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There were eight tasks, all disaster scenarios set in a simplified
Monroe County, New York state. The tasks were created by the
experimenter and attempted by researchers in the University of
Rochester before being assigned to participants. They varied quite
widely in difficulty, but even the simplest task was too complex to be
understood and completed in ten minutes by a typical person working alone.
(Interestingly, although these tasks are much more complex than those
handled in many previous collection efforts, they still do not reflect
the size of real-world disaster-handling tasks such as the snow storm
that occurred in Rochester around the time of the data collection.)
The Monroe domain is designed to encourage collaborative
problem-solving and mixed-initiative interaction. The world in this
domain has a large number of objects (e.g. roads, people, vehicles,
crews and equipment). Emergencies include car accidents, requests for
medical assistance, civil disorder, and natural occurrences such as
flooding and snow storms. Resources at the dialogue participants'
disposal may include road crews, electric crews, buses, snow plows,
ambulances, police units and helicopters.
Our tasks involve coordinating the solutions to several different
problems, some of which interfere with each other and all of which are
subject to time constraints. If the first task was completed, we
sometimes gave participants new information that necessitated
re-planning. The range of tasks and complexity of the world allow
participants to exploit different styles of problem-solving and make
plans at various levels of granularity.
Care was taken to ensure that both participants had responsibility for
the solution of the task, and to encourage mixed-initiative
interactions. While the initial task was given to only one
participant, the other participant was instructed that final control
for the task would be theirs. This participant was therefore given
responsibility for summarizing the plan. Furthermore, if a new task
was assigned it was given to this participant.
Video data is available that can be used to analyze how people use
maps and make notes to aid planning. However, we did not use this
data in our own work.
Tasks
This is the information given for each of the eight tasks. The general information given to all subjects
appears at the end of the page.
1. There are three school buses, two at the Pittsford fire station and
one at the Irondequoit police station. There is also one helicopter at
Strong Memorial hospital. There are two medivac crews, one at the
Chili fire station and one at the fire station in Penfield.
Neither has transport of their own.
Because of an approaching storm, houses along the lake are being
evacuated. There are 70 people at the end of route 261, 35 at the end
of highway 390N and 30 at the end of highway 590N. One person at the
end of route 261 is ill (needs immediate transportation to a hospital)
and one at the end of highway 590N is handicapped and so cannot ride
the bus.
Your task is to get all the people to safety as fast as possible.
Flooding is expected and will reach all lakeshore areas in 3 hours.
There is a shelter at the Irondequoit police station to which people
can be moved. The ill person must be transported to a hospital.
Transport-type |
Number |
Location |
bus |
2 |
Pittsford fire station |
bus |
1 |
Irondequoit police station |
helicopter |
1 |
Strong Memorial hosp. |
Transports
Number |
Status |
Location |
69 |
healthy |
Rte. 261 |
1 |
ill |
Rte. 261 |
35 |
healthy |
Hwy. 390N |
29 |
healthy |
Hwy. 590N |
1 |
handicapped |
Hwy. 590N |
Locations of people
2. There has been a bomb attack at the airport, and as a result there
are 6 injured people there, 3 of whom are on stretchers. In addition,
there is an individual with a heart attack at Marketplace Mall, and
one with a broken leg in Highland park. Your task is to transport all
patients to hospitals as soon as possible, considering their stability
and feasible transports.
There are two ambulances and one helicopter at Strong Memorial
hospital. Emergency crews for all transports are also at Strong.
The helicopter can land only at the airport and Strong. Patients can
be transported to St. Mary's or to Strong, but St. Mary's doesn't have
a cardiac care center.
Number |
Status |
Location |
3 |
walking wounded |
Roch. Int. airport |
3 |
stretcher-bound |
Roch. Int. airport |
1 |
stretcher-bound |
Marketplace Mall |
1 |
walking wounded |
Highland park |
Locations of people
Transport |
Number |
Location |
ambulance |
2 |
Strong Memorial hosp. |
helicopter |
1 |
Strong Memorial hosp. |
Transports
3. There are two road crews, one each at the airport and Gates Center.
There are two electrical crews at the main RGE plant on route 33 at
route 33A. All crews have trucks and equipment.
As a result of an ice storm, roads are out at the highway 490 bridge
over the river, Beahan Rd. (near the airport), and route 383 at route
252A. Major electric lines are down at route 383 at route 252A,
Highland Ave, and Beahan Rd. At route 383 the line is lying across the
road.
Your task is to make a plan to fix all roads and major electric lines
as soon as possible.
