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Using AI To Train Firefighters
Roland Piquepaille writes "Computer scientists at the University of Southern California (USC) have developed DEFACTO, a training program which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help firefighters practice simulated emergency situations. The system is currently used by the Los Angeles Fire Department. DEFACTO has committees of AI 'agents' which can create disaster scenarios with images and maps seen in 3-D by the trainees. The software agents also evaluate the trainees' answers and help them to take better decisions. As one LAFD captain said, 'You can see if you're heading toward a mistake much more quickly.' Read more for additional details about this AI project and a photo
of a LAFD Fire Captain using the system."
I'm not suggesting that it would be a shame for all this hard work to go into just training guys to save lives and property :) but the screenshots suggest that there could be elements of strategy (which block to approach from, consideration of wind conditions) and some cool FPS with the water cannon. Possibly some riot quelling action too ... are there any firefighting sims out there? Perhaps a multi-player which pits firefighters against arsonists?
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It says it helps them improve decision-making, which is what disaster scenarios are about.
I used to write and run crisis training for a large multi-national, and we expected that the participants would make mistakes. The basic thing we tried to do was to give them a chaotic situation and to teach and re-enforce their roles and responsibilities. The main thing was that they knew what their role was, and that they stuck to it. All crisis situations are basically getting something under control. It is a bit different for first responders, but not much.
In our case it was a bit different because we were dealing with people who had a role within the corporate crisis structure, but it was not their actual job within the organization (normally they might head legal, HR or finance - for example). So we had to make sure they were periodically trained so that they would be familiar with how everything worked in the event that the crisis mechanism was activated.
Training for firefighters is a bit different because it is their main job, and it is reinforcing skills they will use regularly.
I don't think there is any theoretical training that can replace the hands-on experience. When I did the SCUBA Rescue diver course, we had to - first - get over the theoretical part (check for dangers, approach, evaluate, check for breathing etc.), and - second - go through with actual exercises.
I think all courses (should) cover at least these two parts, and I experienced hands-on what you're talking about: when my instructor went in 1m water and started splashing around and yelling "Help" I got blocked (with all the theoretical exercises I went through).
This program is related to theoretical exercises only though, so as far as I'm concerned, if it works, more power to them! :)
Tie two birds together: although they have four wings, they cannot fly. (The blind man)
The thing that I'm wondering after reading TFA is whether or not the system gives the trainees too much information. The real skill in these kind of situations is making good decisions on incomplete data. I hope this training approach doesn't teach people to rely on information they won't have in the real world.
No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
I'm a Lieutenant on a small department, and have been part of many "simulator" drills using not so artificial intelligence. We use an overhead project, software that allows drag and drop visual and audio changes to simulate the progression of a fire against a background image, and the real intelligence of a senior officer running the drill. The purpose of the drill is to give experience to the firefighters and officers making decision on how to attack the fire and when to take certain actions.
It is NOT about the individual firefighter on the line doing his job -- he's not meant to be focused on the big picture. He's got to focus on his local task as assigned -- search, vent, attack, etc.
The important thing, is that the person running the drill has a situation in his head about what caused the fire and how it will progress through the building, and can adjust the progression as a result of the decisions made by the officer making decisions. Once done, a great benefit of the experience is the discussion. Another huge benefit is the practice at simply making best use of radio traffic and keeping the situation in mind all at once.
The only advantage I see to this software they're showing is that it requires less people so you could have more people being in charge of the scenario and learning. They lose the experience coordinating the radio traffic, and the discussion at the end of how their tactics impacted the results would not benefit as many people.
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