Schwaninger, Adrian
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Benefits of decision support systems in relation to task difficulty in airport security X-ray screening
Automated explosive detection systems for cabin baggage screening (EDSCB) highlight areas in X-ray images of passenger bags that could contain explosive material. Several countries have implemented EDSCB so that passengers can leave personal electronic devices in their cabin bag- gage. This increases checkpoint efficiency, but also task difficulty for screeners. We used this case to investigate whether the benefits of decision support systems depend on task difficulty. 100 pro- fessional screeners conducted a simulated baggage screening task. They had to detect prohibited articles built into personal electronic devices that were screened either separately (low task diffi- culty) or inside baggage (high task difficulty). Results showed that EDSCB increased the detection of bombs built into personal electronic devices when screened separately. When electronics were left inside the baggage, operators ignored many EDSCB alarms, and many bombs were missed. Moreover, screeners missed most unalarmed explosives because they over-relied on the EDSCB’s judgment. We recommend that when EDSCB indicates that the bag might contain an explosive, baggage should always be examined further in a secondary search using explosive trace detection, manual opening of bags and other means
Automatisierte Sprengstofferkennung von 2D Röntgensystemen mit multi-view Technologie: gehört das Entfernen von elektronischen Gegenständen aus dem Handgepäck bald der Vergangenheit an?
Automation reliability, human–machine system performance, and operator compliance: A study with airport security screeners supported by automated explosives detection systems for cabin baggage screening
Using a simulated X-ray screening task, we tested 122 airport security screeners working with the support of explosives detection systems for cabin baggage screening (EDSCB) as low-level automation. EDSCB varied systematically on three automation reliability measures: accuracy, d’, and positive predictive value (PPV). Results showed that when unaided performance was high, operator confidence was high, and automation provided only small benefits. When unaided performance was lower, operator confidence was lower, and automation with higher d’ provided large benefits. Operator compliance depended on the PPV of automation: We found lower compliance for lower PPV. Automation with a high false alarm rate of 20% and a low PPV of .3 resulted in operators ignoring about one-half of the true automation alarms on difficult targets—a strong cry-wolf effect. Our results suggest that automation reliability described by d’ and PPV is more valid than using accuracy alone. When the PPV is below .5, operators should receive clear instructions on how to respond to automation alarms.