IRRIIS Project Rome Workshop, 18-19 October 2006

Emergency Management Games and Emergency Management Games and Test Case Utility:Test Case Utility:

a Synthetic Methodological Socio-Cognitive Perspective

IRRIIS Project

Rome Workshop, 18-19 October 2006

IST Project N° 027568

Adam Maria Gadomski, ENEA

High-Intelligence & Decision research Group

http://erg4146.casaccia.enea.it

(The photo-figs are from the Web for illustration purposes only)

http://erg4146.casaccia.enea.it/HID/index.html

IST Project N° 027568, Oct. 18-19,2006, Rome


A.M. Gadomski, http://erg4146.casaccia.enea.it

TOPICS

1. IRRIIS Context

2. Structured methodological design of human-computer systems

3. Games paradigms - What is a game?

4. Games technologies

5. Games engine

6. Games Examples

7. Emergency Management Games

8. Once more about methodology and Test Cases utility

9. Development of Emergency Management Games

10. IRRIIS Methodological Conclusions

Some References


Context and methodological perspective [TOGA based,1]




IRRIIS Context: Development of integrated ICT tools system for the improvement of the Critical Infrastructures Protection [9].

Critical Infrastructures Protection requires and includes : engineering systems, methods (knowledge) and human capacities.

engineering systems methods (knowledge)

human capacities.

new functions new knowledge (procedures) new management

All have to be reciprocally dependent

Knowledge is the primary component which has to be: developed, designed and learned.

Knowledge (D) are: rules, models, methods, procedures, algorithms APPLICABLE in D.

Improvement relates to:

Knowledge transforms information in other information and specifies what to do in order to obtain requested states (operational knowledge) [1].


Structured methodological perspective: Knowledge -Function




Knowledge is a specification what is possible to do, but not always what a system or human is able to do in specific circumstances.

Knowledge necessary for a pre-selected goal can be:

implemented in a computer system and activated “automatically”

implemented in human mind and used and managed by humans (operators, managers).

divided between computer systems and their human users

- Every computer system function has to satisfy arbitrarily defined (but goal-oriented) criteria of: applicability, utility and usability. The last also depends on the competences of its users.

- In case of large complex systems design, the clear and explicit relations between: system functions, necessary intervention knowledge and capacities of their users have to be established.

Function [1]


Methodology of the Structured Design of Complex Systems




Function: a necessary property of system and/or process for the achieving a design goal or sub-goal.

One function can be realized by different processes.

Computing processes are realized by implemented knowledge.

Professionalknowledge

Implemented knowledge

Requested knowledge

System Design Goal

System Functions

Computer System

Functions

Human Users

Functions

Designer problem knowledge has to be encapsulated in the form of the processes which realize requested functions.

Key meaning of the definitions of concepts:

knowledge process

function goal

Explanation


Structured Design of CIP System




Requested knowledge

User Professionalknowledge

Knowledge implemented in the CIPS system

Knowledge about

interacting

User knowledge: - how to use CIPS – how to interact

What the designer team has to know - it includes [IPK,1] :

Domain/problem knowledge (DK): theory, models, methods, Domain preferences (DP) : goals, importance of sys. states, tasks hierarchy, Domain Information (DI): specific data available about the domain

Meta-knowledge necessary for DK, DP and DI allocation and implementation

have to be decomposed into:

The results have to be tested and validated in terms of. applicability, utility and usability.

Remark: Some part of meta-knowledge has to be allocated too.


Methodological Context




There are numerous heuristic methodological approaches to the design and usability testing of technology-based, human-based and human-centered large engineering systems.

See Google.

Game-based methodological framework

We evaluate the utility of

for the design,

user training and

usability assessment of a CIP system.

[IPK] – A.M.Gadomski: http://erg4146.casaccia.enea.it/wwwerg26701/gad-dict.htm

http://erg4146.casaccia.enea.it/wwwerg26701/gad-dict.htm


Games paradigms – What is a game?




Game is a human goal-oriented and semi-structured activity in a domain which is simulated or invented, when:

- goal is a’priori established in a given game domain D

- one or more players in a competition, tend (s) to achieve the goal

- the winner is this player which achieved the goal, and the game is finished

- the players possible acts/tools set is predefined and their use have to satisfy fixed, invariant and known for players game rules

Usually, the game problem is not the real-life problem of the player but is accepted voluntary for entertainment, learning or training.

Goal is a static or dynamic state of the domain of activity which one or more agents/players tend to achieve.

Definition & key properties


Games paradigms [TOGA based,1]



A.M. Gadomski, http:erg4146.casaccia.enea.it

Main essential concepts

1. game domain D 2. initial state of D 3. game goal in D 4. players 5. possible acts/tools set 6. game rules set

Each of them can be specialized and complicated, and, in such way, we have enormous number of different types of games.

For example, we distinguish the games dependent on the nature of D and the number of players.

One player Multi-player

Physical domain Static or dynamic Static or dynamic

Virtual domain Static or dynamic Static or dynamic

Virtual domain can be simulated or invented (it is in computer games).


