LOTS DECISION AID

THE DEFENSE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM NETWORK HAS MANY NODES EXTENDING FROM THE SHIPPER TO THE OVERSEAS FIELD COMBAT COMMANDER. IN A MAJOR DEPLOYMENT OF U.S. FORCES TO A THEATER OF OPERATIONS APPROXIMATELY 95% OF UNIT COMBAT EQUIPMENT SUSTAINING SUPPLIED AND RESUPPLY ARE TRANSPORTED BY CARGO SHIPS. THE MOST DEMANDING WAR SCENARIOS ASSUME THAT FIXED SEAPORT DISCHARGE FACILITIES ARE DENIED. CARGO DISCHARGE, THEREFORE, REQUIRES A LOGISTIC OVER THE SHORE (LOTS) OPERATION. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE THE OCEAN TERMINAL COMMANDER IN THE THEATER OF OPERATIONS A DECISION-MAKING TOOL FOR THE FEASIBLE UTILIZATION OF WATERCRAFT LIGHTERAGE TO MEET THE CARGO REQUIRED DELIVERY DATES OF THE THEATER COMMANDER. THIS GOAL WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH ARCHITECTURE DESIGN AND SYSTEM PROTOTYPING OF A BLACKBOARDBASED EXPERT SYSTEM DECISION AID RUNNING ON AN IBM PC/AT.