Command and Control

The interest in using information systems for military command and emergency response has grown dramatically during the last decade. Consequently, high-level management has become concerned with efficient utilization of computer recourses to support their work. The Nature of Complex Dynamic Processes and Operations can be characterized as high-risk activities, where human and artificial team members together perform a task, which exacts extreme mobility, efficiency, agility and endurance, and where small actions or decisions may have serious and irreversible consequences for the mission as a whole. In military operations mission performance relies increasingly on distributed systems (with many team-players, widely separated, forced to co-ordinate with one another) to attain high safety and effectiveness without risking excessive resource depletion. High-capacity Command and Control support is needed to facilitate omnidirectional, continuous information flows from the chief executive level to the team-on-site levels. Sometimes even individual operators and sensor systems must without delay be allowed to affect decisions and actions of a senior commander. This is beyond reach unless novel, cutting-edge solutions can support the humans and systems engaged. 1