ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the numerous surprises encountered in two projects that applied an approach called cognitive engineering based on expert skill (CEBES) to the problem of landmine detection. Both projects succeeded beyond any reasonable predictions that could have been generated at their outset. They created entirely novel programs for training operators of the handheld landmine detection equipment used since the early 1990s by the US Army, the Army/Navy Portable Special Search–12 (PSS-12) and the technologically advanced, dual-sensor Army/Navy Portable Special Search–14 (PSS-14). The PSS-12 and PSS-14 CEBES training development projects represent successful cognitive engineering efforts. Both substantially improved performance on a practical task of considerable difficulty, danger, and importance. The grain-size of the mechanisms used to describe the thought processes of the PSS-12 and PSS-14 experts is compatible with the macro level of functional description advocated by macrocognition proponents. The PSS-12 expertise project led to the analysis of expertise on the newer piece of detection equipment.
