Title: Search algorithm for optimal execution of incident commander guidance in macro action planning

Authors: Reza Nourjou; Hirokazu Tatano; Hossein Aghamohammadi

Addresses: Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan ' Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan ' Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, Science and Research Branch, IAU, Tehran 1477893855, Iran

Abstract: This paper presents a state space search algorithm that solves the optimal execution problem of incident commander's guidance during disaster emergency management. To achieve a joint goal, the IC should select the best choice, as an optimal strategic decision, from available alternatives in a definite time. A strategic decision coordinates/controls macro actions of a team of field units by constraining a subteam to a subgoal in sublocation in a time window; moreover a sequence of strategic decisions generates a macro action plan that defines howto reach the goal. Three results are achieved by running this algorithm for a scenario: (1) calculate an optimal macro action plan; (2) estimate a minimum total time to achieve a joint goal and (3) reason about the best choice. We applied our approach to develop an intelligent software system (autonomous agent) for assisting the human in crisis response to earthquake disaster.

Keywords: state space search algorithm; multi-agent planning; disaster response; emergency response; crisis response; incident commander; optimal decision making; human strategy execution; action planning; emergency management; intelligent software; autonomous agents; earthquakes; agent-based systems; multi-agent systems; MAS.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISTA.2015.074335

International Journal of Intelligent Systems Technologies and Applications, 2015 Vol.14 No.3/4, pp.354 - 384

Received: 11 May 2015
Accepted: 22 Oct 2015
Published online: 22 Jan 2016 *

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