Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Integration of Human Operators in Highly Automatable Systems: A Discussion on the Role of Automation and Human Involvement in Large-Scale Civil Engineering Machinery

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
HCI in Mobility, Transport, and Automotive Systems (HCII 2025)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 15817))

Included in the following conference series:

  • 227 Accesses

Abstract

Large-scale civil engineering construction machines, like a Diaphragm Wall Hydraulic Grab, need to be operated safely and efficiently. Implementing assistance systems can significantly enhance the efficiency of handling these hard-to-control machines. This paper evaluates several developed assistance systems that support untrained operators handling civil engineering machinery based on their level of automation. As experienced operators can efficiently handle large-scale civil engineering construction machines based on expert knowledge, their mental model was collected during the operation and used as input to design assistance systems. The paper discusses the use of the developed assistance systems based on results from a focus group of experts, in which the feasibility of automation levels is discussed. A survey was conducted before the development phase to obtain an unbiased perspective on the development of the systems. This survey aimed to capture the current state of the automation levels and the desired state with the inclusion of assistance systems. Following the successful completion of the project and the development of technically feasible solutions, the expert group was surveyed again. This subsequent survey focused on reevaluating the steps of their functionality. A detailed description of why the developed solutions are only sometimes beneficial from an operator's point of view is given.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
€34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
EUR 29.95
Price includes VAT (Germany)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
EUR 69.54
Price includes VAT (Germany)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
EUR 87.73
Price includes VAT (Germany)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

') var buybox = document.querySelector("[data-id=id_"+ timestamp +"]").parentNode var buyingOptions = buybox.querySelectorAll(".buying-option") ;[].slice.call(buyingOptions).forEach(initCollapsibles) var buyboxMaxSingleColumnWidth = 480 function initCollapsibles(subscription, index) { var toggle = subscription.querySelector(".buying-option-price") subscription.classList.remove("expanded") var form = subscription.querySelector(".buying-option-form") var priceInfo = subscription.querySelector(".price-info") var buyingOption = toggle.parentElement if (toggle && form && priceInfo) { toggle.setAttribute("role", "button") toggle.setAttribute("tabindex", "0") toggle.addEventListener("click", function (event) { var expandedBuyingOptions = buybox.querySelectorAll(".buying-option.expanded") var buyboxWidth = buybox.offsetWidth ;[].slice.call(expandedBuyingOptions).forEach(function(option) { if (buyboxWidth buyboxMaxSingleColumnWidth) { toggle.click() } else { if (index === 0) { toggle.click() } else { toggle.setAttribute("aria-expanded", "false") form.hidden = "hidden" priceInfo.hidden = "hidden" } } }) } initialStateOpen() if (window.buyboxInitialised) return window.buyboxInitialised = true initKeyControls() })()

