Using Multi-Agent Teams to Improve the Training of Incident Commanders

Abstract

The DEFACTO system is a multiagent based tool for training incident commanders for large scale disasters. In this paper, we highlight some of the lessons that we have learned from our interaction with the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) and how they have affected the way that we continued the design of our training system. These lessons were gleaned from LAFD feedback and initial training exercises and they include: system design, visualization, improving trainee situational awareness, adjusting training level of difficulty and situation scale. We have taken these lessons and used them to improve the DEFACTO system's training capabilities. We have conducted initial training exercises to illustrate the utility of the system in terms of providing useful feedback to the trainee. Copyright 2006 ACM.