DYNAMIC DISCRETE DECISION SIMULATION SYSTEM

• US 20100100510A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• Original Assignee: University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• Inventors: Wu, Shengnan, Shuman, Larry J., Balaban, Carey, Sochats, Kenneth M., Bidanda, Bopaya, Kelley, Matthew Henry
• Granted Patent: US 8,204,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 7/08 using chaos models or non-linear system models

Abstract

A system that enables dynamic discrete decision simulation is provided. Simulation has many advantages in modeling complex systems to facilitate decision making. The innovation discloses a system that integrates an agent-based discrete event simulator, a geographic information system, a rule base, and interactive databases in addition to interfaces and other supporting components. The modules can seamlessly communicate with each other by exchanging a progression of data, and by making a series of deductive decisions through embedded algorithms. The integrated system can be applied to disaster management planning and training.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates dynamic discrete simulation of an event, comprising:

an information gathering component that dynamically obtains information from a plurality of agents; and

an analyzer component that evaluates the information and facilitates communication of a subset of the information to a subset of the agents, wherein the subset of the agents facilitates generation of a simulation of the event.

2. The system of claim 1, the plurality of agents includes a graphical information system (GIS) component, a simulator component, and a decision model component.

3. The system of claim 2, the GIS component provides data associated with at least one of topology, geographic features, transportation routes, buildings, population, or resources that enable generation of the simulation.

4. The system of claim 3, the GIS component is an ESRI-brand (Environmental Systems Research Institute) ArcEngine component.

5. The system of claim 2, the simulator component employs the decision model to establish a progressive simulation of the event.

6. The system of claim 5, the simulator is a Rockwell-brand Arena simulator.

7. The system of claim 2, the decision model component includes a plurality of rules that codify at least one of standards, training procedures, best practices, exercises for first responders, exercises for dispatchers, exercises for civilians, research on terrorists or environmental factors.

8. The system of claim 7, the plurality of rules is predetermined.

9. The system of claim 7, the plurality of rules is inferred by way of one of an artificial intelligence or machine learning &

reasoning mechanism.

10. The system of claim 7, the decision model component employs an SQL database management system to store and retrieve each of the plurality of rules.

11. The system of claim 1, the event is at least one of a natural disaster, a terrorist event, an accident/event caused by human error or an accident/event caused by mechanical failure.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising an interface component that enables a user to at least one of configure a subset of the information or view the simulation.

13. The system of claim 12, the interface component illustrates classification of evacuees associated with the event.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the analyzer component adjusts in an ad-hoc manner as a function of entity decision, involvement or behavior.

15. A computer-implemented method of discretely simulating an event, comprising:

delineating geographic and resource criteria;

generating a database table as a function of a subset of the criteria;

establishing a decision model based upon the database table; and

generating a simulation of the event as a function of the decision model.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising checkpointing progress of the event into the database table.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, further comprising dynamically updating the simulation based upon the progress of the event.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, the event is at least one of a natural disaster, a terrorist incident, an accident/event caused by human error or an accident/event caused by mechanical failure.

19. A computer-executable system of dynamically simulating an event, comprising:

means for establishing topology of an area affected by the event;

means for establishing availability of a plurality of resources in the area affected by the event;

means for generating a decision model based upon the topology and a subset of the resources; and

means for simulating effect of the event on the area based upon the decision model.

20. The computer-executable system of claim 19, further comprising means for dynamically updating the decision model as a function of progress associated with the event.