Mr. William
R.
Geer
Sandia National Laboratories
Public Relations and Communications Center
P.O. Box 5800, MS 0165
Albuquerque, NM 87185-0165
Phone: 505-844-6601
Fax: 505-844-0645
E-mail: wrgeer@sandia.gov
Number of Human Subjects projects reported: 18
| SNL-00-17 | "Facial Verification System Evaluation" |
| SNL-03-01 | "FY03-FY05 Micro Optical Radar (MOR) Facial Recognition" |
| SNL-03-0221 | "Integrated Microfluidic System for Oral Diagnostics" |
| SNL-03-04 | "FY04 Facial Image Collection Database" |
| SNL-04-11 | "Augmented Musculature Device" |
| SNL-04-18 | "Voice Stress Analysis Systems Test and Evaluation" |
| SNL-04-20 | "Factors Influencing Walking Speed in a High Consequence Industrial Environment" |
| SNL-04-30 | "Use of Next Generation Intelligent Systems to Enhance Situation Awareness in Physical Security Scenarios" |
| SNL-05-04 | "Low Temperature Study" |
| SNL-05-0419 | "First Responder Study" |
| SNL-05-10 | "Cursory Performance Evaluation of Electro Sciences Corp. Explosive Vest Detection System" |
| SNL-05-11 | "Human Diver Echo-Sounder Target Strength Testing" |
| SNL-05-14 | "Computational Economics Human Decision Experiments" |
| SNL-05-15 | "Pinpointing the Benefits of Collaboration Capability for a Federation of Application-Centered Simulation Analysis Teams: A Case Study" |
| SNL-05-18 | "Micro Optical Radar (MOR) Facial Recognition" |
| SNL-05-26 | "Gait Comparison of Subjects Wearing Z-Coil and Elastomer-Based Shoes" |
| SNL-05-37 | "Patterns of Communication and Information Seeking within Software Development" |
| SNL-05-39 | "A Study of Operator Reaction Time with Respect to the Calibration of Stopwatches and Timers" |
"Facial Verification System Evaluation"
Principal Investigator: Mr. Dale W. Murray, Sandia National Laboratories
Project started in: 2000
This project ended in fiscal year 2005.
This project does not involve the use of multiple protocols/subprojects.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review:
Type of Review:
Expedited
Approving Institution: Sandia National Laboratories
Most recent approval: 07/25/04
IRB approval number: N/A
Explanation of IRB approval:
IRB approval was valid until 7/25/05.
Number of human subjects who participated in this project/protocol/subproject in the last reporting period: 0
Reporting period for number of human subjects:
Fiscal Year 2005
Type(s) of Human Subjects Involvement:
Although facial systems have been proposed and studied for a number of years, commercial systems have only been available for the last few years. Developers have had to overcome two difficult problems: (1) wide variations in the presentation of the face (e.g., head tilt and rotation, presence or absence of glasses, facial hair changes, facial expression changes) and (2) lighting variations (e.g., day vs. night, location A vs. location B).
The purpose of the test is to determine the performance of the Lau Technologies Portal, a commercial face verification system configured for physical access control. Performance will be characterized in terms of false reject rate, false accept rate, and enrollment and verification times. In addition, user acceptance of the device will be measured by administering a survey to the test participants. Other important characteristics to be observed during the test include ease of setup, resistance to spoofing (attempts to defeat the system), template storage requirements, and system cost. As configured for the test, the system consists of a face terminal, a processor/controller for the portal, and controlled lighting.
The activities involved in this study are similar to using an automated teller machine. Facial verification systems use distinguishing characteristics of the face to verify a person's identity in automated entry control applications. An image of the face is captured using a video camera, and distinguishing features are extracted and compared with previously stored features. If the two match within a specified tolerance, a positive identity verification results and the person is allowed to enter the facility.
Although there are no inclusion/exclusion criteria, recruitment of subjects will be limited to a convenient sample of SNL personnel who work in Building 821 or regularly travel through that facility. Participants will be asked to provide their height and whether or not they wear glasses. This information is required to understand how these factors might impact the performance of the system.
There will be no financial compensation for participating in the study, and there are no known health or personal safety risks associated with use of the facial verification system.
To protect the privacy of subjects and the confidentiality of the data, only test project personnel will have access to information that ties image and performance data to particular test subjects, and computer database files will be password protected. The results of the study, may be published for scientific purposes, but such results will be limited to summary data only and will not provide name, picture, or any identifiable references to subjects. However, any records or data obtained in this study may be inspected by the sponsor, by any relevant governmental agency (e.g., DOE), by the Sandia Human Studies Board, or by the persons conducting this study, provided that such inspectors are legally obligated to protect any identifiable information from public disclosure, except as otherwise authorized or required by law.
"FY03-FY05 Micro Optical Radar (MOR) Facial Recognition"
Principal Investigator: Mr. Robert D. Habbit, Sandia National Laboratories
Project started in: 2003
This project ended in fiscal year 2005.
Funding for Human Subjects Research:
This project does not involve the use of multiple protocols/subprojects.
Identifier or number: N/A
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review:
Type of Review:
Expedited
Approving Institution: Sandia National Laboratories
Most recent approval: 01/19/04
Explanation of IRB approval:
IRB approval was valid until 1/18/2005, at which time it expired. New paperwork was filed and this work was reapproved as SNL0518.
Number of human subjects who participated in this project/protocol/subproject in the last reporting period: 282
Reporting period for number of human subjects:
Fiscal Year 2005
Type(s) of Human Subjects Involvement:
The driving factor influencing this effort is the national need for an automated, rapid, non-invasive, personal identification system. Currently, there is no automated system capable of identifying known good actors, known bad actors, or unknown actors at public entry points such as border crossings and mass transit terminals. Thus, everyone is a suspect and subject to screening, resulting in precious screening resources spent on would-be known good actors and less screening of would-be known bad actors and unknown actors. Facial recognition is recognized as the least invasive, quickest method for personal identification. Current facial recognition systems use distinguishing physical characteristics (2D photographs) to identity subjects. Unless the exact parameters of the photo are measured and recorded, it is difficult to compare two different photographic acquisitions in different locations. A 3D imaging system would provide all of the attributes of a 2D photograph plus an accurate 3D geometric image. The 3D images provide all of the necessary information to establish 'control' of the scene, as well as additional information such as distance from the tip of the nose to cheek. It is expected that near 100 percent positive identification of known good actors can be achieved and potentially similar results for known bad actors. This study involves collecting and processing 3D images of humans to advance sensor/algorithm technologies for facial biometric identification applications.
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) has developed a technology capable of acquiring full-scene 3D geometrically accurate images. The base technology was flown on the Space Shuttle to acquire images and modal response of the International Space Station truss structure and solar panels. Prototype sensors have been built to demonstrate acquisition of 3D images of military targets at distance on land and underwater, but none of these sensors are designed for or are capable of obtaining images with the precision necessary for facial recognition. The electronics could be re-designed to meet the requirements for facial recognition; however, the cost of those electronics would render wide-spread application of the sensors cost prohibitive. This project asserts the electronic functions used in the previous systems could be reconfigured into a solid-state application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), thus significantly reducing the cost to produce the sensor while fully meeting or exceeding the precision required for facial recognition. In addition, the research team asserts that robust efficient algorithms can be designed to process, identify, and store images in a near real-time environment. The ultimate goal is to place this sensor in public locations where positive identification of both good and bad actors is required. This would enable faster access for known good actors, positive identification of known bad actors and, most importantly, more thorough screening of unknown actors.
