Timely knowledge elicitation from geographically separate, mobile experts during emergency response

Two crucial factors for effective emergency response are the speed with whi ch the response strategy is implemented and the quality of the expert knowl edge on which the response is based. We propose a method for using communic ation and computing technologies for eliciting and aggregating the knowledg e of multiple, geographically separate experts that improves our ability to address these two issues. In our methodology, we send a description of the problem to the experts who in turn submit graphical representations of the responses they propose for addressing it. The representations are then agg regated into a hypothesized central representation. A cycle of voting then begins from which emerges either a consensus problem representation or a di agnosis of impasse. The result is a clear definition of the response proble m for resolution. Results from an implementation of the algorithm over the Internet are presented. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.