The Human–Machine Interface
Behind Grid Modernization
To understand the role of control room design in a modern utility environment, it can be helpful to think of the cockpit of a commercial aircraft. While engines, sensors, and automation systems manage immense technical complexity, safe operation ultimately depends on the pilot’s ability to interpret information, maintain situational awareness, and make precise decisions under pressure. Without a well-designed cockpit, even the most advanced aircraft cannot be safely controlled.
The same principle applies in today’s utility control room design. As electric grids become more automated, data-rich, and interconnected, operators remain responsible for maintaining system stability and responding to abnormal conditions in real time. Research from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has shown that increasing automation does not eliminate the operator’s role, but instead raises the cognitive demands placed on those managing grid operations. At the same time, guidance from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) emphasizes that grid modernization is not only about deploying new technologies, but about ensuring people can effectively interact with them in operational environments.
In this context, the definition of the human–machine interface extends beyond software and digital controls. Throughout this article, the term refers to the control room console itself as the physical bridge between operators and automated grid systems, supporting system state assessment and informed decision-making. Without it, even the most sophisticated systems risk falling short when operators need them most.
Automation Still Requires Human Control
Automation has significantly changed how utilities operate the grid. Advanced distribution management systems, automated switching, and real-time analytics now handle many routine functions at speeds and scales that would be impossible to manage manually. These capabilities improve efficiency and consistency during normal operating conditions. However, they do not remove the need for human oversight, particularly when systems behave in unexpected ways.
As automation increases, operators are no longer focused on continuous manual control but on supervising complex systems, interpreting automated outputs, and deciding when and how to intervene. During system disturbances, storms, or cascading events, the challenge is rarely a lack of data. Instead, performance depends on whether operators can:
- Quickly recognize what has changed across the system (Awareness)
- Distinguish critical signals from background activity (Consideration)
- Prioritize actions under time pressure (Decision)
- Intervene decisively when automation reaches its limits (Action)
In these moments, operator performance is shaped by how information is organized and accessed within the control room. When alerts compete for attention, displays are poorly coordinated, or physical layouts slow interaction, response time, and decision quality suffer. Conversely, environments designed to support operator oversight help operators maintain control as system complexity increases by enabling:
- Awareness — Rapid detection of system changes
Clear sightlines, stable monitor positioning, and consistent visual organization allow operators to quickly recognize what has changed across the system without excessive scanning or visual friction. - Consideration — Separation of critical signals from background activity
Logical grouping of displays, predictable information zones, and reduced visual clutter help operators distinguish what matters most and avoid cognitive overload during high-pressure conditions. - Decision — Confident prioritization under time pressure
Console layouts that place key displays and interaction points within efficient reach reduce mental and physical friction, supporting faster and more accurate prioritization of response actions. - Action — Effective intervention when automation reaches its limits
Stable work surfaces, unobstructed access to controls, and layouts that minimize unnecessary movement allow operators to act decisively and execute interventions without delay or distraction.
The grid operations control room is where this balance between automation and operator judgment is maintained. It is a space where automated systems are observed and actively managed. The design of the control room console plays a central role in this process, structuring how operators engage with automated tools, assess system conditions, and coordinate responses during critical events. When automation reaches its limits, the console becomes the interface that enables operator control to reassert itself.
Translating these principles into a real control room begins early in the planning process. To support utilities, engineers, and integrators at this stage, Tresco has developed a control room console planning and early design guide that outlines key considerations for layout, workflows, and operator performance, before detailed configurations or technology selections are defined. This resource is intended as a practical reference for early-stage planning and is not tied to any specific product configuration.
Turning Grid Data Into Operational Clarity
Modern utility control rooms are not limited by a lack of data. Operators are surrounded by system metrics, alarms, dashboards, and automated recommendations. The real challenge is transforming that volume of information into a clear, usable understanding of system conditions, especially when events unfold quickly.
Continuing advances toward more interconnected grids require operators to continuously assess what is normal, what is changing, and what requires immediate action. Situational awareness is not created by adding more screens or alerts. It is created by how information is structured, prioritized, and visually coordinated within the control room environment.
