IC.NET – Incident Command “Net”: A System Using EDXL-DE for Intelligent Message Routing

Traditionally, during a disaster response, primary reliance is on voice over radio communication along with pen and paper notes for situational awareness. This paper explores our research regarding emergency data interoperability, seeks to connect decision makers, operators/responders, and additional stakeholders through the development and application of standardized data messaging formats. In addition, we have investigated ways to route and expose emergency message data in ways that are complimentary to the current business processes of emergency response. This paper will discuss the use and implementation of data interoperability standards in this system, focused primarily on the use of a single top-level loose coupler used for dynamic routing and exposure of operational level Emergency Services / First Responder. Our IC.NET prototype implements payloads that include data specific to Emergency Medical Services such as incident representation, unit tasking, and triage, treatment, and transport tracking of emergency patients. KeywordsEmergency Preparedness and Response; DHS; FEMA; EDXL; OASIS; Loose Coupler; ICS; Incident Command System; NIMS; National Incident Management System; EMS; Emergency Medical Services; First Responder; Emergency Management; Disaster Management; EDXL; Emergency Data