ABSTRACT
Link Analysis (LA) is an established tool to assist in the understanding of dynamic interactions in an environment. In LA, systems are composed of links and elements. Elements comprise items in the system which are drawn in a logical pattern, often representing the physical layout of the system being studied. Links are drawn between elements in order to record the sequence of activity. When a LA is complete, a diagram is produced showing all links between elements, thus providing information on activity patterns. The LA might represent activity for an entire task or for a fixed period of time. If elements have many links between them it indicates that they are often used in close chronological proximity; it might therefore improve efficiency if they are located in close spatial proximity. Thus LA is a valuable tool for optimisation of workplace ergonomics. LA has been used to understand work patterns of healthcare professionals (e.g. Ferreira and Hignett, 2005; Jones et al., 2009).
