From Protocol to Structured Gaze Patterns: The Effectiveness of Systematic Viewing in Remote Nautical Object Control

ObjectiveThis study examines the effectiveness of systematic viewing for closed-circuit television (CCTV) scanning within the domain of (remote) nautical object (bridge/lock) control.BackgroundSystematic viewing during nautical object control is assumed to mitigate the likelihood of missing critical information (e.g. road user) in CCTV streams by structuring operators' visual search. However, prior studies across domains have shown mixed results regarding whether structured scanning approaches enhance performance.MethodForty-two professional operators performed a remote-bridge-control simulation task in which unexpected critical events were embedded. Half of the participants received instructions in a systematic viewing protocol, while the other half operated without protocol guidance.ResultsOperators trained in the protocol showed significantly higher gaze systematicity with longer dwell times and higher coverage of protocol-defined CCTV areas. Despite these changes, both groups detected the same proportion of critical events. Looked-but-failed-to-see errors occurred more often than search errors overall, but the distribution of error types did not differ significantly between the groups. First fixations on the critical events occurred at similar times, although the no-protocol group responded significantly faster to the critical event. Gaze systematicity did not correlate with detection performance.ConclusionThe systematic viewing protocol successfully induced more structured viewing behaviour, with the protocol group engaging in more extensive scene inspection prior to initiating a response. However, higher gaze systematicity did not translate into improved detection performance.ApplicationSystematic viewing protocols can promote more extensive CCTV scanning among professional operators, but do not guarantee the detection of critical events.