The procedure for acquiring 3D range images is identical to acquiring photographs. The only difference is the illumination (light) source, and the receiver is time encoded such that the time of flight of the light can be measured. This measurement allows the calculation of range. The range information coupled with the optical properties of the lens allow one to calculate the exact position in space of the subject, thus producing an accurate 3D geometric image. 3D imagers use a modulated or pulsed coherent light source. The form of the illumination source can be a laser, laser diode array, or light emitting diode (LED) array. In all cases, the illumination levels are below the safe eye levels established by the SNL Laser Safety Program and/or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
During the early phases of the project, both Sandia-developed sensors and commercial laser radar systems may be use to acquire images. These initial images are important for algorithm development. Ultimately, the micro optical radar (MOR) sensor will come to fruition and will be used for image acquisition.
Each Participant will be asked to pose and/or walk through identified areas. A typical acquisition session should take no longer than one-half hour. Like early photography, the subject may be asked to pose for up to one minute during each acquisition. The expected project duration is three years.
To protect the confidentiality of the data, participants will be identified by a number assigned at the initial acquisition and only project personnel with a need-to-know will have access to information that ties image data to a particular test subject's name. Also, computer database files will be password protected. These protection measures will be explained to all participants.
"Integrated Microfluidic System for Oral Diagnostics"
Principal Investigator: Dr. Anup K. Singh, Sandia National Laboratories
Project started in: 2003
Funding for Human Subjects Research:
This project does not involve the use of multiple protocols/subprojects.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review:
Type of Review:
Expedited
Approving Institution: Sandia National Laboratories
Most recent approval: 12/08/04
Number of human subjects who participated in this project/protocol/subproject in the last reporting period: 30
Reporting period for number of human subjects:
Year prior to last IRB approval date
Type(s) of Human Subjects Involvement:
Analysis of saliva and other oral fluids has great potential in diagnosis of oral and systemic diseases, in monitoring levels of environmental toxins and drugs-of-abuse, and in preliminary screening for exposure to biological and chemical warfare reagents. The use of saliva and other oral fluids as diagnostic samples may be preferred in many applications over other bodily fluids because of the ability for fast and inexpensive sampling in clinical as well as non-clinical settings. Although, clinical studies have demonstrated usefulness of saliva and other oral fluids in some applications for detection of markers of oral and systemic diseases, the development of diagnostic technology and devices has not met the expectations. Moreover, current assay techniques are time-consuming, require relatively large quantities of samples, and are not amenable to automation and portability.
The objectives of this study are to: (1) develop an integrated microfluidic system for simultaneous multi-analyte detection in saliva and other oral fluids; (2) analyze mediators of oral and periodontal diseases found in oral fluids (i.e., P. gingivalis endotoxin, interleukins, and bone breakdown fragments) using the proposed benchscale prototype; and 3) validate the technology in a longitudinal human trial of patients at low and high risk for the development of periodontal diseases.
The human subjects involved in this trial will be entered through the University of Michigan Clinical Periodontology Research Center. The proposed study is approved through the University of Michigan Health Science IRB (IRB File No. 1353, Assurance M-1184). Human subjects will provide oral fluid samples for the pilot studies on the handling of saliva and "gingival crevicular fluid" (GCF). A study cohort of 100 individuals will include 50 subjects in the low-risk periodontal disease group and 50 subjects in the high-risk periodontal disease group.
Subject participation will involve the collection of three different sample fluids: GDF sampling, GCF rinsing, and saliva. For GCF sampling, a small piece of filter paper will be placed along the gum line, adjacent to the tooth. The paper will be left in place for 30 seconds to collect the fluid, and then removed. GCF rinsing involves rinsing with tap water for 10 seconds, waiting for two minutes, and then rinsing with six teaspoons of dilute saline solution (salt water) for 10 additional seconds. Saliva will also be collected using a small plastic tube via passive drooling (harvesting a total of about four teaspoons of saliva for about five minutes). Subjects will also have measurements made around their gums for a standard examination and have four different dental x-rays taken at six-month intervals around back (molar) teeth.
There are no known risks associated with the collection of gingival fluid or saliva, except for minor trauma from using the collection devices that would likely be less than one would expect with a standard oral examination. Involvement in the study would pose a risk to patients with untreated periodontal disease. However, all research subjects will be carefully monitored in this study and will receive 'rescue therapy' should disease activity occur. This treatment would include localized tooth scaling and the local delivery of an antibiotic.
The potential benefits to the patient would be that with this newly developed assay method, clinicians may be able to diagnose and intercept bone disease in its early stages. In addition, patients will receive comprehensive periodontal therapy, dental radiographs, and monitoring at no cost to them.
Any information obtained about the participants in this study, including their identity, will be held confidential. Subjects identities will be coded, and all data will be kept in a secured, limited access location. Any photographs taken during the study will not identify the research subjects, and any research data released or published will not identify volunteers by name.
We plan to enter an equal number of males and females in this study as well as a distribution of a diverse ethnic/racial profile. We plan to enroll numbers of patients reflective of the patient population in the area to include: Asian/pacific islanders, Hispanics, African Americans, and American Indian subjects. Patients will be in the age range of 18 to 90. Children are not specifically targeted in this patient population since they do not represent the chronic periodontitis target population.
"FY04 Facial Image Collection Database"
Principal Investigator: Mr. Dale W. Murray, Sandia National Laboratories
Project started in: 2003
This project ended in fiscal year 2005.
This project does not involve the use of multiple protocols/subprojects.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review:
Type of Review:
Expedited
Approving Institution: Sandia National Laboratories
Most recent approval: 04/02/04
Explanation of IRB approval:
IRB approval was valid until 4/01/2005.
Number of human subjects who participated in this project/protocol/subproject in the last reporting period: 0
Reporting period for number of human subjects:
Fiscal Year 2005
Type(s) of Human Subjects Involvement:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) will conduct a photographic study in support of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Facial Recognition Verification Testing (FRVT) 2004. The goal of the project is to stimulate development of better methods to recognize humans using facial characteristics for use in security system applications. Participants in the study will have their picture recorded on both video and still photography digital cameras. The collected images will become part of a database delivered to NIST for use in evaluating biometric algorithms used for identifying people by matching their different facial images. SNL will use the videotaped data in continued support of biometrics testing for at least the next five to ten years and in research projects that are currently in progress, and the digital still images will be delivered to NIST and/or the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Computer algorithms can be used to recognize people in different types of images. For example, a person might be recognized by matching a picture of their face or the iris of their eye against a database of similar images from known persons. This study seeks to develop data sets and performance evaluation methods in support of the NIST FRVT 2004. In order to compare the relative effectiveness of competing approaches to recognition of humans from sensory, or visual input, the FRVT program will need data sets that capture a variety of different source data on the same group of people. For example, Algorithm A might use color images of the face to recognize humans, whereas Algorithm B might use a shape model acquired from a video camera image. To compare the relative effectiveness of the methods, it is necessary to have different types of images acquired on the same people.
Briefly, the data collection process is performed as follows: each participant will pose for several pictures of the face taken with two separate digital still cameras under two different lighting conditions, then a video camera will record a walking sequence. Each participant will slowly walk toward the video camera and then stop and pose. The participant will move both his head and then eyes up and down, and from side to side while the camera is recording. The photographic and digital cameras do not pose any risk to the human volunteers, and participants should not experience any discomfort beyond that typically associated with having a picture taken.
