NDM-based performance criteria. Findings/Design -- The results of the study indicate that we can map the Situation Awareness Level of the operators at each point in the scenario. We can also identify clearly what mental models and mental simulations are being performed at different points in the scenario. As a result of this research we expect that we can identify improved training methods and improved analytical and visualization tools for power system operators. Originality/Value -- The research applies for the first time, the concepts of Recognition Primed Decision Making, Situation Awareness Levels and Cognitive Task Analysis to training of electric power system operators. Take away message -- The NDM approach provides an ideal framework for systematic training management and mitigation to accelerate learning in team-based training scenarios with high-fidelity power grid simulators.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/974001}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jun 23 00:00:00 EDT 2009},
month = {Tue Jun 23 00:00:00 EDT 2009}
}

Conference:
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