ABSTRACT
Remote ship operations are becoming a practical reality, driving the need for well-designed user interfaces (UIs) in remote operation centres (ROCs). These UIs are complex, requiring the integration of physical and digital elements to ensure seamless operations and situational awareness across land- and sea-based contexts. However, the maritime industry currently lacks dedicated design guidelines and precedents for ROCs.
This chapter presents the ROC architecture framework, a user-centred approach comprising four interconnected components: (1) a workstation framework for modular, scalable physical console design; (2) a workplace integration framework for harmonising multi-screen set-ups and digital UIs; (3) a remote collaboration and multi-user framework addressing coordination among distributed operators; and (4) a video overlay framework using augmented reality to enhance live video feeds for decision support.
Central to this work is the OpenBridge design system, which has supported rapid prototyping and iterative feedback across real-world ROC design cases. The study highlights the importance of using a design system and an open innovation methodology to achieve harmonised and adaptable UIs for current and future remote maritime operations.