To test facial identity algorithms to be used in security related devices, it is necessary to record human volunteers on different days and at different times of day over a period of time. The photographic data collection process is estimated to last approximately one year, with a possible extension of up to five years depending on funding. Each participant's facial features will be measured and the distance between the subject's eyes, for example, will be recorded. This data, along with the original images will be provided to NIST.
The collection of images and associated data from each participant will be given a date and a session identification (ID) number. The ID number will only be used to organize the database information at SNL. No identifying information such as a name, organization, or social security number will be stored with the data. However, some images from the database may appear as examples in NIST research publications without names attached.
The primary benefit of this study is to the national research community and society as a whole. This study will aid the development of biometric algorithms to be used in security systems for identification of the population, resulting in increased safety for the population. Also, the results of this evaluation will be used in several analytical tools that are currently being used to evaluate and upgrade the physical security of DOE facilities. Lastly, this information will likely be transferred to other federal agencies [e.g., Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Institute of Justice (NIJ), DoD, DARPA, etc.] for use in their respective protection activities.
"Augmented Musculature Device"
Principal Investigator: Mr. Brandon R. Rohrer, Sandia National Laboratories
Project started in: 2004
This project does not involve the use of multiple protocols/subprojects.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review:
Type of Review:
Expedited
Approving Institution: Sandia National Laboratories
Most recent approval: 02/22/05
Number of human subjects who participated in this project/protocol/subproject in the last reporting period: 0
Reporting period for number of human subjects:
Fiscal Year 2005
Type(s) of Human Subjects Involvement:
This project proposes to develop an Augmented Musculature Device (AMD) that assists the movements of its wearer. It could be directly applied to aiding military and law enforcement personnel, the neurologically impaired, or those requiring any type of cybernetic assistance. As proposed, the AMD consists of a collection of artificial muscles, each individually actuated, strategically placed along the surface of the human body. Well-fitted, heavy-duty nylon clothing would provide a framework for attaching the artificial muscles to the body.
The actuators are known as "air muscles" and operate pneumatically. They are commercially available from several vendors, are relatively inexpensive, and have a remarkably high force-to-weight ratio [as high as 400:1 (as compared to 16:1 typical of DC motors)]. They are flexible and elastic, even when powered, making them ideal for interaction with humans.
A number of human performance enhancing devices have been proposed, but to date, few have been realized in any practical application. This is due in part to the weight of the exoskeleton and actuators. In contrast, the AMD relies on the human skeletal system to kinematically constrain motion, eliminating the need of an exoskeleton. Also, the low weight of air muscles allows much greater assist from much less hardware. For instance, an air muscle 30 mm in diameter and 290 mm long weighs 80 g and can lift as much as 70 kg -- nearly 1,000 times its own weight. With these light, powerful actuators augmenting users' motions, the AMD could become the first practical human assist device.
This project proposes to develop a benchtop prototype upper-extremity AMD. This effort will include:
1. Characterization of air muscle dynamic properties, including impulse response and bandwidth;
2. Design of electrical and compressed air subsystems for powering muscles, switching valves, supplying sensors, and running control hardware;
3. Fabrication of a wearable air muscle network, consisting of a number of air muscles securely sewn into a heavy-duty nylon shirt, each with its own three-way valve for alternately supplying compressed air and venting to the atmosphere; and
4. Integration with data acquisition and controller hardware, comprised of a personal computer and appropriate analog-to-digital and analog-output boards.
In this study, subjects will don the AMD and interact with it both passively (providing no intentional movement) and actively (intentionally moving with and against the device). A computer program will command the AMD to assist subjects in performing a large number and variety of pre-programmed movements. Information about the extent to which the AMD is able to assist subjects will be gathered. The verbal information they provide will be recorded by hand and will be identified only by gender and age. This information will be used to improve the construction and operation of the AMD. This testing is experimental in its entirety; it is the first instance in which a user will wear the AMD.
There will be no set regimen for how often the testing will take place, nor how long each session will last. It is anticipated that using the AMD for 15 minutes will be more than sufficient for obtaining the ease of use and ergonomics information that are the goal of this pilot study. However, subjects may withdraw from participation at any point during the study. Also, they may wear the AMD for a longer period, if they wish to, at the discretion of the Principal Investigator (PI). During the testing, the PI will be present at all times, actively monitoring both the subject and the device.
The AMD has been designed so as to be inherently safe. It has no rigid members. The air muscles are soft and compliant. There are no pinch points and no sharp corners. It is lightweight. The air muscles' limited range of motion keeps the AMD in a natural configuration. Remaining potential risks and discomforts are judged to be minor.
There are no known benefits to participating in this research, aside from the potential benefits to the PI and members of the research team stemming from successful completion of the development project. It is anticipated that the device resulting from this testing, however, will be beneficial in rehabilitating children with varying types and degrees of neurological damage. It will be capable of perceiving and assisting motion with greater flexibility, precision, and stamina than an unassisted human therapist would be able to. In addition, it is anticipated that subsequent generations of the AMD may be able to assist soldiers and security personnel in performing their duties.
"Voice Stress Analysis Systems Test and Evaluation"
Principal Investigator: Mr. Frank L. Lucero, Sandia National Laboratories
Project started in: 2004
Funding for Human Subjects Research:
This project does not involve the use of multiple protocols/subprojects.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review:
Type of Review:
Expedited
Approving Institution: Sandia National Laboratories
Most recent approval: 05/19/05
Number of human subjects who participated in this project/protocol/subproject in the last reporting period: 0
Reporting period for number of human subjects:
Fiscal Year 2005
Type(s) of Human Subjects Involvement:
Voice Stress Analysis Systems (VSAs) claim to measure stress in a person's voice as an indicator of deception. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), in conjunction with the Air Force Research Laboratory/Information and Intelligence Exploitation Division (AFRL/IFE), published a report on the evaluation of some of the VSAs commercially available. This report indicated that VSAs do recognize stress through voice analysis; however, system deception detection was not proven for all situations. The authors therefore suggested future work.
Approximately 10 participants will be used to evaluate the validity of the deception detection claims of the various products. Participants will be asked to read typed scripts and voice predetermined answers which will either be true or false. All questions will be designed so no personal information will be required or collected. For example, colored cards will be shown to participants and they will be asked to correctly or incorrectly identify the color of the card. Stress will also be evaluated by rapid reading of typed scripts. Some tape recordings will be made to upload into the computer.
Use of the system will be by two-person password control of the computer that contains the operating software. The systems will be kept in a vault type room (VTR) dedicated to the project; access to the VTR will be limited to the research team, a security consultant, and the appropriate manager. Participants will be identified in the data logs as Participant 1, Participant 2, etc. Voice recordings will be kept for the duration of the project and then degaussed and destroyed. Evaluation of the systems will be tracked as data points of positive or negative detection in a spreadsheet on the computer(s) containing the VSAs.
Participants will be asked to test the systems on a periodic basis, no more than approximately twice a week over a total time span of six months. This frequency may vary and is dependent on the system responses over the course of the project.
Evaluation of the systems in terms of performance and vulnerabilities of the hardware/software will be limited to personnel within Center 05900 who have the required clearance levels. It is necessary for the sponsor that this project be conducted at the Official Use Only (OUO) level and participants must be willing to treat this project at that level. Participation will be strictly voluntary.
Although it will be beneficial to have participants of varying ages and gender, since this is an objective evaluation of whether a commercial product performs as advertised, we will accept volunteers on a first-come, first-served basis. The only inclusion/exclusion criteria will be the clearance level noted above. Participants will be recruited by word-of-mouth via departmental/center meetings.