When operational clarity breaks down, it is usually due to a combination of factors:
- Competing alerts that obscure what is truly critical
- Fragmented displays that force operators to mentally reconstruct system state
- Poor visual hierarchy, making it difficult to scan and prioritize information
- Physical layouts that slow interaction or require excessive movement
These frictions increase cognitive load and slow decision-making, even when the underlying data is accurate.
The role of the control room is to reduce this complexity, not add to it. A well-designed control room environment supports situational awareness, helping operators move quickly from detection to understanding, and from understanding to action.
This is where the control room console becomes a critical enabler.
At a functional level, consoles contribute to operational clarity by supporting:
- Consistent visual organization across operator positions
- Clear sightlines that allow rapid scanning of multiple information sources
- Logical grouping of displays and controls to reduce mental translation
- Stable, ergonomic interaction zones that minimize distraction during extended monitoring
These elements do not change how much data operators receive, but they fundamentally change how effectively that data can be used. In environments where seconds matter and errors carry consequences, clarity becomes a performance requirement.
Designing the Modern Utility Control Room
In utility environments, the term modern control room is often associated with new technologies, digital platforms, and advanced automation. In practice, modernity is not defined by how new a system is, but by how effectively operators can use it under real operating conditions. A modern utility control room is one that aligns people, processes, and technology into a cohesive operational environment.
As grid operations evolve, control rooms are expected to support a wider and more complex range of responsibilities. Operators must monitor more assets, interpret more data streams, and respond to a broader set of scenarios than in the past. Designing for this reality requires moving beyond ad hoc layouts or technology-first decisions and focusing instead on how work is actually performed during both normal and abnormal conditions.
A modern utility control room is typically shaped by several foundational principles:
- Operational coherence
Systems, displays, and workstations are organized to reflect how operators understand and manage the grid, rather than how individual technologies are deployed in isolation. - Consistency across positions
Standardized layouts and interaction zones reduce cognitive friction when operators collaborate, rotate roles, or step in during critical events. - Support for sustained operations
The environment is designed for long-duration monitoring, extended response periods, and shift-based work without degrading operator performance over time. - Adaptability over time
Physical infrastructure is able to accommodate evolving technologies, new workflows, and changing operational requirements without requiring disruptive redesigns.
These principles reflect a broad body of guidance developed across the utility sector, human factors engineering, and grid modernization research, including standards from organizations such as International Organization for Standardization through ISO 11064, applied operational research published by the Electric Power Research Institute, and grid modernization research and planning frameworks from the U.S. Department of Energy. Together, these disciplines consistently link control room design to operator performance, decision-making quality, and overall system reliability.
Within this context, the control room console serves as the physical foundation of the modern utility control room. It defines how operators interact with digital systems, how information is organized at each position, and how individual workstations integrate into the broader operational picture. Rather than acting as a passive surface for technology, the console helps structure the flow of work itself. Designing the modern utility control room, therefore, is not about selecting individual components. It is about creating an environment where technology supports operators, rather than forcing operators to adapt to technology. As utilities continue to modernize grid operations while maintaining reliability and accountability, this shift in perspective becomes essential.
Operator-Centered Design in Utility Environments
Utility control rooms operate continuously, often under conditions where fatigue, time pressure, and uncertainty are unavoidable. In these environments, operator performance is not just a matter of training or experience. It is directly influenced by how the control room is designed to support operator capabilities and limitations.
Operator-centered design starts from the recognition that people remain a critical part of grid operations, even in highly automated systems. Rather than asking operators to adapt to technology, this approach focuses on shaping the environment to support perception, decision-making, and sustained focus over long shifts and high-stress events.
From a human factors perspective, effective control room design addresses several core needs:
- Perceptual clarity
Operators must be able to quickly perceive system status, detect changes, and distinguish critical information from background noise without excessive effort. - Cognitive efficiency
The environment should reduce unnecessary mental translation by organizing information in ways that align with how operators think about the grid and their tasks. - Physical comfort and endurance
Posture, reach, and movement directly affect fatigue levels, especially during extended monitoring or emergency response periods. - Error prevention under pressure
Layouts and interaction zones should minimize the likelihood of mistakes during high-consequence situations, when attention is divided and response time is critical.
