Human Factors Research

Battelle’s Center for Human Performance and Safety provides a human-centered approach to development and evaluation of programs, systems and products. We apply human factors, behavioral science and engineering tools and techniques to address the needs and requirements of users, operators and maintainers in the transportation field.

Applications

The Center provides products, tools and data that are immediately and directly applicable to real-world programs, systems and products.

Capabilities

Our expertise includes:

System Design and Evaluation: Contributing to the development of real-world systems through research and analysis of the capabilities, limitations and preference of users and operators. 

Key capabilities include:

• Development of design guidelines, specifications, computational models and simulations

• Human-machine interface (HMI) design

• Focus groups

• Usability/user acceptance research

Human Performance Research: Improving human performance and safety through applied research programs. 

Key capabilities include:

• Design and conduct laboratory and field research

• Job, task and workload analysis

• Development of strategic research plans

• Operational test and evaluation research

Driver Behavior Analysis: Using naturalistic driving data and advanced analytical methods to identify patterns and predictors of driver behaviors.

Key capabilities include:

• Cloud-based GPS data collection

• Geo-spatial analysis of driving data

• Use of SHRP2 Naturalistic Driving Study (NDS) data to develop datasets

• Behavioral analysis

Facilities
Our main research facility in Seattle can handle a variety of project requirements. Our laboratory includes a driving simulator, eye-tracker system, video camera systems and support facilities. Other resources include a range of statistical analysis software and data storage.

Benefits

Our human factors research and analysis leads to measurable improvements in user performance and safety, as well as decreases in errors and fatalities.