The risks of participation in this study are minimal and no greater than those encountered in everyday life. There is no financial compensation or other tangible benefit to subjects for participation in this research. Sandia and the sponsor will benefit from this evaluation by determining the reliability of the technology in identifying deception and assessing the state of development of the technology.
Any pair of the listed investigators can collect data. No data will be collected unless there are at least two investigators present. No personal information will be collected or used in the evaluation of the VSAs. Files collected and data points generated will not reflect the actual identification of any of the participants.
The data will be accessible to the investigators and the sponsor both during the study and the subsequent three years that the data are required to be saved. The data will be retained on the electronic media inside an approved GSA safe for the required retention period. The customer will only know participant numbers and will never know the actual identities of the participants. The data will only be at the OUO level. All performance related information of the VSAs from the SNL gathered data would be at the OUO level. Any data provided by the sponsor and the corresponding analysis, as well as conclusions on ways to circumvent the systems, will be classified.
"Factors Influencing Walking Speed in a High Consequence Industrial Environment"
Principal Investigator: Dr. Nathan G. Brannon, Sandia National Laboratories
Project started in: 2004
This project ended in fiscal year 2005.
Funding for Human Subjects Research:
This project does not involve the use of multiple protocols/subprojects.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review:
Type of Review:
Expedited
Approving Institution: Sandia National Laboratories
Most recent approval: 05/25/04
Explanation of IRB approval:
IRB approval valid until 5/24/2005
Number of human subjects who participated in this project/protocol/subproject in the last reporting period: 15
Reporting period for number of human subjects:
Fiscal Year 2005
Type(s) of Human Subjects Involvement:
The speed at which humans walk while performing their duties in an industrial environment furnishes safety analysts with an essential parameter for calculating mechanical insults to hazardous parts and materials. These forms of analyses are typically encountered at the DOE Pantex Plant; however, values for walking speed that are conventionally applied in practice are suspect in terms of their relevance and applicability to problems having safety implication (BWXT Pantex, 2003). Preliminary investigations suggest that such values were adopted for use above and beyond the originally reported context (Woodson, Tillman, & Tillman, 1992). Although a wider and more extensive search for pertinent data on walking speeds produced marginal results, particularly for tasks specific to high consequence activities in the workplace (Brannon, Gilmore, & Brewer, 2004). The apparent lack of meaningful and valid data sources has resulted in a need to conduct a study for collecting walking speeds for conditions that accurately translate to existent operations at the Pantex Plant. It is expected that the walking speeds obtained by this effort would fulfill the demand for parameters that can credibly be used to calculate safety outcomes.
An observational field study will be performed in conjunction with ongoing and previously planned training classes for Production Technicians (PTs) at the Pantex Plant. In the training classes, the PTs execute actual operating procedures on high fidelity mock-ups or trainers with the tools and equipment that they would use in a real world application. The study will be unobtrusive in that no attempt will be made on the part of the research team to intervene on an already prescribed training activity. That is, when a training session begins, the research team will not affect instructional progression by, for example, physically interacting or eliciting conversations with instructors or students. Nor will the research team force experimental factors (manipulations) into the study to regulate or control specific behaviors that would not naturally be encountered during the training sessions. Additionally, the observations will be overt in that all study participants will be fully aware and informed about the goals of the study, as well as their own role in the process for data collection.
All training sessions will be videotaped. The videotape will provide the research team with a record of activities that can be retained for detailed analysis. The act of videotaping will also allow the research team to physically remove themselves from the immediate area during the training session to avoid inadvertently confounding the study. Although each study participant will be asked to wear an adhesive 'name tag' with an alphanumeric code written on it to facilitate the collection of walking speeds for different crew members. Coding assignments will not be traceable to individual identities. The period of videotaping will last a maximum of three hours, or less if training happens to be terminated at an earlier time. The research team will record up to three separate training sessions across different classes and crews. Even though the size of training classes will vary, it is estimated that each crew will be comprised of four or five students. Full independence will be assured such that the instructor, scope of training content, and students will be uniquely distinct for each session.
The video taped information will specifically be used to collect quantitative parameters for distance and time. Selected qualitative task characteristics that co-jointly occur with the distance-time parameters will also be collected (e.g., straight walking path versus curved walking path, load versus no load conditions). Basic anthropometric dimensions and demographic data will be solicited from each participant. A paper-and-pencil rating scale will also be administered to obtain individual perceptions of exertion. These requests for participant specific information will be used to assess how individual differences may influence the walking speeds gathered by videotape. Finally, open-ended field notes before and after the training sessions will be obtained to supplement the analysis of the recorded videotapes. For purposes of maintaining anonymity, no names or other methods of personal identification will be collected on any of the data gathering instruments.
Study participants will be members of the PT workforce currently employed at Pantex. Selection of study participants will rely upon plans and schedules for PT training at the Pantex Plant. This way, selection will be based on prior happenstance as a result of students who will be in training on the day or days that the study takes place. Even though the research team will not randomly control selection, the assumption remains that the greater population of PTs will have an unbiased chance of participating in the study. That is, those who do happen to participate will not be consciously singled out or coerced into the study from the employee population at large. A comparison of the participants' demographic statistics against all PTs at the Pantex Plant will serve as a check on representativeness of the final sample.
Every activity that subjects will engage in is part of a training session they will participate in whether or not they choose to be part of this study. The study does add video recording, which could render some participants to be self conscious, but the recording will be unobtrusive, and this risk should be minimal. All other activities involved with this study are no greater than minimal risk activities encountered in daily life.
The outcome of this study will be determination of a walking speed that will encompass the upper limit of normal operations and be credibly representative of the nuclear weapons activities performed at the Pantex Plant. This information may then be used to improve safety procedures at Pantex, which might benefit both participants and other Pantex personnel. DOE could benefit by having a better safety standard, and Sandia will benefit by adding to its body of knowledge on human factors. There is no financial or other compensation for participation in this study.
"Use of Next Generation Intelligent Systems to Enhance Situation Awareness in Physical Security Scenarios"
Principal Investigator: Dr. Ann E. Speed, Sandia National Laboratories
Project started in: 2004
This project ended in fiscal year 2005.
Funding for Human Subjects Research:
This project does not involve the use of multiple protocols/subprojects.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review:
Type of Review:
Expedited
Approving Institution: Sandia National Laboratories
Most recent approval: 02/21/05
Number of human subjects who participated in this project/protocol/subproject in the last reporting period: 4
Reporting period for number of human subjects:
Fiscal Year 2005
Type(s) of Human Subjects Involvement:
As our technological world generates an ever-increasing number of datasources, human decision-makers are increasingly at a disadvantage. We are data-rich but information poor. The overarching goal of the Next Generation Intelligent Systems (NGIS) Grand Challenge Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) is to create technologies that can help humans more effectively handle the sea of data with which they are faced. The proposed research is an application of technology currently under development as part of the NGIS Grand Challenge LDRD. Specifically, one problem faced in heavily-sensored physical security environments is the overload of raw data coming into the human protective force and the lack of understanding of those data. This research proposes to create a simulation of a heavily-sensored national facility and to empirically compare multiple ways of computational processing the data from those multiple sensors in order to aid the human protective force in making more rapid and effective tactical decisions.
Subjects will be making rapid assessments of developing attack scenarios in a notional simulation of a heavily sensored facility. Specifically, most scenarios will involve a small number of enemy forces breaching the perimeter of a simulated secure facility, setting off a number of alarmed sensors inside the facility, and heading for one of multiple targets contained within that facility. It is the subject's job, for each scenario, to decide which target the enemy force is directed at and what their intent is when they reach that target. The remaining scenarios will represent different patterns of false alarms across the various sensors in the facility.