These considerations are well established within human factors engineering and control room standards, including guidance such as ISO 11064, which emphasizes the relationship between workspace design, operator workload, and performance reliability. In utility environments, where operators may be required to maintain focus for hours or days during system events, these factors are not optional enhancements. They are operational requirements.
When operator-centered design is neglected, the consequences are often subtle but cumulative. Increased cognitive load, inefficient movement, and visual clutter can slow response times, increase error risk, and contribute to fatigue long before a system reaches a critical state. Conversely, when the control room environment is intentionally designed around human performance, operators are better equipped to manage complexity, collaborate effectively, and maintain situational awareness as conditions evolve.
In this context, the control room console plays a central role. It is the primary interface through which operators engage with systems, information, and each other. An operator-centered console does not dictate how work should be done. Instead, it supports how work is actually performed, reinforcing good practices and reducing friction during both routine operations and high-impact events.
How Control Room Consoles Support Performance During Critical Events
During system disturbances, storms, or cascading events, operator performance is shaped less by individual tools and more by how effectively the control room environment supports rapid perception, decision-making, and sustained action. In these moments, the control room console is not just a workstation. It becomes a performance system.
Rather than listing features in isolation, it is more useful to understand how specific console design capabilities support operator performance mechanisms under pressure.
1. Supporting Rapid Situational Assessment
During critical events, operators must quickly determine what has changed, what is stable, and what requires immediate attention. Delays at this stage compound downstream decisions.
Control room consoles support rapid situational assessment by enabling:
- Clear visual organization across multiple displays, allowing operators to scan system status without excessive head or eye movement
- Consistent monitor positioning and sightlines, reducing the time required to orient to critical information
- Stable display zones that support predictable information placement during high-stress conditions
By reducing visual friction, consoles help operators move more quickly from detection to understanding when seconds matter.
2. Reducing Cognitive Load Under Pressure
Critical events often involve overlapping alerts, incomplete information, and evolving priorities. Cognitive overload increases the risk of missed signals or delayed responses.
Console design helps manage cognitive load by:
- Structuring information hierarchies so that critical data stands out from background activity
- Grouping related controls and displays to minimize mental translation
- Maintaining consistent interaction patterns across operator positions, reducing the need for reorientation
These elements do not eliminate complexity, but they help prevent unnecessary mental effort that can slow decision-making.
3. Enabling Sustained Performance During Extended Events
Utility emergencies are rarely short. Operators may be required to maintain focus for hours or days during restoration efforts, often under stressful conditions.
Consoles support endurance and sustained performance by:
- Supporting neutral posture and efficient reach, reducing physical strain over long shifts
- Accommodating posture variation, helping operators manage fatigue during extended monitoring
- Minimizing unnecessary movement, allowing operators to stay focused on system conditions
Physical fatigue and cognitive fatigue are closely linked. Consoles that reduce physical strain help preserve decision-making quality over time.
4. Improving Coordination and Team Response
During large-scale events, effective response depends on coordination across operators, supervisors, and adjacent teams. Poorly designed workstations can isolate operators or slow collaboration.
Control room consoles contribute to team performance by:
- Maintaining clear sightlines between positions, supporting verbal and visual coordination
- Standardizing workstation layouts, allowing operators to assist or take over roles more easily
- Integrating individual workstations into a cohesive room layout, reinforcing shared situational awareness
This consistency becomes especially important when roles shift quickly or when additional personnel are brought into the control room.
5. Preserving Reliability When Systems Are Stressed
Critical events place additional stress not only on operators but also on equipment. Overheating, access issues, or workspace clutter can introduce new problems during already complex situations.
Console design supports operational reliability by:
- Providing organized cable management and access, reducing the risk of disruption during adjustments or troubleshooting
- Supporting equipment ventilation and thermal stability, helping systems perform reliably during continuous operation
- Using durable, stable construction, ensuring workstations remain functional during prolonged or high-intensity use
Reliability at the console level helps prevent small issues from becoming larger operational distractions.
Many of these performance considerations are difficult to evaluate through specifications alone. Experiencing a control room console in person or navigating a full-scale virtual environment often provides clearer insight into how design decisions affect real-world operations.
