Computerized information collection and training method and apparatus

A method of assessing an operator of mobile equipment in which information relating to at least one observable scene is collected during mobile equipment operator assessment, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving plural location data on a continuous basis as the mobile equipment moves, each location datum corresponding to a different one of plural locations of the mobile equipment,
• capturing image data relating to said scene or scenes as the mobile equipment moves,
• receiving by way of input means external observation information relating to the at least one observable scene and to operation of the mobile equipment by the operator, the observation information being received from an observer on an intermittent basis as the mobile equipment moves such that the observation information is received at fewer than all of the plural locations of the mobile equipment corresponding to the plural location data,
• and storing in computing apparatus each of the plural location data, the image data and the intermittent observation information with respective synchronisation data, the received intermittent observation information being stored with its synchronisation data in a different data structure to the location and image data and their synchronisation data to thereby provide for synchronisation of each of image data and observation information with location data upon retrieval of image data, observation information and location data from the storage means.

Apparatus for preparing a computer-based route training or identification program in relation to a route to be undertaken by an operator of mobile equipment, said apparatus comprising

• computing apparatus,
• location sensing means operative to provide plural location data on a continuous basis as the mobile equipment moves, each location datum corresponding to a different one of plural locations of the mobile equipment,
• image capturing means operative to capture image data relating to said route as the mobile equipment moves,
• and input means associated with said computing apparatus configured to receive external input of observation information from an observer on an intermittent basis as the mobile equipment moves such that the observation information is received at fewer than all of the plural locations of the mobile equipment corresponding to the plural location data, the received observation information relating to said route and to operation of the mobile equipment by an operator,
• the computing apparatus being adapted to receive and store each of the plural location data, the image data and the intermittent observation information with respective synchronisation data, the observation information being stored with its synchronisation data in a different data structure to the location and image data and their synchronisation data to thereby provide for synchronisation of each of image data and observation information with location data upon retrieval of image data, observation information and location data from the storage means during compilation of a computer-based training program based on said data and information.