Facilitating Disaster Knowledge Management with Agent-Based Modelling

In developed countries, for recurring disasters (e.g. floods), there are dedicated document repositories of Disaster Management Plans (DISPLANs) that can be accessed as needs arise. Nevertheless, accessing the appropriate plan in a timely manner and sharing activities between plans often requires domain knowledge and intimate knowledge of the plans in the first place. In this paper, we introduce an Agent-Based (AB) knowledge analysis framework to convert DISPLANs into a collection of knowledge units that can be stored in a unified repository. The repository of DM actions then enables the mixing and matching knowledge between different plans. The repository is structured as a layered abstraction according to Meta Object Facility (MOF) to allow the free flow access to the knowledge across the layers. We use the flood DISPLAN of the SES (State Emergency Service), an authoritative DM agency in NSW (New State Wales) State of Australia to illustrate and validate the developed framework

Integration of decision support systems to improve decision support performance

Decision support system (DSS) is a well-established research and development area. Traditional isolated, stand-alone DSS has been recently facing new challenges. In order to improve the performance of DSS to meet the challenges, research has been actively carried out to develop integrated decision support systems (IDSS). This paper reviews the current research efforts with regard to the development of IDSS. The focus of the paper is on the integration aspect for IDSS through multiple perspectives, and the technologies that support this integration. More than 100 papers and software systems are discussed. Current research efforts and the development status of IDSS are explained, compared and classified. In addition, future trends and challenges in integration are outlined. The paper concludes that by addressing integration, better support will be provided to decision makers, with the expectation of both better decisions and improved decision making processes

Towards a Common Language of Infrastructure Interdependency

Infrastructure systems can exist interdependently with one another either by design, necessity or evolution. There is evidence that interdependencies can be the source of emergent benefits and hazards, and therefore there is value in their identification and management. Achieving this requires collaboration and communication between infrastructure stakeholders across all relevant sectors. Recognising, developing and sharing multiple understandings of infrastructure interdependency and dependency will facilitate a wide range of multi-disciplinary and cross-sectorial work and support productive stakeholder dialogues. This paper therefore aims to initiate discussion around the nature of infrastructure interdependency and dependency in order to establish the basis of a useful, coherent and complete conceptual taxonomy. It sets out an approach for locating this taxonomy and language within a framework of commonplace stakeholder viewpoints. The paper looks at the potential structural arrangements of infrastructure interdependencies before exploring the qualitative ways in which the relationships can be characterised. This builds on the existing body of knowledge as well as experience through case studies in developing an Interdependency Planning and Management Framework for Infrastructure

Agent-Based Perception of an Environment in an Emergency Situation

We are interested in the problem of multiagent systems development for risk detecting and emergency response in an uncertain and partially perceived environment. The evaluation of the current situation passes by three stages inside the multiagent system. In a first time, the situation is represented in a dynamic way. The second step, consists to characterise the situation and finally, it is compared with other similar known situations. In this paper, we present an information modelling of an observed environment, that we have applied on the RoboCupRescue Simulation System. Information coming from the environment are formatted according to a taxonomy and using semantic features. The latter are defined thanks to a fine ontology of the domain and are managed by factual agents that aim to represent dynamically the current situation

Customising agent based analysis towards analysis of disaster management knowledge

© 2016 Dedi Iskandar Inan, Ghassan Beydoun and Simon Opper. In developed countries such as Australia, for recurring disasters (e.g. floods), there are dedicated document repositories of Disaster Management Plans (DISPLANs), and supporting doctrine and processes that are used to prepare organisations and communities for disasters. They are maintained on an ongoing cyclical basis and form a key information source for community education, engagement and awareness programme in the preparation for and mitigation of disasters. DISPLANS, generally in semi-structured text document format, are then accessed and activated during the response and recovery to incidents to coordinate emergency service and community safety actions. However, accessing the appropriate plan and the specific knowledge within the text document from across its conceptual areas in a timely manner and sharing activities between stakeholders requires intimate domain knowledge of the plan contents and its development. This paper describes progress on an ongoing project with NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) to convert DISPLANs into a collection of knowledge units that can be stored in a unified repository with the goal to form the basis of a future knowledge sharing capability. All Australian emergency services covering a wide range of hazards develop DISPLANs of various structure and intent, in general the plans are created as instances of a template, for example those which are developed centrally by the NSW and Victorian SES’s State planning policies. In this paper, we illustrate how by using selected templates as part of an elaborate agent-based process, we can apply agent-oriented analysis more efficiently to convert extant DISPLANs into a centralised repository. The repository is structured as a layered abstraction according to Meta Object Facility (MOF). The work is illustrated using DISPLANs along the flood-prone Murrumbidgee River in central NSW

Developing strategic initiatives through Triple Helix interactions:systems modelling for policy development

Public policy problems are socially complex due to a range of stakeholders who involve in the coordinated action. They are also often not stable due to situation changes or stakeholders’ behavior changes. Holistic thinking is actually required to solve a public policy problem, which is generally non-linear and highly complicated, through collaborative efforts across organizational boundaries. The approach of systems modelling offers an option for formulating and rehearsing strategic initiatives to resolve the problems in a systematic, structured and accountable. This paper presents an innovative effort to implement a triple helix model for supporting the development of national policies using systems modelling approaches initiated by the President’s Delivery Unit for Development Monitoring and Oversight (UKP-PPP) of Republic Indonesia and the School of Business and Management, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB). Series of workshops have been initiated to facilitate communication and cooperation among researchers in academic institutions, practitioners in industry and business, and decision makers in government. Analyzing this finding and interactions that occurred among stakeholders during the workshops, a model of Triple Helix interactions is formulated. In addition to known interaction between university and industry, interaction between university and government on policy development through the channel of state-owned research and development agencies was identified. Not only promoting systems modelling as a methodology in policy development, the workshops also provided evidence on the importance of having a holistic or systemic approach in formulating policies to address a complex national problem that requires interactions among stakeholders