Validation of a system for estimating allocation of attention resource of construction equipment operators using event-related potentials (P300)

Abstract

Real-time measurement of the construction equipment operator's allocation of attentional resources is thought to be effective in preventing accidents caused by inattention while operating construction machinery. We tested the feasibility of measuring the allocation of attentional resources during tasks that simulate the operation of construction machinery of various difficulty levels, using event-related potentials (P300) during electrical stimulation, a type of tactile stimulation that does not interfere with the visual and auditory, senses required for operation. The P300 amplitude was shown to decrease as the difficulty of construction equipment operation increased. This result suggests that the P300 amplitude can estimate the operator’s attention margin capacity during construction equipment operation.