Action models

Building military simulations requires bridging the gap between the knowledge of commanders and computer representations of that knowledge. A significant part of this knowledge concerns military tasks, their interactions, and an understanding of how to grade their achievement. Action Models describe the complex spatial and temporal dynamics of goal directed tasks with a graphical notation. Commanders can understand the notation and knowledge engineers can convert it into declarative or procedural forms. The conversion makes possible automated After Action reviews of plans written in terms of these tasks (Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL) 1993). We describe Action Models, their conversion into Tapir, a declarative executable action language, and their use in the DARPA Rapid Knowledge Formation (RKF) Program.