Timothy D. Ropp

Evaluating the effectiveness of visualization techniques for schematic diagrams in maintenance tasks

In order to perform daily maintenance and repair tasks in complex electrical and mechanical systems, technicians commonly utilize a large number of diagrams and documents detailing system properties in both electronic and print formats. In electronic document views, users typically are only provided with traditional pan and zoom features; however, recent advances in information visualization and illustrative rendering styles should allow users to analyze documents in a more timely and accurate fashion. In this paper, we evaluate the effectiveness of rendering techniques focusing on methods of document/diagram highlighting, distortion, and navigation while preserving contextual information between related diagrams. We utilize our previously developed interactive visualization system (SDViz) for technical diagrams for a series of quantitative studies and an in-field evaluation of the system in terms of usability and usefulness. In the quantitative studies, subjects perform small tasks that are similar to actual maintenance work while using tools provided by our system. First, the effects of highlighting within a diagram and between multiple diagrams are evaluated. Second, we analyze the value of preserving highlighting as well as spatial information when switching between related diagrams, and then we present the effectiveness of distortion within a diagram. Finally, we discuss a field study of the system and report the results of our findings.

SDViz: a context-preserving interactive visualization system for technical diagrams

When performing daily maintenance and repair tasks, technicians require access to a variety of technical diagrams. As technicians trace components and diagrams from page‐to‐page, within and across manuals, the contextual information of the components they are analyzing can easily be lost. To overcome these issues, we have developed a Schematic Diagram Visualization System (SDViz) designed for maintaining and highlighting contextual information in technical documents, such as schematic and wiring diagrams. Our system incorporates various features to aid in the navigation and diagnosis of faults, as well as maintaining contextual information when tracing components/connections through multiple diagrams. System features include highlighting relationships between components and connectors, diagram annotation tools, the animation of flow through the system, a novel contextual blending method, and a variety of traditional focus+context visualization techniques. We have evaluated the usefulness of our system through a qualitative user study in which subjects utilized our system in diagnosing faults during a standard aircraft maintenance exercise.

Examining the Use of Model-Based Work Instructions in the Aviation Maintenance Environment

A fundamental tenet of product lifecycle management (PLM) environments is the use of high-fidelity, 3D product models. The capability to create models with high degrees of fidelity to the physical world has driven companies to extract as much benefit and use from these digital assets as possible throughout the design, production, and support stages of the lifecycle. This is particularly apparent in the aviation industry where aircraft lifecycles routinely reach 80 years or longer. As the aviation industry migrates to the use of 3D model-based communications mechanisms in lieu of 2D drawings, multiple factors will impact the use of digital model-based work instructions, including the device, the form of the product model data, and levels of detail in geometry and interactivity. This paper will present a series of short studies conducted over the last three years using novice university students and expert university staff aircraft mechanics to evaluate the use of model-based work instructions in a general aviation maintenance environment. The results indicate that varying levels of detail and levels of interactivity have an effect on number of errors, time on task, and mental workload.

Incorporating Advanced Aircraft Technologies into an Aeronautical Engineering Technology Curriculum

Researchers in the Aeronautical Engineering Technology program at Purdue University are exploring innovative ways to introduce and integrate aircraft maintenance data from their advanced training fleet of networked aircraft into an undergraduate Aviation curriculum. This report describes a work in progress toward that goal. This initiative will better prepare students for an industry where synthetic process visualization, drag and drop planning screens and ‘‘smart’’ personal computing device applications play a significant role in problem solving and daily aircraft operations. The goal is to equip students at all levels of the curriculum with awareness and modern methods of process visualization, troubleshooting and research using modern, networked air vehicles.

Developing A Broad-based Active Learning Capstone Experience

Capstone experiences in most aviation technology curriculum are often technical with limited exposure to broader planning, personnel or financial issues compared to programs incorporating ABET/EAC criteria. With the industry-wide growth of integrated engineering product teams, it is crucial for graduates to understand operations as a functional system and their role in managing the process in addition to narrower technical concepts. This can be accomplished through an active capstone learning approach for students in an aircraft manufacturing and maintenance B.S. program technology program. The learning outcome is to develop an airline maintenance package while managing its delivery and execution, utilizing supervisory as well as technical skills. Students experience tremendous growth when rigorously challenged to take on this significant responsibility. Coping with adversity and challenges in the workplace teaches quick thinking and decision-making to adapt to changing situations with equipment and personnel. This broad-based active learning better replicates the environment confronting graduates in the engineering and technical workplace