Transurban: Ergonomic Innovation in Traffic Control Room Design

Transurban is a leading Australian company that operates toll roads in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, as well as internationally in the United States and Canada. Known for their forward-thinking approach, Transurban designs infrastructure with long-term benefits for cities and their communities in mind. Their commitment to innovation and future-focused design drives their research and development efforts, particularly in integrating new technologies into their projects.

Dohrmann Consulting has had a longstanding relationship with Transurban, contributing to various ergonomics assessments and design projects. As pioneers in ergonomic solutions, we were engaged during the design phase of the West Gate Tunnel and CityLink Traffic Control Rooms (TCRs) to conduct independent ergonomics reviews.

Unique Ergonomic Requirements of Traffic Control Rooms

Traffic control supervisors and staff face unique challenges, as their operations run 24/7 to monitor traffic flow and respond to incidents on Transurban’s Victorian roads. With shifts spanning 12 hours across peak, off-peak, day, and night periods, the risk of fatigue is significant, increasing the potential for errors or missed alerts. This created a critical need for ergonomically sound designs that promote operator performance, safety, and well-being.

Expertise Brought to the Project

Ted Dohrmann, a qualified mechanical engineer and Certified Professional Ergonomist, led the ergonomic assessment. Drawing on decades of experience, particularly in control room design, Ted collaborated with Dr. Simon Rosalie, a skill acquisition expert. Dr. Rosalie’s expertise in analyzing perceptual and cognitive demands in high-stress environments proved invaluable in evaluating how operators adapt between tasks.

The assessment involved reviewing electronic drawings and schematics provided by Transurban. Additionally, surveys and consultations with current TCR operators were conducted to fully understand their requirements, which informed the design analysis.

Comprehensive Ergonomics Review

Our team performed a thorough evaluation of the physical, cognitive, and organizational aspects of the control room environment.

Physical Ergonomics:

• Lighting
• Acoustics
• Colour schemes
• Room configuration and layout
• Storage and accessibility
• Cable management
• Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
• Workstation consoles

Cognitive Ergonomics:

• Video wall mount positioning
• Console screen layout
• Cognitive workload, attentional capacity, and vigilance

Organizational Ergonomics:

• Operating models
• Staff-system interaction
• Shift rostering
• Fatigue management
• Stress management and mental health support

Deliverables and Recommendations

Dohrmann Consulting provided a detailed report, offering targeted recommendations for each ergonomic consideration. These included high-priority actions to be implemented within six months and medium-priority actions for the following 12 months.

For instance, we identified potential issues like workstation positioning relative to lighting, which could cause operator eye fatigue, and provided strategies to avoid preferences amongst operators for specific workstations. We also applied theories including the visual field bias theory to optimize screen layout and recommended additional ergonomic requirements to manage the increasing diversity of assets in terms of both physical separation and type.

Partnering for Safer Roads

Dohrmann Consulting is proud to support Transurban in improving road safety and operational efficiency through ergonomic design. Our expertise ensures that control room environments are optimized for operator performance and safety.

If you have a safety or work design challenge, reach out to one of our experts today.