The following illustration highlights how specific control room console design decisions support operator performance in real-world utility environments.
Each callout points to a physical element of the console and explains how it contributes to situational awareness, decision-making, and effective action during both routine operations and critical events. Select a marker to explore how these design choices reinforce the principles discussed above.
From Design Decisions to Operational Outcomes
Taken together, these mechanisms illustrate why control room consoles are not passive furniture elements. They are active contributors to operator performance during the moments when grid operations are most vulnerable. By supporting clarity, reducing cognitive and physical strain, and enabling coordination, consoles help operators maintain control when automation and artificial intelligence alone are not enough.
In utility environments where reliability, resilience, and accountability are paramount, the performance of the control room console becomes inseparable from the performance of the system itself, particularly during abnormal and high-impact events.
Aligning Control Room Design with Grid Modernization Goals
Grid modernization is often discussed in terms of technology deployment, digital platforms, and advanced analytics. Yet the effectiveness of these investments ultimately depends on how well they are translated into daily operations. Control rooms are where modernization becomes real, and control room design plays a direct role in determining whether new capabilities improve performance or introduce new complexity.
As utilities expand the use of automation and artificial intelligence, integrate distributed resources, and rely more heavily on data-driven operations, the demands placed on operators continue to increase. This reality reinforces a central theme reflected across grid modernization initiatives: technology alone does not guarantee better outcomes. Operational success depends on environments that support operator decision-making, sustained focus, and effective coordination under pressure.
Aligning control room design with grid modernization goals requires treating the control room as critical infrastructure rather than a secondary consideration. Design decisions made at the console and room level directly influence how modernization initiatives perform in practice by shaping:
- Situational awareness as system complexity increases
- Response time during abnormal or rapidly evolving conditions
- Reliability and consistency across routine and high-impact events
This alignment also supports long-term adaptability. As grid technologies evolve, control rooms must be able to accommodate new systems, workflows, and operational requirements without compromising performance. Modular, operator-centered design approaches help ensure that control rooms remain effective as modernization initiatives continue to unfold.
The conversations shaping grid modernization today, including those reflected across the DistribuTECH agenda, increasingly recognize the importance of integrating people, processes, and technology into cohesive operational systems. Control room consoles sit at the intersection of these elements. When designed with performance in mind, they help bridge the gap between advanced grid technologies and the operators responsible for keeping the system reliable.
In this context, investing in control room design is not simply a facilities decision. It is a strategic choice that directly supports grid modernization goals by strengthening the human–machine interface at the heart of utility operations.
Design Priorities in a Modernizing Grid
Viewed through this lens, broader industry design priorities can be understood as outcomes of how different organizations approach modernization. As control room technologies evolve, a wider range of design priorities has emerged across the industry, including long-term infrastructure lifecycle, higher equipment density, and increasingly sophisticated visual environments.
All of these considerations play a role in modern utility operations. Tresco’s approach begins one step earlier, with a focus on how operators engage with complex systems over long shifts and high-stress conditions. Understanding first, operator workflows, cognitive demands, and coordination requirements, design decisions related to layout, technology integration, durability, and aesthetics are made in direct support of operational performance.
In grid environments where actionable intelligence and sustained operator performance define reliability, the physical human–machine interface becomes the foundation upon which all other design choices are built.
Experience These Principles in Action at DistribuTECH
Many of the concepts discussed in this article can be difficult to fully appreciate on paper. At DistribuTECH, Tresco Consoles will be showcasing a full-scale control room console designed for utility operations, allowing attendees to experience firsthand the build quality, material selection, and assembly standards required for 24/7 environments.
The booth will also feature a fully designed utility control room environment developed in collaboration with Robert E. Lamb, as well as new technologies by Activu. Together, these elements bring architecture, visualization, and console design into a single operational context.
In addition, attendees will be able to explore an interactive utility control room experience directly from their phone. By scanning a QR code available at the booth, visitors can navigate the space, understand layout and sightline decisions, and see how operator-centered design principles translate into real-world control room environments.
For utilities planning future control room upgrades or modernization initiatives, these experiences provide a practical way to connect design intent with operational reality.