Auditory Situation Awareness in Urban Operations

Authors

  • Angélique Scharine Human Research and Engineering Directorate, U.S. Army Research Laboratory
  • Tomasz Letowski Human Research and Engineering Directorate, U.S. Army Research Laboratory
  • James B. Sampson

Abstract

Soldiers conducting urban operations (UO) require focused attention and heightened awareness due to the complexity of the operational environment and its dangers. Often visual information is lacking, forcing combatants to rely heavily on auditory information. Unfortunately, Soldiers have reported difficulty using sound information; they cannot locate the sources of sounds and are distracted by irrelevant sounds. This report details how the urban acoustic environment affects situation awareness. It summarizes research literature on auditory localization and describes how auditory observations affect Soldier operations. It stresses that the same physical properties of the environment that interfere with vision may interfere with sound recognition and localization. Further, the quantity of information, relevant and irrelevant, makes it difficult for the Soldier to process all of the information available. Although the most effective tool is training and experience, we also suggest a few simple strategic and technical solutions.

Author Biographies

Angélique Scharine, Human Research and Engineering Directorate, U.S. Army Research Laboratory

Angélique Scharine is a senior research psychologist in the Visual and Auditory Processes Branch of the Human Research and Engineering Directorate, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. She graduated in 2002 from Arizona State University with a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology, specializing in auditory perception. Previously she received a M.S. and B.S. from the University of Utah. Currently her interest is in the complex acoustics found in urban operations and their effects on Soldier auditory situation awareness. She has an agreement (a Technical Programming Agreement) with the Natick Soldier Research and Development Center (NSRDEC) to provide data on how complex acoustic environments encountered in UO and while wearing Soldier gear affect sound localization ability. This data is being modeled for use in the Infantry Warrior Simulation (IWARS) Soldier performance model.

Tomasz Letowski, Human Research and Engineering Directorate, U.S. Army Research Laboratory

Tomasz Letowski is a Senior Research Scientist at the Human Research and Engineering Directorate, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Acoustics, Doctor of Sciences Degree in Technical Sciences, and Professor Degree in Environmental Engineering awarded by the Congress of the Republic of Poland. His main areas of interest are psychoacoustics, auditory training, and speech communication in noise. He is an author or co-author of more than 170 publications and four patents.

James B. Sampson

Dr. James B. Sampson is a retired research psychologist who worked with the human factors and ergonomics team at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier RDE Center in Massachusetts from 1983 to 2005. Dr. Sampson holds a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from Tufts University and did his undergraduate work in research psychology at the University of Utah. He research focus at Natick was in the area of cognitive human factors and multi-sensory perception.

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Issue

Vol. 11 No. 4 (2009): Summer 2009

Section

Articles