Games technology




There are four basic categories of computer games:

• Entertainment games,

• Educational games and role-playing game (RPG),

• Training games mainly military games (for skill & strategic knowledge acquisition)

• Discovery/analysis games (for information and rule knowledge acquisition) .

Games development and game technology are strongly marked driven.

"The books on computer games do not have an academic basis, they are books promoting learning by doing, with nothing on <game> design theory - none of the writing in this field is based on design research" Dr Manolya Kavakli.

Computer gaming is an industry worth $20 billion worldwide - it's bigger than Hollywood.

In practice any computer game theory do not exist yet.


Computer Game Engines [5]




Visual componentsAdvanced game engines such as Unreal Engine 3, the Doom 3 engine, CryENGINE2, RenderWare, Gamebryo, and Visual3D.NET provide a suite of visual development tools :• Image building 3D• Movement animation,• Voice synthesis• other multimedia tools.AI components (middleware), for the increasing of the autonomy of the components of the simulated “synthetic worlds”.

Some sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_and_video_game_genres

Essential aspects: - only visual information is semi-complete

- other information choice is designer-driven.

Computer games architectures are usually unknown but all include, so called, “game engines”.

They are sets of tools and components for the configurations of game domain and player’s acts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_and_video_game_genres

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_and_video_game_genres





Computer Game Engines – Components Examples

Engenuity Inc , 2006Simulation Engine (SIM)- The SIM is composed of five major components:

Entities Model Managers Entity Manager Scenario Manager Real-Time Controller (RTC)

-------------------------------------


Games Examples




Education/Learning: Immune attack is an educational video game created by FAS (The Federation of American Scientists). The goal of the game is to engage students in one of the complicated biology topics, immunology. Instead of reading from classroom textbooks, students can play the video game and they can learn the concept of immunology in an excited way. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060921205003.htm

A Game for Public Education about Emergencies (in development)

FEMA, The Center for the Application of Science and Technology to Emergency Management is developing computer games that teach the public emergency management techniques. ''Saving Lives: The Emergency Management Game'' will be designed for 3 types of users: 1. children aged 5 to 9,

2. older children and teens, and

3. adults.

5 levels of play are: 1. hazard awareness, 2. preparedness actions, 3. warning responses, 4. event behavior, and 5. recovery behavior.

US Emergency Games - few in preparation yet (announced)


Games Examples




Incident Commander is a PC-based software simulation that models real-world situations within a community, allowing for training at the management level for a critical incident. It is based upon the command structure mandated by FEMA in its rules for National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance, notably the Incident Command System.

BreakAway will release a version that will support live drills in

2007.

City Building Game


Emergency Management Game




We are interested in:

training and discovery games. One player (or multi-player) with the multi-layer symbolic domain: simulated, dynamic which includes autonomous socio-cognitive components.

1. game domain D 1.1 Multi-layer 1.2 Events-scenario driven 1.3. Reactive, inf. source 1.4. soc-cog comp.

2. initial D state 2.1 Abnormal event 2.2 Initial information 2.3. Repetitive 2.4 Modifiable

3. g- goal in D 3.1 Service maintain 3.2 Service activation 3.3 Min. losses 3.4 End emergency

4. players 4.1 Operator 4.2 Manager staff members*

4.3 Policymaker (?)/ User

4.4 Organizations

5. acts/tools set 5.1 Control procedures/act 5.2. Role dep. tasks list 5.3 Communication tools 5.4 Cooperation

6. game rules 6.1 levels of competences 6.2 D partially/fully visible 6.4 Uncertain informat. 6.5 Undo function

Example of top requirements for an emergency game system

Key AttributesMeta-Properties


Types of Emergency Games




Possible types of the Emergency Games according to

user types:

Public education

Emergency operators

Emergency managers

Mixed

emergency domain:

Industrial Infrastructures

Critical Services Infrastructure

Territorial Emergency

Mixed

Two Approaches to Structured Design Methodology for EM GameBottom-up: Incremental, by the design of selected independent components on the requested level of detail/accuracy.

Top-down: Iterative specialization of all recognized component from a general (very simple) representation to their specializations (complication) up to the requested level of details.

For new challenging complex and high-risk projects [7] – Top-down is suggested [1]


Validation of the Product using Test Case




The proper choice and application of test-cases is essential for the validation of an EM game.

In general, test-case based validation is important component of the development methodology of every complex socio-technological systems [10].

Test-case is an event scenario, real or invented, but similar to the reality and on the assumed explicitly details level, where have to be known:

- one or more proper interventions sequence(s) leading to the goal (not too long).

- maximal negative consequences of not proper player(s) actions

It has to involve most typical and most danger events for the analyzed class of emergency.

Test-case methodology is based on the test-case life-cycle, which includes the test case : definition, implementation, application for simulation, and modifications.

Test-case has to consider the influence of socio-cognitive factors of the players/(system users), their cognitive capacities, requested competences, risk perception, ethical rules (especially important for EM operators/actors) [ 8].


Test Case Application




Hardware: Mobile Command Station

Test case simulations serve for the improvement of the the game and , in parallel, for the increasing of strategic and skill knowledge of the player.

