Time motion of forecasters using interactive workstations

Modern interactive workstations are an integral part of the National Weather Service forecast operations. Forecasters use workstations to look at input observations and guidance information and to generate text and graphical output products for users. The workstations have many hundreds of possible operations that could be used as part of the forecast process. Some of these operations can be done very quickly, while others take longer time periods to complete. Forecaster productivity is heavily influenced by the efficiency of the workstation environment. If forecaster productivity is to be increased, what needs to be done to the workstation environment to provide the necessary productivity gains? This paper will explore how forecaster productivity could be increased through changes and enhancements in the workstation environment and through other management directed initiatives.

A time motion study has been started at the NWS Aviation Weather Center. It has involved observing forecasters using a variety of workstation, including AWIPS and N-AWIPS. The observations are structured to monitor the tasks the forecasters are doing on a minute by minute basis. Video tapes are then used to further monitor the second by second times required for various tasks. The video tapes are played back at reduced speed to determine time used for command interaction, for system processing, and for forecaster use of the displayed information.

Preliminary results show that there is a wide variety of times needed to access information, with some being more efficient than others. There is a significant amount of time used in command interaction. The time required for system processing is the most noticeable to the forecaster, and remains an irritant. The time used for product generation is generally quite lengthy and there is potential for improvements in system efficiencies. The time used for evaluation is also quite variable, initially being short but increasing as more information is gathered and contradictions and inconsistencies are introduced.