Roads must be fixed before electric lines can be fixed, but if a line
is lying across the road the electric power must be shut off by an
electric crew at the two nearest intersections before the road is
fixed (this takes 20 minutes). It takes 2 hours to fix an electric
line and 4 to fix a road.
Location |
Road out |
Electric lines down |
Line across road |
490 bridge |
yes |
no |
no |
Beahan Rd. |
yes |
yes |
no |
Rte. 383 and Rte. 252A |
yes |
yes |
yes |
Highland Ave. |
no |
yes |
no |
Locations of ice storm problems
Crew |
Number |
Repair time |
Location |
road |
1 |
4 hours |
Roch. Int. airport |
road |
1 |
4 hours |
Gates Center |
electric |
2 |
2 hours |
Rte. 33 and Rte. 33A |
Crews available
4. As a result of an ice storm, roads are out at the Elmwood bridge,
Thurston Rd, route 383 at Brooks Ave., and highway 490 at the inner loop
(at Thurston Rd. and the Elmwood bridge digging will be required).
Major electric lines are down at route 383 at Brooks, and route 31 at
highway 390. At route 31 the line is lying across the road.
There is an individual on oxygen at route 383 just past route 252A; a
generator must reach this person before their emergency battery
expires in 3 hours. There is an individual with pneumonia at Main St.
and East Ave. (route 33A and route 96) who needs to be taken to
hospital as soon as possible.
Your task is to make a plan to take care of the individuals in need
and get the roads fixed and the major electrical lines repaired as
soon as possible.
There are two road crews, one at the municipal building on Main St.
and East Ave., and one at the airport. There are three electrical
crews, all at the main RGE plant on route 33 at route
33A. There is one mobile emergency generator, currently at Strong
Memorial hospital, and one truck with equipment for digging, currently
at the main RGE plant. The crews have all other necessary equipment.
There is an ambulance (with crew) at Strong.
Roads must be fixed before electric lines can be fixed, but if a line
is lying across the road the electric power must be shut off by an
electric crew at the two nearest intersections before the road is
fixed (this takes 20 minutes). It takes 2 hours to fix a section of
road and 1 1/2 hours to fix a power line. To dig takes a maximum of 1
hour.
Location |
Road out |
Electric line down |
Other |
Elmwood bridge |
yes |
no |
digging required |
Thurston Rd. |
yes |
no |
digging required |
Rte 383 and Brooks Ave. |
yes |
yes |
person near location |
Hwy 490 and inner loop |
yes |
no |
|
Rte. 31 and Hwy 390 |
no |
yes |
line across road |
Main St. and East Ave. |
no |
no |
person at location |
Locations of ice storm problems
Type |
Number |
Repair time |
Location |
Road crew |
1 |
2 hrs. |
Main St. and East Ave. |
Road crew |
1 |
2 hrs. |
Roch. Int. airport |
Electric crew |
3 |
1 1/2 hrs. |
Rte. 33 and Rte. 33A |
Generator |
1 |
- |
Strong Memorial hosp. |
Digging truck |
1 |
1 hr. |
Rte. 33 and Rte. 33A |
Ambulance |
1 |
- |
Strong Memorial hosp. |
Crews and equipment
5. There has been a major snow storm, resulting in burst water mains
and downed power lines. The city has a routine schedule for plowing
the roads; you have three snow plows for emergency use to clear roads
for repairs. You also have two road crews to fix water mains and three
electric crews to fix downed power lines. The snow plows and road
crews are at the main municipal garage on Main St. and East Ave. (the
intersection of route 33A and route 96); the electric crews are at RGE
on route 33 at route 33A. There is one machine for digging
underground, also at RGE.
The locations of major downed power lines are: route 252 at the river,
East Ave. at highway 590, route 286 at highway 590, Monroe Ave. (route
31) at Highland Ave., and route 65 at route 253. The
locations of broken water mains are: highway 490 at the inner loop,
route 253 at route 65, highway 386 at route 104, East Ave.
at Culver Rd., and the airport (which has priority). At route 252
and Highland Ave. the lines are on the road.
There are three people in wheelchairs dependent on electricity, two at
East Ave. between highway 590 and N. Goodman, and one at route 383
next to route 252 (route 252 electric line); if electricity can not be
restored to them in 3 hours an ambulance must be sent to fetch them.
There is an ambulance (with crew) at Strong.
