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Vigilance, visual search and attention in an agricultural task
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Vigilance, visual search and attention in an agricultural task

L.R. Hartley, P.K. Arnold, H. Kobryn and C. MacLeod
Applied Ergonomics, Vol.20(1), pp.9-16
1989
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-6870(89)90003-3
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Abstract

In a fragile agricultural environment, such as Western Australia (WA), introduced exotic plant species present a serious environmental and economic threat. Skeleton weed, centaurea juncea, a Mediterranean daisy, was accidentally introduced into WA in 1963. It competes with cash crops such as wheat. When observed in the fields, farms are quarantined and mechanised teams search for the infestations in order to destroy them. Since the search process requires attention, visual search and vigilance, the present investigators conducted a number of controlled field trials to identify the importance of these factors in detection of the weed. The paper describes the basic hit rate, vigilance decrement, effect of search party size, effect of target size, and some data on the effect of solar illumination of the target. Several recommendations have been made and incorporated in the search programme and some laboratory studies undertaken to answer questions arising.

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64 Record Views
8 Times Cited - Web of Science

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Citation topics
4 Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Computer Science
4.237 Safety & Maintenance
4.237.1238 Situation Awareness
Web Of Science research areas
Engineering, Industrial
Ergonomics
Psychology, Applied
ESI research areas
Engineering
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