Projects: ICODES

ICODES

Please click here for the ICODES Brochure (PDF)

ICODES is a ship load planning software tool that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) principles and techniques to assist embarkation specialists in the rapid development of cargo stow plans.

Ship stowplanning is the process of choreographing the way equipment and supplies are loaded and unloaded from cargo ships. It shares many characteristics common to complex problem situations including: information overload, multiple interrelationships, uncertainty, layers of time constraints, and multiple decision makers needing a common means to collaboratively reach consensus.

ICODES incorporates expert computer agents that offer solutions during various phases of the planning process. These agents have knowledge in specific domains (e.g., cargo placement, hazardous materials handling, trim and stability impact, and accessibility) and evaluate and propose loading alternatives and recommendations. They reason and interact with each other as well as with the most important agent: the human decision maker. The agents create a partnership and collaborate with expert human staff members during the various stages of the stowplanning process.

Since 1998 ICODES has been the official loadplanning software for the U.S. Military. Originally commissioned by the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), ICODES has supported the U.S. Department of Defense by effectively controlling and maintaining the movement of cargo throughout the world. In October 2007 ICODES was designated by the Distribution Steering Group within the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) and Joint Forces Command (JFCOM), Department of Defense (DoD), as the exclusive platform for the Single Load Planning Capability.

References: (PDF)

Diaz C., W. Waiters, J. Pickard, J. Naylor, S. Gollery, P. McGraw, M. Huffman, J. Fanshier, M. Parrott, S. O'Driscoll-Packer, B. Pendergrast and E. Sylvester; 'ICODES: Technical and Operational Description'; CDM Technical Report CDM-20-06 [ISBN: 0-9755698-4-8], November 2006

Goodman S. and J. Pohl (2003); 'ICODES: A Ship Load-Planning System'; ASNE Symposium, Crystal City, VA, March 25-26.

Goodman S. and J. Pohl; 'ISMIS: A Military Transportation Decision-Support Framework'; InterSymp-1999, 11th International Conference on Systems Research, Informatics, and Cybernetics, Baden-Baden, Germany, August 2-7, 1999.

Pohl, J., A. Chapman, K. Pohl, J. Primrose and A. Wozniak; 'Decision-Support Systems: Notions, Prototypes, and In-Use Applications'; Technical Report, CADRU-11-97, CAD Research Center, Design Institute, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA, January, 1997 (pp.85-104).