Roads must be fixed before electric lines can be fixed, but if a line
is lying across the road the electric power must be shut off by an
electric crew at the two nearest intersections before the road is
fixed (this takes 20 minutes). A road must be plowed before any
service vehicles can proceed along it. You can assume all major roads
(roads with numbers) are already plowed. It takes 3 hours to fix a
water pipe (including digging), 1 hour to fix a power line, and 10
minutes to plow 1 mile of road.
Your task is to get the power lines and water mains fixed, taking into
account local priorities.
Location |
Water main |
Power line |
Other |
Rte. 386 and Rte. 104 |
yes |
no |
|
East Ave. and Culver Rd. |
yes |
no |
|
Rte. 252 at river |
no |
yes |
person at location, |
|
|
|
line across road |
East Ave. and Hwy. 590 |
no |
yes |
2 people at location |
Rte. 286 and Hwy. 590 |
no |
yes |
|
Monroe Ave. and Highland Ave. |
no |
yes |
line across road |
Rte. 65 and Rte. 253 |
yes |
yes |
|
Hwy. 490 at inner loop |
yes |
no |
|
Roch. Int. airport |
yes |
no |
|
Locations of disturbances
Equipment |
Number |
Repair time |
Location |
Snow plow |
3 |
10min/mile |
West Main St. and East Ave. |
Road crew |
2 |
3 hrs. |
West Main St. and East Ave. |
Electric crew |
3 |
1 hr. |
Rte. 33 and Rte. 33A |
Digging machine |
1 |
- |
Rte. 33 and Rte. 33A |
Ambulance |
1 |
- |
Strong Memorial hosp. |
Crews and equipment
6. There has been an ice storm which has left power lines down and
roads blocked by trees. Your job is to get the roads cleared and the
power lines fixed as fast as possible, bearing in mind the importance
of roads and locations of hospitals.
There are power lines down on Elmwood Ave. at S. Clinton, highway 590
at East Ave. (route 96), highway 390 at Mt. Hope Ave., and Genesee St.
There are trees down at Genesee St., Mt. Hope Ave. at Highland Park,
route 252 at Marketplace Mall, route 383 at route 252A, and
highway 590 at East Ave.
Downed trees must be removed before power lines can be fixed. It
takes about 45 minutes to fix a power line.
If a road is next to a park, the tree can be pulled into the park (1/2
hour); if it is not, the tree must be cut up (2 hours).
There are two crews available to fix downed power lines or remove
trees from the road. They have at their disposal one truck that can
be used to fix lines or pull a tree, one truck that can carry large
chunks of cut-up tree only, and one truck for the use of fixing power
lines only. Each crew has four people; all crews and equipment are at
RGE (at the intersection of routes 33 and 33A). Another crew will be
arriving at RGE in an hour from Irondequoit, with another truck that
can be used to fix lines.
Location |
Power line down |
Tree down |
Elmwood Ave. and Clinton Ave. |
yes |
no |
Hwy. 590 and East Ave. |
yes |
yes |
Hwy. 390 and Mt. Hope Ave. |
yes |
no |
Genesee St. |
yes |
yes |
Mt. Hope Ave. at Highland Park |
no |
yes |
Rte. 252 at Marketplace Mall |
no |
yes |
Rte. 383 and Rte. 252A |
no |
yes |
Ice storm disturbances
Type of repair |
Repair time |
Fix line |
45 min |
Tow tree |
30 min |
Chop and carry pieces |
2 hrs |
Repair times
7. A tornado has left Rochester in a panic. There are power lines down
on highway 390 at route 104, route 31 at Mt. Read Blvd., Elmwood
Ave. at Strong Memorial hospital, route 33A at Howard Rd., and route
15 at route 252. 100 residents of a mobile home park at
route 261 and route 31 need to be moved to temporary shelter at
Gates Center; 2 more are injured (one is on a stretcher) and need to
be transported to hospital. There are trees down at route 31 at Mount
Read. Blvd. and route 15 at route 252. Finally, there is a
Brinks' armoured car at highway 490 at Mt. Read Blvd. that needs
towing, having been flipped in the tornado.
You have two buses at your disposal, both currently at the municipal
building on East Ave. and Main St. (route 96 and route 33A). Strong
Memorial hospital has a helicopter and 2 ambulances, all with crews.
There are two crews available to fix downed power lines or remove
trees from the road. They have at their disposal one truck that can be
used to fix lines or tow heavy items (cars or trees), one truck that
can carry large chunks of cut-up tree, and one truck for the use of
fixing power lines only. Each crew has four people; all crews and
equipment are at RGE (at the intersection of routes 33 and 33A).
Another crew will be arriving at RGE in an hour from Irondequoit.
