Abstract: The First Symposium on The Theory and Application of Expert Systems in Emergency Management, held at the Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. (April 24 and 25, 1985) was funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and organized by the National Bureau of Standards' Operations Research Division. The purpose of the symposium was to bring together researchers in expert systems, artificial intelligence, and emergency operations in a forum to review the concepts of expert systems and the problems of emergency management, with the objective of determining how expert systems can be used to augment the experience of local, State and Federal emergency managers faced with the difficult tasks of determining the best response to an emergency situation. Speakers addressed the following areas: The theory and uncertainty aspects of expert systems, artificial intelligence's future role in emergency management, technology for building and using expert systems, emergency management decisions and information needs and uses, applications of expert systems in the management of chemical spills and shipboard and coal mine fires, and the role and use of simulation in emergency management expert systems.

Abstract: This report is the result of an in-depth review of the recent technical literature on expert systems,. The material contained in this report provided a basis for assessing the potential for using expert systems in emergency management operations. In choosing the material for inclusion in this report, special emphasis was placed on those aspects of expert systems which addressed the types of problems encountered in emergency management operations. The report is designed for use as a resource document and as a tutorial on expert systems and emergency management. Each chapter consists of a brief topic essay followed by a set of references which expand on the main themes of the essay.

Abstract: This report documents the initial phases of the MIST database, which is a demonstration project jointly supported by the Department of Energy and the National Bureau of Standards. The purpose of the Materials Information for Science and Technology (MIST) is to demonstrate the power and utility of computer access to materials property data. The initial goals include: to exercise the concept of a computer network of materials databases and to build a demonstration of such a system in a way as to be suitable for use as the core of operational systems in the future. Phases I and II are described in detail. In addition, a discussion is given of the expected usage of the databases.

Abstract: OMNITAB 80 is a highly integrated general purpose programming language and statistical software computing system. The system enables the user to use a digital computer to perform statistical and numerical data analysis without having any prior knowledge of computers or programming languages. The system responds to simple instructions to obtain accurate results since reliable, varied and sophisticated algorithms for data analysis and manipulation are referenced. It may be used either interactively or in batch mode. OMNITAB 80 has been installed nationally and internationally. OMNITAB has been completely written to make it as machine independent as possible This document describes Version 6.0. Details are presented so that the user can easily find the specific information needed in any particular instance. Part A is a simple, compact introduction to OMNITAB. Part B describes the general and special features of the OMNITAB system. Part C gives explanations, with short examples, for the use of specific instructions. Part D is a complete alphabetical list of the instructions which are in the system.