The Monroe Corpus

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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.)

Domain

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

Other Information

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 -

About this document ...

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Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, Nikos Drakos, Computer Based Learning Unit, University of Leeds.

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The translation was initiated by Amanda Stent on 2001-12-11


Amanda Stent
2001-12-11