Therefore in the case of the repetitive lack of players’ success, the knowledge allocation have to be changed:

Requested knowledge

User Professionalknowledge

Knowledge implemented in the CIPS system

Knowledge about

interacting User knowledge: - how to use CIPS – how to interact

In consequence, the incremental top-down methodology is suggested





Game rules activated in the Event-Action Scenario (EAS)

A rule& tool under development

Tools used in an action of player

Org.LayerOL

CybLayerCL

PhysLayerPL

Org.LayerOL

CybLayerCL

Phys.LayerPL

I –criteria for the interpretation of EM game states.

Players Interfaces

Simulation Agent

Tool Modif.. Agent

Scenarios Base

Game Domain Scenario Simulator

Rules Base

Game Engine

Tools Base

OL CL PL

Configuration Agent

Rules Control Agent

Domain component Editor Agent

Help & Interpreter Agent

OL CL PL

Game state Interpreter criteria

More explanations [2]

Example of EM Game

Architecture


Conclusions




The conclusions of this preliminary problem recognition can be synthesized by the following observations and questions related to IIRRIS:

1. So complex engineering system as IRRIIS requires a top-down goal-oriented “ unified view”, it means, a conceptualization platform (metaontology) and methodology for its application , for example, by application of the TOGA (Top-down Object-based Goal-oriented Approach) metatheory [1] and the ISE (Implementation – Service –Effect) metamodel [ 7 ],[ 9] for the specialization of CIP networks and especially for SimCIP (Simulation for Critical Infrastructure Protection) development.

2. This Unified View can use a generalized game conceptual framework or/and game technologies focused on the development of an integrated intelligent CIP system. – But the utility of such instrument has to result from goal-oriented top-down requirements and bottom-up constrains.

3. The technical objectives of IRRIIS are limited by time and resources therefore, in natural manner it has to be applicative but also transitional. For example, the Emergency Management Game inserted in the CIP Intelligent Grid can be a routine tool after 15 years.

4. Test case life-cycle methodology should be explicitly included in the IRRIIS Unified View.

In general, I would like to suggest to organize a separate meeting or a session focused on the top-down methodological and metamodelling view on IIRRIS from two interrelated viewpoints: - a general - long term, maybe related to WP1.2 - a specific - short term/realistic, related to the concretization of the IIRRIS goals related to the project software products (middleware) and mindware ( http://erg4146.casaccia.enea.it/mindware/index.html).

“the Unified View is a vehicle to facilitate co-operation in the project and to reach all IRRIIS goals.” [U.Beyer, F.Flentge, 9]

Hypothetical future Vision




Thanks

Some references


Some References




[1] A.M.Gadomski, TOGA Systemic Approach to the Global Specification - Sophocles Project Report, 2002 (pdf) [2] A.M.Gadomski, V. Rosato, Universal Top SYNTEX Functional Functional Architecture : Architecture Building, 2006 http://erg4146.casaccia.enea.it/IRRIIS-ORG/Copia%20di%20IRR-SYNTEX-F-Architecture5b.ppt[3] Jean Caussanel (LSIS),- UMR CNRS 6168 –Paul Cézanne University, Communications Functional Group -Survey on current CFG situation[4] Game – Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game[5] Game engine – Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_engine[6] Computer game- Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_game[7] U. Beyer,F.Flentge, Towards a Holistic Metamodel for Systems of Critical Infrastructures,https://bscw.sit.fraunhofer.de/bscw/bscw.cgi/d783855/ECN_ISE_Model_PRELIMINARY.pdf[8] A.M.Gadomski, Vulnerability of Human Organizations: ENEA’s Research, The US-CAMO Workshop on Complex Networks and Infrastructure Protection, 2006. Rome[9] U.Beyer, F.Flentge, IRRIIS Unified View on Critical Infrastructures (draft),July 2006,https://bscw.sit.fraunhofer.de/bscw/bscw.cgi/d725239/IRRIIS_CI-View.doc

[10] L. Lucio, L. Pedro , D. Buchs, A Methodology and a Framework for Model-Based Testing, in book .Rapid Integration of Software Engineering Techniques ,, Springer, Volume 3475/2005

http://hid.casaccia.enea.it/RepSoph-v10.pdf

http://erg4146.casaccia.enea.it/SOPHOCLES/index.html

http://erg4146.casaccia.enea.it/SOPHOCLES/index.html

http://hid.casaccia.enea.it/Rep-Sof-Global-v10.pdf

http://hid.casaccia.enea.it/RepSoph-v10.pdf

http://hid.casaccia.enea.it/RepSoph-Global-v10.pdf

http://erg4146.casaccia.enea.it/IRRIIS-ORG/Copia%20di%20IRR-SYNTEX-F-Architecture5b.ppt

http://www.liophant.org/piovra/ppt/piovra_caussanel.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_engine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_engine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_game

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_game


IRRIIS Project Rome Workshop, 18-19 October 2006

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Transcript of IRRIIS Project Rome Workshop, 18-19 October 2006