
	Pacific Rim Visualization and Analytics Center University of Washington Enhancing Distributed Collaborative Decision-Making

Resources

Just-In-Time Command and Control Center (JITC3)

System Overview

The JITC3 visualization system uses GIS data to generate a cohesive geo-spatial representation of an urban environment that can be navigated and manipulated using Augmented Reality. JITC3 makes use of an intuitive, tangible interface to navigate and view location-specific perspectives. Users of the system manipulate a set of ARToolKit markers augmented by 3D maps with geotagged locations containing images, video, audio, and text. Additionally, the user can interact with the geotagged information via a pointing device (also tagged with an AR marker) which allows for manipulation by scooping, pointing, passing, and zooming.

Dispersed throughout the incident area are the Field Responder Units. These first responders may be medics, firefighters, police, hazmat, or field observers, validating information and sending back status reports. Each Field Responder is equipped with a GPS SmartPhone. The SmartPhone user interface isdesigned to be simple and intuitive. It is assumed that users will be under both time constraints and stress. Every 30 seconds, the mobile device will automatically communicate its GPS coordinates, a time stamp, and direction travelling. The Field Responder also has the ability to send updates via text, picture, video and to send e-mail.

Implementation

In addition to black-and-white tracking markers printed on a standard desktop printer and a standard graphics-enabled laptop computer, the current JITC3 implementation integrates the following low-cost commercial products:

The JITC3 is currently undergoing field trials for validation and iterative design.

Benefits

Effective and timely emergency response operations demand that distributed groups of people work together with a common awareness of an emerging situation. Timely and accessible communication must take place between field responders and the incident command, to support quick and effective decision making, and to enable the rapid recognition of emerging patterns in high-level geospatial data.

The JITC3 aims to provide a flexible, portable command post for deployment with emergency response personnel which will optimize situational awareness and responder flow during an ongoing urban event.

JITC3: The JITC3 incorporates low-cost augmented reality techniques to provide a mobile Just-In-Time command center for response coordinators in the field. The ARToolkit-based command view shows real-time movement and data from live resources within a 3D exocentric view of the critical incident area, updated by field personnel via handheld GPS-enabled devices.

Collaborators

Pacific Rim Visualization and Analytics Center (PARVAC)
ARToolworks, Inc.
Changetools, Inc.