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Krüger, M., et al.: Shared-Control Ansatz zur Operator-KI Interaktion für die Großbaumaschinensteuerung. In: VDI-Kongress AUTOMATION (VDI KA) 2023, pp. 559–570 (2023)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Krüger, M., et al.: Synthetic data generation for the enrichment of civil engineering machine data. In: CLEaR 2023 – Construction Logistics, Equipment, and Robotics, pp. 166–175 (2023)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Prinz, T., et al.: How does it work? Collecting mental models for the user-centered design of assistance systems: a construction machinery case study. In: Intelligent Human Systems Integration (IHSI 2024): Integrating People and Intelligent Systems, vol. 119 (2024)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Parasuraman, R., Sheridan, T.B., Wickens, C.D.: A model for types and levels of human interaction with automation. IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybern. Part A: Syst. Hum., 286–297 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bainbridge, L.: Ironies of automation. Automatica 19(6), 775–779 (1983)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Rinta-Kahila, T., Penttinen, E., Salovaara, A., Soliman, W., Ruissalo, J.: The vicious circles of skill erosion: a case study of cognitive automation. J. Assoc. Inf. Syst. 24(5), 1378–1412 (2023)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Frazier, S.N.: Measuring cognitive workload in automated knowledge work environments. In: Purdue University Graduate School [Thesis] (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  8. SAE International Recommended Practice. Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to Driving Automation Systems for On-Road Motor Vehicles, SAE Standard J3016_202104, Revised April 2021, Issued 2014 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Henikl, J., Kemmetmüller, W., Kugi, A.: Estimation and control of the tool center point of a mobile concrete pump. Autom. Constr. 61, 112–123 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Wind, H., Renner, A., Sawodny, O.: Time-optimal playback trajectory generation for hydraulic material handling excavator. In: IEEE 15th International Conference on Automation Science and Engineering (CASE), pp. 1315–1320 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Bender, F.A., Mitschke, M., Bräunl, T., Sawodny, O.: Predictive operator modeling for virtual prototyping of hydraulic excavators. Autom. Constr. 84, 133–145 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Wydra, M., Bauer, A., Geiger, C., Geimer, M.: Moderne Steueralgorithmen für Forstkräne mittels künstlichen neuronalen Netzen imitieren und optimieren. Landtechnik 75(2)s (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Krüger, M., et al.: Inferring cable-suspended end-effector oscillations from hydraulic actuators’ responses in diaphragm wall hydraulic grabs. IEEE Trans. Autom. Sci. Eng. 22, 1–16 (2025)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Zhang, M., et al.: Segmenting and classifying repetitive construction process time series using small amount of labeled data. In: IEEE 20th International Conference on Automation Science and Engineering (CASE), pp. 3035–3042 (2024)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Krüger, M., Vogel-Heuser, B., Hujo, D., Huber, C., Schwarz, J., Lohmann, B.: Execution time oriented design of an adaptive controller for mobile machines. In: IEEE 21st International Conference on Industrial Informatics (INDIN), pp. 1–6 (2023)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Pohl, D., Vogel-Heuser, B., Krüger, M., Echtler, M.: Quantization effects of deep neural networks on a FPGA platform. In: 2024 IEEE 7th International Conference on Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems (ICPS), pp. 1–8 (2024)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Krüger, M., et al.: Forecasting membrane fouling in filtration processes using univariate data-driven models. In: 19th International Conference on Automation Science and Engineering (CASE), pp. 1–6 (2023)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Krüger, M., Vogel-Heuser, B., Vollmann, S.: Investigating the rendering capability of embedded devices for graphical-user-interfaces in mobile machines. at – Automatisierungstechnik 71(11), 939–952 (2023)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Bavarian Research Foundation through the Project “Machine Operator-Centric Parameterization of Artificial Intelligence for Tightly Coupled, Distributed, Networked Control Systems“ (OpAI4DNCS).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Automation and Information Systems, TU Munich, Boltzmannstraße 15, 85748, Garching bei München, Germany

    Dominik Hujo-Lauer, Birgit Vogel-Heuser & Marius Krüger

  2. Chair of Ergonomics, TU Munich, Boltzmannstraße 15, 85748, Garching bei München, Germany

    Theresa Prinz & Klaus Bengler

  3. HAWE Hydraulik SE, Einsteinring 17, 85609, München, Germany

    Suhyun Cha & Daniel Waterman

  4. Bauer Maschinen GmbH, BAUER-Straße 1, 86529, Schrobenhausen, Germany

    Cornelia Kerausch & Sebastian Beerkircher

  5. Sensor-Technik Wiedemann GmbH, Am Bärenwald 6, 87600, Kaufbeuren, Germany

    Daniel Pohl

Authors
  1. Dominik Hujo-Lauer
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Birgit Vogel-Heuser
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marius Krüger
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Theresa Prinz
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Klaus Bengler
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Suhyun Cha
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Daniel Waterman
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Cornelia Kerausch
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Sebastian Beerkircher
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Daniel Pohl
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dominik Hujo-Lauer .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Technische Universität Ilmenau, Ilmenau, Germany

    Heidi Krömker

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2025 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Hujo-Lauer, D. et al. (2025). Integration of Human Operators in Highly Automatable Systems: A Discussion on the Role of Automation and Human Involvement in Large-Scale Civil Engineering Machinery. In: Krömker, H. (eds) HCI in Mobility, Transport, and Automotive Systems. HCII 2025. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 15817. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-92689-1_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-92689-1_14

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-92688-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-92689-1

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics