A Study of the Control Skills of Gas Grid Control Engineers

Abstract

Abstract The need for research into the skills required to control complex processes is discussed. Gas grid control is chosen as a suitable task for investigating cognitive skills. Two techniques are employed to investigate the grid controllers'skills. The first is an observational technique, and the second utilizes verbal protocols. The data from the two techniques are analysed and the results described. Evidence on the grid controllers prediction and decision making behaviour is presented, and possible sources of performance limitation are identified. Two techniques of acquiring data on cognitive skills are compared and contrasted. Additional informationNotes on contributorsI. G. UMBERS∗ Now at Warren Spring Laboratory, Stevenage, Herts.