Using I-X Process Panels as Intelligent To-Do Lists for Agent Coordination in Emergency Response

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to describe the I-X system with its principal user interface, the I-X Process Panel, its underlying ontology, <I-N-C-A>, and how this panel can be used as an intelligent to-do list that assists emergency responders in applying pre-defined standard operating procedures in different types of emergencies. In particular, multiple instances of I-X Process Panels can be used as a distributed system to coordinate the efforts of independent emergency responders as well as responders within the same organization. Furthermore, it can be used as an agent wrapper for other software systems, such as web services, to integrate these into the emergency response team as virtual members. The heart of the I-X system is an automated planner that can be used to synthesize courses of action or explore alternative options manually.

In the Co-OPR project that is currently underway the I-X framework has been used to develop a prototypical application to support training exercises for personnel recovery. This paper will describe some of the initial findings that are the result of an experiment conducted to evaluate the suitability and extent to which personnel recovery trainees and trainers can be supported by I-X in so-called “Command Post Exercises”. The result shows that an I-X application can be usefully used in such a scenario eliminating some of the basic problems that often occur.