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Validating and Verifying Biomathematical Models of Human FatigueAirline pilots experience acute and chronic sleep deprivation, sleep inertia, and circadian desynchrony due to the need to schedule flight operations around the clock. This sleep loss and circadian desynchrony gives rise to cognitive impairments, reduced vigilance and inconsistent performance. Several biomathematical models, based principally on patterns observed in circadian rhythms and homeostatic drive, have been developed to predict a pilots levels of fatigue or alertness. These models allow for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and commercial airlines to make decisions about pilot capabilities and flight schedules. Although these models have been validated in a laboratory setting, they have not been thoroughly tested in operational environments where uncontrolled factors, such as environmental sleep disrupters, caffeine use and napping, may impact actual pilot alertness and performance. We will compare the predictions of three prominent biomathematical fatigue models (McCauley Model, Harvard Model, and the privately-sold SAFTE-FAST Model) to actual measures of alertness and performance. We collected sleep logs, movement and light recordings, psychomotor vigilance task (PVT), and urinary melatonin (a marker of circadian phase) from 44 pilots in a short-haul commercial airline over one month. We will statistically compare with the model predictions to lapses on the PVT and circadian phase. We will calculate the sensitivity and specificity of each model prediction under different scheduling conditions. Our findings will aid operational decision-makers in determining the reliability of each model under real-world scheduling situations.
Document ID
20150015943
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Other
Authors
Martinez, Siera Brooke
(Pennsylvania Univ. Philadelphia, PA, United States)
Quintero, Luis Ortiz
(Hartnell College United States)
Flynn-Evans, Erin
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2015
Publication Date
August 6, 2015
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Air Transportation And Safety
Report/Patent Number
ARC-E-DAA-TN25658
Meeting Information
Meeting: NASA Ames Research Center Internship Poster Session
Location: Moffett Field, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: August 6, 2015
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NCC9-58
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
fatigue
biomathematical modeling
aviation
spaceflight
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