There will be a total of three experimental conditions, in which each subject will respond to 12 different scenarios. The three experimental conditions are:
1. Notional Baseline Mission Operation Center (Baseline). In this condition, subjects will see a birds-eye view of the simulated facility they are working to protect. When alarms are triggered at the facility, the subjects will see the location of these alarms and will be able to pull up raw data from the related sensors (e.g., simulated video feed).
2. Mission Operation Center with Perception (Perception). The view of the facility for this condition will be the same as for Baseline. However, when alarms are triggered, the perceptive system will identify the object that set off the alarm (e.g., a rabbit just ran through the break-beam; an unknown person just crossed this break-beam). In addition, the subject will be able to pull up raw sensor feeds from the related sensors.
3. Mission Operation Center with Perception and Cognition (NGIS). As with the prior two conditions, the view of the facility will be a birds-eye view. When alarms are triggered, the perceptive system will tell the subject what triggered the alarm. In addition, the cognition system will tell the subject where the object is headed, where it is in relation to other objects, and what the intent of the object is (e.g., if there are seven enemy forces breaching the perimeter at different places, the cognitive system will be able to identify what those enemy forces are, how many there are, and what the most likely target is for their attack). The cognitive system will also be able to identify when alarm triggers are indicative of real attacks versus false alarms.
In addition, there will be 12 'training' scenarios that will familiarize the subjects to the procedure and simulation interface. Each scenario should last for approximately one to five minutes, including collecting data on the decisions each subject makes. The data to be gathered are simply the subject's assessment of what is going on in the scenario. The data will be gathered in four blocks. The first block will comprise the 12 training scenarios. The other three blocks will comprise 12 experimental scenarios each. Subjects will be given a short break in between each block.
Subjects will sit in front of a computer screen and will watch the simulation play out for 30 seconds to one minute. The simulation will then be stopped at a critical point, and subjects will be asked:
1. Whether the scenario is representative of an attack or a false alarm
2. How many enemy forces are inside and outside of the perimeter of the facility
3. What the intended target is
4. What information in the simulation led them to these conclusions.
Responses will be solicited verbally by the experimenter and will be transcribed by the experimenter as each participant responds. The critical measure is the change in each subject's ability to make these assessments correctly across the three different experimental conditions. No direct comparisons will be made between any individual's decisions and those of anyone else who participates.
Subjects will be recruited from lieutenants and captains in Sandia's Protective Force. This population was selected because these people are highly experienced in making the kinds of decisions being studied in this experiment.
Risks in this study are mostly limited to routine fatigue from interacting with a computer and dealing with a high volume of sensory information. To minimize fatigue, there will be an opportunity to take breaks between blocks of scenarios.
The primary benefit to subjects is altruistic. Because the system being tested is a prototype, subjects will not have immediate impact on national security. However, the results of this study could have a long-term impact on homeland security. If this research is successful, both Sandia and DOE will benefit by receiving funding for future projects that expand this line of inquiry.
"Low Temperature Study"
Principal Investigator: Dr. Louise M. Weston, Sandia National Laboratories
Project started in: 2005
This project ended in fiscal year 2005.
Funding for Human Subjects Research:
This project does not involve the use of multiple protocols/subprojects.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review:
Type of Review:
Expedited
Approving Institution: Sandia National Laboratories
Most recent approval: 12/09/04
IRB approval number: N/A
Number of human subjects who participated in this project/protocol/subproject in the last reporting period: 4
Reporting period for number of human subjects:
Fiscal Year 2005
Type(s) of Human Subjects Involvement:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) was tasked with estimating the effect of a cold, visually obscured environment on human performance. This environment would likely necessitate self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) in addition to other safety-related equipment and clothing.
Some information on the effects of a visual obscurant on human performance is available from prior SNL research. However, data on the effects of extreme cold on the performance of manual tasks are sparse. Although there is a great deal of information on the physiological responses of the human body to cold, much less is known about the effects of cold on human performance. In addition, there is little information available on the performance of SCBA in extremely cold temperatures. Of particular interest was whether the face shield will fog or frost while individuals are performing moderate to heavy work in low temperatures. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) tests and certifies respirators using criteria specified in CFR 42 Part 84 (Respiratory Protective Devices). NIOSH does not apply a standard low-temperature criterion for SCBA devices. Often, manufacturers have tested devices in temperatures down to -25 degrees F, and only occasionally have tested them at lower temperatures.
There were three major objectives of this study. The first was to evaluate SCBA, communication, and video equipment at low temperatures. Unmanned equipment tests were conducted to determine whether the equipment would operate in the low temperatures and to identify any safety issues. The second objective was to determine the operating characteristics of the SCBA equipment at low temperatures, to evaluate any face shield fogging/frosting effects caused by different volunteers, and to measure the quantity of air used by each participant. Manned equipment tests were conducted to meet this objective. The third objective was to determine the decrement in performance of a set of manual tasks in low temperatures while wearing SCBA and protective clothing both with and without an infrared (IR) imager device. Manned performance tests were conducted to meet this objective. The test environment did not contain an obscurant or any toxic or asphyxiating materials.
The potential risks associated with this study were tool (hand and battery-powered), equipment (SCBA, IR imager), and cold hazards (hypothermia, frostbite). Identities of the study participants were protected by assigning code numbers to each. Only those numbers were used in the report generated by the study.
This area of research could benefit from studies to optimize the SCBA and the IR imaging equipment for low temperature environments.
"First Responder Study"
Principal Investigator: Ms. Martha (Petie) L. Walker, Walker Associates
Project started in: 2005
This project ended in fiscal year 2005.
Funding for Human Subjects Research:
This project does not involve the use of multiple protocols/subprojects.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review:
Type of Review:
Expedited
Approving Institution: Sandia National Laboratories
Most recent approval: 10/14/04
Number of human subjects who participated in this project/protocol/subproject in the last reporting period: 34
Reporting period for number of human subjects:
Fiscal Year 2005
Type(s) of Human Subjects Involvement:
The pupose of this study was to provide Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Homeland Security Division with information on a new customer base for SNL technology. First Responders and non-tradtional First Responders are a very different customer than the Lab's historic customer base of DoD and other large federal government agencies.
A questionnaire was developed to assess the subjects knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors on the subject of Homeland Security. The questionnaire was approved by the SNL Human Studies Board. Researchers traveled to several sites and interviewed non-traditional first responders. Each interviewee was given a synopsis of the study, a consent form to read and sign, and then the researcher used the questionnaire to elicit subject responses. Demographic data were collected and subjects were video taped during the questionnaire and demographic data collection. At the conclusion of the session, subjects were given a small gratuity. No samples or specimens were collected, only audio/video record of verbal comments.
This entire project was based only on verbal communication with subjects. Data were comprised entirely of their answers to questionnaire queries. Subjects were interviewed in private and at a facility other than their place of employment to avoid feeling compromised by the venue. At the beginning of the interview, subjects were informed of their right to choose not to answer questions and to terminate the interview at any time.
As travel was involved in this study, researchers maintained complete control of all interview materials at all times. Materials were never put in checked baggage. All electronic manipulation of data was done on a secure server. In all phases of the project, including reporting, no subject names were provided to anyone, enterprise, or agency. Only researchers knew subject names, and the project report contained only subject demographics.
