Enabling and maintaining control

This paper addresses the interaction between the control room operator and the supporting infrastructure. The support to outer loop control where the operator is principally concerned with planning and learning from experience-is examined from a technical and user point of view. The technical opening up of new communication paths will change the communication between the operator and other stakeholders. This poses new issues for data management and for the organisation of decision-making processes. The concept of condition-based control is proposed as necessary to achieve the maximum degree of operational capability and flexibility. Much of the background to the paper has come from the management of military platforms, such as warships, but it is believed that most of the issues are generic.