Reporting location and environmental features when using metal detector or probe in a simplified mine detection task

In this paper, the activities involved in searching for buried items with technical aids are explored. The domain of exploration is topical because it can be applied to the search for explosive devices by military and security forces, the ergonomics of which have received relatively little attention. A study is presented which tests the hypothesis that search involves separate cognitive processes for recognising locations and features. It is shown that, while both forms of search tested (i.e., using a trowel or a metal detector) perform similarly when considering location, the recall of features is impaired when using the metal detector. This is interpreted as evidence of different search strategies and information processing in the two conditions.