Audio/video tape recordings are destroyed, with the exception of the few un-named excerpts that were used in the DVD that was delivered to Sandia. All respondents were clear about this limited use of the video and had agreed to it prior to the interview. If interviewees did not wish to be video taped, they were not.
Potential risks were: inconvenience in taking time to speak with researchers and concern about employer annoyance over subjects speaking with us, including concern about information getting back to employers. Subjects were given an honorarium for participating in the project.
"Cursory Performance Evaluation of Electro Sciences Corp. Explosive Vest Detection System"
Principal Investigator: Mr. Tony L. Baca, Sandia National Laboratories
Project started in: 2005
This project ended in fiscal year 2005.
Funding for Human Subjects Research:
This project does not involve the use of multiple protocols/subprojects.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review:
Type of Review:
Expedited
Approving Institution: Sandia National Laboratories
Most recent approval: 11/22/04
Number of human subjects who participated in this project/protocol/subproject in the last reporting period: 13
Reporting period for number of human subjects:
Fiscal Year 2005
Type(s) of Human Subjects Involvement:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) obtained a small sum of money from the Small Business Initiative Department to evaluate a device developed by Electro Science Technologies. This device is designed to detect contraband hidden underneath clothing, including explosive vests worn by suicide bombers. This testing evaluated the performance of the system by examining test subjects either wearing a vest containing simulated explosives and shrapnel, or not wearing the vest. No actual explosives were used in this testing process. The scope of the evaluation was to perform sufficient testing to provide statistical data to be used to determine whether the system is operating as designed with a statistical probability of detecting suicide vests. Several modifications, which will be described in the report generated by this research, will likely be recommended.
Testing will consist of 50 trials. In 25 trials, the test subject will wear a simulated (no actual explosives will be used in this testing) explosive vest and in the other 25 trials the test subject will not wear the vest. Following each scan, the system's computer will automatically indicate the outcome of the scan. The three possible trial indications are:
1. No threat detected
2. Threat detected
3. Caution (indeterminate)
Risks include exposure to low-level, non-ionizing radar radiation, similar in nature and power to the microwave motion sensors used to open automated doors. Such exposure is considered minimal risk. No personally identifiable information will be collected on any subject.
"Human Diver Echo-Sounder Target Strength Testing"
Principal Investigator: Mr. Mike S. Rose, Sandia National Laboratories
Project started in: 2005
This project ended in fiscal year 2005.
Funding for Human Subjects Research:
This project does not involve the use of multiple protocols/subprojects.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review:
Type of Review:
Expedited
Approving Institution: Sandia National Laboratories
Most recent approval: 07/12/05
Number of human subjects who participated in this project/protocol/subproject in the last reporting period: 2
Reporting period for number of human subjects:
Fiscal Year 2005
Type(s) of Human Subjects Involvement:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) was tasked to design/develop sensor technologies to facilitate security enhancements at select U.S. Naval Bases. SNL personnel determined that echo-sounder technology has the potential to enhance the security of naval weapons and personnel by developing sensors that will function in littoral areas of Navy bases.
This testing is required to obtain accurate and valid data to be used in developing algorithms which security and company personnel will use to create a library of human diver Target Strength (TS) levels. This testing will facilitate the creation of a diver detection sensor that presently does not exist to detect divers in shallow and harsh water environments.
The test divers will be asked to swim predetermined angles at an approximate depth of 15 to 20 feet. and travel a distance of approximately 100 feet. It is planned to use more than one transducer to accumulate extensive data each time a diver makes a pass. Diver communications and a visible rope will allow the diver to transit in a predetermined route in reference to the transducers.
Data will be collected by the Principal Investigator and BioSonics Inc. personnel. SNL staff will perform video coverage. Two divers will be needed for the test series with the test series expected to last less than two days.
"Computational Economics Human Decision Experiments"
Principal Investigator: Dr. Andrew J. Scholand, Sandia National Laboratories
Project started in: 2005
Funding for Human Subjects Research:
This project does not involve the use of multiple protocols/subprojects.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review:
Type of Review:
Expedited
Approving Institution: Sandia National Laboratories
Most recent approval: 02/28/05
Number of human subjects who participated in this project/protocol/subproject in the last reporting period: 20
Reporting period for number of human subjects:
Fiscal Year 2005
Type(s) of Human Subjects Involvement:
SNL spent many years developing the computer science behind sophisticated microeconomic simulations, yet surprisingly little research has been directed at understanding the extent to which the algorithms truly mimic human decision-making behavior, both under 'normal' competitive economic market conditions, and under disrupted conditions where various components of the nation's critical infrastructure may be non-operational. The economic literature makes it clear that the way in which the market performs is a function both of the market structure (rules determining how the market clears) and the behavior of the participants in the market (consumers and suppliers). This study proposes to address this gap through a series of on-going experiments, collaboratively performed by both Sandia and the University of New Mexico, in which people actively participate in a running economic simulation as decision makers.
The goal of these experiments is to provide the data necessary to compare and improve existing artificial intelligence (AI) approximations of human decisions in the economic and business arenas, and to understand how those decisions may vary with the demographics of the persons making them. The need for demographics is to assess whether certain sectors of the economy make decisions differently, and so need differently tuned AI. For example, do business buyers react differently to varying prices than household buyers? These data will allow SNL to refine individualized decision making models in economic simulations, increasing both the range of questions we can adequately address and the value of the recommendations from those tools.
Subjects will be asked to use computer software to interact with a running economic simulation. The software will allow them to make decisions, such as at what price to sell a commodity, given only limited information, such as the volume of sales on preceding days at various prices. The research team also plans to gather information from participants after making decisions by administering surveys during the experiment. Survey questions would seek to elicit information on both participant demographics and the strategies used in making their decisions. The surveys will be anonymous but will be associated with specific simulation runs by a randomly selected agent identifier.
To encourage participation, and to make sure that subjects are actively trying to act in a rational economic sense (a fundamental assumption in economic theory), subjects will receive a financial reward based on their performance. The typical financial reward is $30 to $40, and particularly astute subjects could earn as much as $50. We seek to capture a diverse range of decision makers, since the goal is to match the diversity and breadth of individuals making decisions in the U.S. national economy (effectively, all of us). We therefore obtained approval to conduct this study on any general member of the U.S. population over 18 (excluding prisoners and other captive populations).
Experiments will be administered at various times over the next year. Four runs have been conducted to date. Each data gathering session is planned to last approximately 90 minutes, consisting of up to 12 individual experiment runs.
Risks are minimal, since the entire experiment is conducted via software and survey. The outcomes of decisions made by the subjects (i.e. prices, sourcing decisions, and production levels) are captured electronically and anonymously. The most sensitive information gathered, survey responses providing anonymous demographic data that can be associated to economic decisions, will be collected on paper and converted to electronic format by the PIs. The simulation record and the transcribed data will contain no personally identifiable information.
"Pinpointing the Benefits of Collaboration Capability for a Federation of Application-Centered Simulation Analysis Teams: A Case Study"
Principal Investigator: Dr. John M. Linebarger, Sandia National Laboratories
Project started in: 2005
Funding for Human Subjects Research:
This project does not involve the use of multiple protocols/subprojects.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review:
Type of Review:
Expedited
Approving Institution: Sandia National Laboratories
Most recent approval: 02/28/05
Number of human subjects who participated in this project/protocol/subproject in the last reporting period: 10
Reporting period for number of human subjects:
Fiscal Year 2005
Type(s) of Human Subjects Involvement:
The National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center (NISAC), a Department of Homeland Security program, provides advanced modeling and simulation capabilities for the analysis of critical infrastructures, their interdependencies, vulnerabilities, and complexities. These capabilities help improve the robustness of U.S. critical infrastructures by aiding decision makers in the areas of policy analysis, investment and mitigation planning, education and training, and near real-time assistance to crisis response organizations.
