Operational Capability :

1. BAA Number: BAA 04 04 White Paper Control Number:  SGIB Title: Architecture for Managing Incident Information (AMII) Principle Investigator: Peter R. Stephenson 25 October 2004 Operational Capability: An underlying simplification of a data encoding standard has been developing over the past decade and is being demonstrated in our prototype, and in systems that we have knowledge of. This simplification is provably optimal in terms of encoding and data mining over relational data. A seamless integration occurs when everyone uses this optimal solution. Information assurance (IA) follows when secure channels are designed for the flow of information having this form, and the management of information becomes unencumbered by technical problems related to software incompatibilities. Legacy data can be easily harvested. Human language can be associated with structured ontologies and the means to develop these resources provided to the user. Representation of the global and specific conversation are encoded into a visual form using graph theory. Geographic and equipment data can be encoded in the same form. Information sharing develops out of need and in context, and is not inhibited by information technology infrastructure limitations. The capability is in the advanced prototype stage. Deployment and transition requires the development of a curriculum and training experience in the incident management arena. Data mining of unstructured text: One of our preliminary deployments as a taxonomy generation tool for the FCC Nine Step Process Model: Creates structural ontology through a real time measurement of information flow and uses this to faceplate the communication of all essential information Proposed Technical Approach: The problem is informational transparency within a secure environment. This problem is approached using a optimal data encoding format which has no proprietary limitations. Several existing knowledge management or information creation software products will be modified to interact with a core environment operating system based on a minimal Linux kernel and the a Ontology referential base (Orb). Telecommunications device interfaces to PocketPC and phones will be developed. Visualization software is to be integrated and user training materials developed. The approach also has a non technical human-factors aspect. Deep and broad curriculum will be developed over the concepts of knowledge creation and sharing within communities of practice. This will not be a marketing tool, but will be university curriculum participated in by faculty from several universities and form several disciplines. Cost and Schedule: §    Quarter 1: A series of workshops will be held and advanced benchmarking and feasibility tests made. Collaboration with State of Michigan departments responsible for the human factors interface to first responders. Quarter 2: Technologies will be tailored to incident command communities and first responder communities. Quarter 3: A series of workshops will be held and prototype implementations of the proposed technologies will be demonstrated and critiqued. Real world simulations will be offered and training requirements studied. Quarter 4: The prototype implementations will be updated and simulated scenario deployments demonstrated to HSARPA. A work plan for implementation and deployment of a production version of the system will be prepared and submitted for approval. First year cost: $946,000 Deliverables: Several knowledge management or data mining software systems will be integrated based on the common data encoding, called Orbs. The Prototype will develop a small distributed operating environment consisting of computers, phones and PocketPC. Training materials and educational curriculum will be developed. Specific scenario based situational ontology will be developed for re-use. Reports will be generated. Field training, test deployments and transition programs will be delivered. Contact Information: Principle Investigator: Peter R. Stephenson The Center for Regional and National Security, Eastern Michigan University peter.stephenson@emich.edu