Support system for profound understanding of plant operation by visualization of relevant knowledge

On the assumption that visualization of a proper knowledge model helps trainees to acquire a profound understanding of plant operations, we developed a training support system for plant operation by visualization of relevant knowledge. We adopted a four-layered knowledge model to describe the operator´s knowledge, which consists of four cognitive subspaces of fundamental knowledge: configuration, causality, state and goal. As a method of visualizing the knowledge model, the support system presents the four types of knowledge and the connections among them in a 3D virtual environment. Trainees can observe and understand the knowledge and the connections with this support system. By the analysis of interviews and questionnaire surveys, it is shown that the system is effective for enabling profound understanding