NISAC and related programs are frequently called upon for rapid turn-around analysis. The primary metrics for this high-pressure, time-constrained collaboration are time to solution and quality of solution. A primary time consumer is the data interchange required to establish a common mental model (also called a common analysis picture) of the problem(s) and solutions(s) among all members of the rapid analysis team.
Numerous observations of rapid analysis teams have distilled four stages in forming a common analysis picture. The first stage is awareness and consists of two levels: identifying other members of the analysis team and the knowledge of the specific tasks that they are currently working on. The second stage is specialization, in which subgroups form to carry out the overall rapid analysis task. These subgroups are formed recursively and reflect the hierarchical structure of the particular rapid analysis problem. The third stage is synchronization, which also consists of two levels: Ensuring that each member of the subgroup is looking at the same thing (common content) in the same way (common view of the common content). In practice, achieving this synchronization between members of a geographically distributed collaboration community can require an enormous amount of time. The final stage, collaborative interaction proper, is only possible once synchronization has been established.
To support such rapid turn-around analysis teams, a software framework for synchronous collaboration has been developed to address each of these stages. This framework, the NISAC Agent-Based Laboratory for Economics (N-ABLE) tool, is an agent-based economic modeling and simulation package.
Our primary operating hypothesis is that the synchronous collaboration framework does indeed improve the ability of an application-centered collaboration community to form a common mental model of both the problem(s) and potential solutions(s). The primary benefit is hypothesized to be time, not necessarily the quality of the understanding of the problem(s) or of the solution(s) discovered. A secondary hypothesis is that the benefit of synchronous collaboration will diminish as the time duration of the analysis increases. The goal of this secondary hypothesis is to explore and identify the boundary between synchronous and asynchronous collaboration capabilities.
The subject pool will consist of four to five N-ABLE analysts who already have experience with the N-ABLE application and its collaboration capabilities. The research project will be presented in an N-ABLE project team meeting, and members of the existing N-ABLE analysis team will be invited to volunteer for the experiment by sending an email message to the principal investigator.
A four-hour pilot experiment will be conducted to exercise the data-gathering capabilities and equalize the training effect. Then the six independent rapid analysis problems will be analyzed, one at a time, in a randomly chosen order. Ideally, the same analysis team will participate in all of the experiments. However, if a team member is unable to participate in all six, other N-ABLE analysts will be invited to volunteer to take their place. All experiments are expected to be completed within a month. Following each experiment a questionnaire form will be administered to each participant, and the collaboration log data files stored on participants machines will be collected. Transcripts of the group chat messages will also be saved and analyzed.
Privacy of the participants will be preserved in several ways. No full names will be used in published versions of the transcripts or screen images. Names are not required on the questionnaires, and once individual data from the transaction logs are loaded into an Excel spreadsheet and sanitized for analysis, the original data files will be destroyed. Data from the experiment will be treated as unclassified controlled information and protected accordingly.
The only known risk is potential fatigue and strain due to computer use, so the participants will be requested to take frequent breaks, just as they would do during a normal work day.
"Micro Optical Radar (MOR) Facial Recognition"
Principal Investigator: Mr. Robert D. Habbit, Sandia National Laboratories
Project started in: 2005
This project ended in fiscal year 2005.
Funding for Human Subjects Research:
This project does not involve the use of multiple protocols/subprojects.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review:
Type of Review:
Expedited
Approving Institution: Sandia National Laboratories
Most recent approval: 03/08/05
Number of human subjects who participated in this project/protocol/subproject in the last reporting period: 997
Reporting period for number of human subjects:
Fiscal Year 2005
Type(s) of Human Subjects Involvement:
The purpose of this laboratory directed research and development (LDRD) project is to improve security at U.S. points of entry such as airports and borders, at critical U.S. facilities, and to move the bad actor identification process abroad through the development of next-generation 3D biometric identification. The fundamental enabling technology will be micro-optical radar (MOR) technology coupled with advanced facial recognition algorithms. This study will focus on the use of facial recognition (FR) to address (1) the "9-11 Terrorist Security Problem" by autonomous identification of known terrorists and criminals at points of entry and critical facilities, and (2) the U.S. security screening problem by helping to identify frequent "good actor" entrants to improve screening of unknowns and increase the flow of commerce. The recognition problem applies to many applications in which a person or automated process is attempting to identify an object from imagery taken from a distance, such as target recognition and intrusion detection.
Recent news articles illustrated the poor performance of commercial 2D systems and emphasized the difficultly in facial recognition. We expect that the use of 3D geometric facial images from MOR will improve performance to acceptable levels. The approach in this study requires two key technology advances: 1) a small image sensor to unobtrusively capture sub-centimeter resolution 3D images of moving subjects and 2) new algorithm constructs to utilize the 3D information. In this proposal, the sensor development will specifically address the challenge of high resolution Flash MOR technologies at the single pixel level and address the read-out challenges of the multi-pixel, complex, high speed, low noise, mixed mode MOR application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). This study will also examine the utility of 3D information for FR and evaluate its sensitivity to certain parameters. This will enable 3D FR sensitivities to be considered during the MOR research and development phase. We expect to demonstrate feasibility of Flash MOR and 3D FR algorithms.
The procedure for acquiring 3D range images is identical to acquiring photographs. The only difference is the illumination (light) source, and the receiver is time encoded such that the time of flight of the light can be measured. This measurement allows the calculation of range. The range information coupled with the optical properties of the lens allow one to calculate the exact position in space of the subject, thus producing an accurate 3D geometric image. 3D imagers use a modulated or pulsed coherent light source. The form of the illumination source can be a laser, laser diode array, or light emitting diode (LED) array. In all cases, the illumination levels are below the safe eye levels established by OSHA.
Each Participant will be asked to pose and/or walk through identified areas. A typical acquisition session should take no longer than one-half hour. Like early photography, the subject may be asked to pose for up to one minute during each acquisition.
To protect confidentiality of the data, participants will be identified by a number assigned at the initial acquisition and only project personnel with a need-to-know will have access to information that ties image data to a particular test subject's name. Also, computer database files will be password protected. These protection measures will be explained to all participants.
"Gait Comparison of Subjects Wearing Z-Coil and Elastomer-Based Shoes"
Principal Investigator: Mr. Michael Lyons, Sandia National Laboratories
Project started in: 2005
This project ended in fiscal year 2005.
Funding for Human Subjects Research:
This project does not involve the use of multiple protocols/subprojects.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review:
Type of Review:
Expedited
Approving Institution: Sandia National Laboratories
Most recent approval: 05/12/05
Number of human subjects who participated in this project/protocol/subproject in the last reporting period: 6
Reporting period for number of human subjects:
Fiscal Year 2005
Type(s) of Human Subjects Involvement:
The goal of the proposed work is to examine the acceleration and force versus time data that are collected as subjects perform tasks wearing both Z-Coil and traditional walking or running shoes. It is believed that the spring in the heel of the Z-Coil shoe will result in lower total accelerations over time compared to traditional shoes.
Human subject testing is necessary for this study for several reasons. We will be attempting to quantify accelerations of various parts of the subject's body by attaching an accelerometer and possibly placing a force transducer under the heel. The test would be nearly impossible to model due to the wide variation of anatomy of different individuals. Given that certain features of the human body, such as their vibrational damping, may change within one individual as time passes, the prospect of producing a reliable model is even more difficult.