It takes 20 minutes to tow a tree off the road and 1 1/2 hours to chop
a tree up. A power line can be fixed in 1 hour.
Your task is to arrange to fix these difficulties as fast as possible.
Location |
Disturbance |
Hwy. 390 and Rte. 104 |
power line down |
Rte. 31 and Mt. Read Blvd. |
power line down, |
|
tree down |
Elmwood Ave. at Strong Mem. hosp. |
power line down |
Rte. 33A and Howard Rd. |
power line down |
Rte. 15 and Rte. 252 |
power line down |
|
tree down |
Rte. 31 and Rte. 261 |
100 people |
Rte. 31 and Rte. 261 |
2 injured people |
Hwy. 490 and Mt. Read Blvd. |
armored car |
Disturbances
Equipment |
Number |
Location |
Use |
Bus |
2 |
Rte. 96 and Rte. 33A |
- |
Helicopter |
1 |
Strong Mem. hosp. |
- |
Ambulance |
2 |
Strong Mem. hosp. |
- |
Utility crews |
2/3 |
Rte. 33 and Rte. 33A |
- |
Truck |
1 |
Rte. 33 and Rte. 33A |
fix lines/tow |
Truck |
1 |
Rte. 33 and Rte. 33A |
carry pieces |
Truck |
1 |
Rte. 33 and Rte. 33A |
fix lines |
Equipment and crews
Type of repair |
Repair time |
Fix line |
1 hr |
Tow tree |
20 min |
Chop and carry pieces |
1.5 hrs |
Repair times
8. Rochester is undergoing political turmoil. There is rioting in
the downtown area on Lake Ave., South Clinton, and Rte. 31 on both
sides of the inner loop; and in the east on E. Main St. (route 33A
inside the inner loop), Culver Rd. and East Ave (route 96). Reports
are that there are three injured on State St. at the inner loop; there
are five on N. Goodman at East Main St. (2 on stretchers); and there
are three on East Ave. at Culver (1 on a stretcher). A fire hydrant
has been broken and is spraying water into the air on route 31 at the
south side of the inner loop, and there is a fire on Lake Ave. at the
inner loop.
Extra police units must reach the area before any emergency crews can.
There are four units at the police station in Pittsford; a fire truck
is waiting at the Pittsford fire station; the police station on
Main St. and East Ave. (route 33A and route 96) has
three police units, and there is 1 ambulance at St. Mary's hospital
and 2 at Rochester General. A water crew (with equipment) is waiting
at the municipal building at West Main St. and East Ave.
Make a plan to return order as fast as possible.
Location |
rioting |
injuries |
Other |
|
|
(walking/stretcher) |
|
Lake Ave. |
yes |
3/0 |
fire |
South Clinton Ave. |
yes |
|
|
Rte. 31 off 33A |
yes |
|
|
Rte. 31 off Goodman St. |
yes |
|
broken hydrant |
E. Main St. |
yes |
3/2 |
|
Culver Rd. |
yes |
3/1 |
|
East Ave. |
yes |
|
|
Locations of difficulties
Force |
Number |
Location(s) |
police unit |
4 |
Pittsford P.S. |
police unit |
3 |
W. Main St. |
fire truck |
1 |
Pittsford F.S. |
ambulance |
1 |
St. Mary's hosp. |
ambulance |
2 |
Roch. Gen. hosp. |
water crew |
1 |
W. Main St. and East Ave. |
Locations of emergency units
The following information was given to all subjects.
Helpful information
Important locations |
Name |
Access |
St. Mary's hosp. |
Genesee St. and W. Main St. |
Rochester General hosp. |
Portland Ave., Goodman Ave., Rte. 104 |
Monroe Community hosp. |
Rte. 15A |
Strong Memorial hosp. |
Elmwood Ave. |
Marketplace Mall |
Rte. 252 and Rte. 15 |
Roch. Int. airport |
Brooks Ave. |
Highland park |
Highland Ave. and Rte. 15 |
Speeds and capacities |
Vehicle |
Speed (road/highway) |
Capacity |
Ambulance |
45mph/70mph |
3 seated or |
|
|
2 stretchers |
Police car |
45mph/70mph |
- |
Fire truck |
45mph/70mph |
- |
Utility truck |
30mph/55mph |
- |
Helicopter |
1/2 hr. in Monroe Co. |
2 seated or |
|
|
1 stretcher |
Bus |
30mph/55mph |
30 seated |
Snow plow |
30mph/50mph |
- |
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The translation was initiated by Amanda Stent on 2001-12-11
Amanda Stent
2001-12-11