The Critical Role of AI in the (Nearly) Impossible Job of a Control Room Operator

The work of a control room operator can be incredibly intensive. They must always be “on,” constantly observe multiple screens, and act quickly when needed. This requires a tremendous cognitive load. It is therefore entirely realistic that an operator may occasionally miss an incident. In this article, we explore why this is ‘normal’ and how smart AI technology can support operators in their daily work.

The limits of human perception

Humans are capable of a great deal. Yet there are clear limits to our abilities — we are not superheroes. Our vision, too, has its boundaries. A person with two eyes has a visual field of about 180 degrees. Within that range, only a very small portion—around 2 to 3 degrees—is in sharp focus (Strasburger, Rentschler, & Jüttner, 2011).

Although it may feel like we see everything clearly, we can only perceive a tiny part of our surroundings in detail at any given moment. Research shows that visual acuity drops by up to 50% the further objects move away from the area of focus (Anstis, 1974).

Limitations in processing visual information

The human brain is trained to recognize patterns and anomalies in the environment. This skill is valuable for operators, but just like our perceptual abilities, our information-processing capacity also has limits. In situations with many screens, the brain can become overwhelmed, leading to:

Missing information: Operators may overlook important details due to distractions, unexpected events (inattentional blindness), or gradual changes (change blindness).
Slower decision-making: A large amount of incoming information quickly fills working memory, making it harder to retrieve relevant details. This slows down decision-making and response time.
Reduced concentration: Over time, information overload leads to high workload, fatigue, and decreased focus.

Do you notice all the changes in this living room video? The human brain struggles to detect small, rapid changes. This same phenomenon occurs in the control room.

As the examples above show, it is actually quite normal for an operator to occasionally miss an incident — no matter how skilled they are. Below, we explain how technology can help.

Smart AI technology as support in the control room

In modern control rooms, smart technologies already play an important role — from camera management systems to alarm handling tools. When it comes to visual inspection and detection tasks, operators can be supported even further through Video AI Analytics.

Video AI Analytics can analyze all camera feeds in the control room 24/7 to automatically detect anomalies or dangerous situations. This analysis is based on the entire image — not on the 2–3 degrees of sharp focus that the human eye perceives. When an anomaly is detected, Video AI Analytics can generate an alert, enabling operators to act proactively.

This technology has broad capabilities and can support various tasks. Here are a few examples:

Automatic real-time detection of anomalies

Video AI Analytics continuously scans video streams for patterns and irregularities such as:

• Unusual movement in an otherwise static area.
• Suspicious behaviour, such as someone lingering in a location or approaching a dangerous zone like a highway.
• Traffic incidents or accidents when monitoring roads.

Video AI Analytics detects anomalies in live footage, enabling immediate intervention.

Advanced object recognition

Using advanced algorithms, Video AI can detect and classify objects, vehicles, or people. For example, in a parking garage, AI can track vehicle movement and trigger an alert when a car parks unlawfully or behaves suspiciously. This allows operators to monitor more purposefully instead of manually watching everything.

Reducing cognitive load

By taking over repetitive and automated tasks — such as continuously monitoring camera streams — Video AI Analytics significantly reduces the cognitive burden on operators. This allows them to focus on tasks where human expertise truly matters, such as making complex decisions based on AI insights.

It remains human work

As becomes clear, Video AI Analytics is an extremely useful tool for operators. Naturally, technology does not replace them — events must always be verified by human eyes. Control room work will always require human judgment. However, AI enables operators to work more efficiently, more accurately, and with greater added value.

Where humans and technology work as a team

Introducing AI into the control room requires a holistic shift in the workplace. Changes in equipment, processes, and workflows are necessary to ensure effective collaboration between operators and AI.

Want to learn more about implementing Video AI Analytics in the control room? On Thursday, November 14, we are hosting a webinar together with vhp human performance:
“Smart Video Management in the Control Room – Where humans and technology work together as a team.”

During this webinar, we will discuss:

• Why humans naturally struggle to monitor multiple camera feeds and detect subtle changes.
• What a future-ready, sustainable, and people-focused control room looks like.
• How this contributes to a healthy work environment in which operators can excel.
• How humans and smart (AI) technology can best collaborate in the control room of the future.

You can register using the button below. Unable to attend? No problem — all registrants will receive a replay afterward.
We look forward to seeing you on November 14!

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