Participants will be asked to do the following tasks in two pairs of shoes (Z-Coil and traditional):
- Stand (for no more than 10 minutes)
- Walk (for no more than 15 minutes, or 1 mile)
- Walk up and down stairs (for 15 minutes, or four stories)
- Jog (for no more than 20 minutes, or 2 miles)
During the tests, acceleration and force data will be gathered at approximately 500 Hertz. The force transducer will lie between the heel and the shoe, and the accelerometer will be clipped to the shoe, attached at the knee with an elastic bandage, or possibly worn in the small of the back either attached to a belt or with an elastic bandage.
Each participant will be asked to report certain physical characteristics including height, weight, gender, and age. No physical measurements will be taken, as reported values will be used. We will have to know shoe size to ensure appropriate footwear is available for testing. Information relevant to the collected data will also be recorded including date, location, and type of test (standing, walking, etc.).
Subjects will be recruited via a recruitment message in the Sandia Daily News (an online forum). Inclusion criteria will be minimal. Subjects will need to respond to the call for volunteers, be 18 years old or older, and indicate that they believe they can perform the tasks involved in the study. If there are more volunteers than required, we will select participants who provide a range of our study variables (gender, age, height, and weight).
Exclusion criteria will be:
- Needed number of participants already met
- Desired ratio of males/females not yet met
- Volunteer feels they may not be able to complete tasks
The target is five to ten subjects.
As with any physical activity, there are some inherent risks in this study. These include the possibility of muscular sprains and strains. If a subject should fall during a test, there is a possibility of bone fractures or other traumatic injury. Researchers will work to minimize these possibilities by only accepting individuals who feel comfortable performing the tests and will stop any test if the subject appears fatigued. The research team will verbally inform all subjects to alert them if they begin to feel any unexpected pain, discomfort, or other sensation, particularly nausea, chest pain, abnormal sweating, or headache. To ensure participant safety, the most challenging portions of the test (jogging) will take place at the park across the street from the Sandia medical clinic, so medical services will be readily accessible if needed. Additionally, one of the testers is a licensed emergency medical technician, and all tests will take place in the presence of a person with medical training.
Given the nature of the study, there appear to be no social, psychological, financial, or other long-term risks.
Only study investigators will have access to the data as the study progresses. At the end of the study, the results will be compiled in a report that will be delivered to the Z-Coil Corporation and made publicly available. No personally identifying information will be recorded in testing or included in the final report. Any photographs of testing in the final report will be primarily of the test equipment and will not show faces of subjects.
"Patterns of Communication and Information Seeking within Software Development"
Principal Investigator: Ms. Alisa Bandlow, Sandia National Laboratories
Project started in: 2005
Funding for Human Subjects Research:
This project does not involve the use of multiple protocols/subprojects.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review:
Type of Review:
Expedited
Approving Institution: Sandia National Laboratories
Most recent approval: 07/28/05
Number of human subjects who participated in this project/protocol/subproject in the last reporting period: 35
Reporting period for number of human subjects:
Fiscal Year 2005
Type(s) of Human Subjects Involvement:
Effective collaboration and communication are important aspects of any successful group. This study will examine the question of how two rapidly growing departments at SNL communicate and work together. The purpose of the research is to help the departments better understand their intra- and inter-group communication behaviors, which may in turn improve the quality of software development processes.
Team members in these departments use many communication methods ranging from face-to-face (e.g., business meetings and informal social gatherings) to computer-mediated communication tools (e.g., e-mail, SameTime, and wiki). Driving the research will be an inquiry into the social practices supporting the use of technology within the workplace, as well as an examination of how those social processes are affected by demographic factors, physical collocation, group size, and project specifications.
Ethnographic research methods including surveys, interviews, and participant observation will be used to better understand the communication processes and information seeking patterns of these two departments. The Principal Investigator will oversee research conducted by two other investigators to ensure policy compliance and to review study focus, whereas the enlisted investigators will conduct the majority of the research to retain research objectivity and scientific diligence.
To protect participants from any adverse effects of investigation, confidentiality will be strictly guarded, and collected data will be reported without personal identifiers. However, because of the relatively small size of the groups under study, reports may contain enough information for fellow employees to identify participants. Therefore, participants will be cautioned to provide only information they are comfortable sharing with colleagues. Reports published from this research may include suggestions that would require changes to the work practices of the group. These changes may make participants uncomfortable. It is also possible that time devoted to participating in this study will reduce time available to participants for work on their projects. Investigators will endeavor to minimize any inconvenience resulting from the investigation.
There will be no financial compensation for participation in this research project. Results of the study, however, are anticipated to improve the quality of communication and collaboration within the departments. All employees are expected to benefit from the review of communication practices through greater understanding of the work environment that will be gained.
"A Study of Operator Reaction Time with Respect to the Calibration of Stopwatches and Timers"
Principal Investigator: Mr. Robert M. Graham, Sandia National Laboratories
Project started in: 2005
This project does not involve the use of multiple protocols/subprojects.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review:
Type of Review:
Expedited
Approving Institution: Sandia National Laboratories
Most recent approval: 08/16/05
Number of human subjects who participated in this project/protocol/subproject in the last reporting period: 0
Reporting period for number of human subjects:
Fiscal Year 2005
Type(s) of Human Subjects Involvement:
In the field of Metrology, whenever a precise measurement is made and recorded, an estimate of the combined total uncertainty (CTU) of that measurement is normally included. This CTU estimate is composed of each of the individual uncertainties that affect the measurement; the way those uncertainties are combined is determined by the type, how it was measured or estimated, and the amount of the influence. In Stopwatch and Timer Calibrations, one major component of the CTU is the Operator's reaction time. This component has never been quantified in a systematic way. The purpose of this study is to accumulate data from potential stopwatch and timer calibration technicians, both inside and outside SNL, and to see if certain demographic factors (age, sex, or occupation) have an influence on the data.
The Principal Investigator (PI) will be conducting several classes and tutorials on stopwatch and timer calibrations at various national conferences and symposiums. During these classes, he will collect data from class attendees as they perform one or more stopwatch or timer calibrations. Participation is strictly voluntary and consent will be informed and documented. No personal information will be kept, only demographics such as gender, age, and occupation. No attempt will be made to record which class attendees participated. All efforts will be taken to ensure the anonymity of the study subjects.
The calibration methods to be used (Direct Comparison method and Totalize method) will be taught during the courses, and the data collected during the practice sessions (or during breaks or after class). Each subject will be asked to calibrate a stopwatch or timer with a known offset (measured using the Timebase method). The difference between the Operator's reported value and the true value will be due to the Operator's reaction time. Subjects will record their times on 10-second intervals. If time allows, the measurements will be repeated several times to show the amount of variability for each operator, or a different technique will be used. The total time commitment is expected to be approximately 15 to 30 minutes.
Subject involvement will occur during the classes taught by the PI at the Measurement Science Conference (MSC) to be held in Anaheim, CA, and the National Conference of Standards Laboratories - International (NCSLI) in Nashville, TN. Subject recruitment may also include attendees at other seminars as well, such as the Measurement Quality Division of the American Society of Quality. There are no inclusion criteria other than attendance at a class taught by the PI, and there is no prerequisite for the classes. The projected target number of subjects is 100. There is no financial compensation to subjects for participation in this research project.
This project is expected to last approximately three years, which should provide ample time to gather enough data to be statistically significant and to perform the necessary analysis.