UTASiMo: a simulation-based tool for task analysis

What is it about?

This work attempts to fill the gaps in the current task analysis tools and describes the architecture and development of a simulation model, named UTASiMo. UTASiMo is a simulation tool that aims to enhance task analysis by automatically generating a multi-method simulation model for well-defined tasks based on a spreadsheet template filled in by the user. The generated model analyzes and simulates tasks performed by individual simulated agents representing human operators while accounting for the estimation of an operator’s utilization and error prediction. This work highlights the design, development, and evaluation of the hybrid architecture (discrete event and agent based) of UTASiMo. The results produced by UTASiMo were compared with the real-world data as well as with the results produced by Micro Saint for validation purposes. The comparisons indicate the validity of the UTASiMo-generated model and also that the hybrid architecture produces more variability in the results than using only one method.

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Why is it important?

we developed a simulation tool that allows for automated construction of simulation models intended for the task analysis domain. The results produced by UTASiMo were compared with the real-world data as well as with the results produced by another software (Micro Saint) for validation purposes. The comparisons indicate the validity of the UTASiMo-generated model and also that the hybrid architecture produces more variability in the results than using only one method.The comparisons also show promise that the tool will reduce the time and effort of the task analysis simulation.