Chemical/Biological Plume Analysis Knowledge Source (CPAKS)

Rapid determination of a contaminated area's location, size and toxicity is imperative for prompt situational assessment of a chemical/biological incident. The fastest method of predicting a contaminated area's characteristics is by simulating the path of the toxic plume using fluid flow analysis in conjunction with the forecasted weather conditions. The timeliness of this information is critical to the selection of a plan of action to be taken in response to such an incident. The simulations that solve the partial differential equations describing the fluid flow of the chemical/biological contaminants are a function of the weather, the terrain and the scale of the area of interest. Modeling and simulation software packages, such as Hazard Prediction and Assessment Capability (HPAC), provide very good simulations. However, the results of these stand-alone simulations need to be integrated into a command and control architecture, such as that envisioned by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Joint Battlespace Infosphere. This Chemical/biological Plume Analysis Knowledge Source (CPAKS) is a critical step towards total integration of these simulations into a command and control schema based on an agent technology. CPAKS allows for automatic scenario generation and dynamic real time updating of the incident state based on the best available knowledge. The original document contains color images.