PNNL

Abstract

Techno-social elements drive the success of automating workflow for container inspection systems that are equipped for critical event response. Use-driven functionality, reconfigurable designs, and integration of existing systems drives a collaborative approach and addresses the very human elements and technology limitations in this decision support system. This paper highlights the design and deployment of an example work flow supporting container inspection decisions. The lifecycle of this application includes the holistic approach used, integrating the human elements, technology challenges, and lessons learned. The approach discusses target areas such as identifying knowledge gaps, defining roles and responsibilities, and reuse and repurposing existing information sources. Critical success factors such as building trust, timing and quality of data, capturing the context of data within the work flow, and fleshing out value opportunities are highlighted. The over arching need to provide capabilities that improve workflow operation and are attractive to daily operators underlies the entire approach and system design. A four element process is defined covering identifying the decisions driving the workflow, human interface requirements, disparate system linkages, and secured data communication.