CDM Technologies, Inc.

    The Collaborative Infrastructure Assessment Tool (CIAT) is a pier resource planning tool that utilizes agent-based technology to assist decision makers resolve complex facility-management problems. Emphasizing an electronic collaborative technique, CIAT improves infrastructure planning by offering time-dependent assessments on ship schedules, pier and berth schedules and capabilities, maintenance and construction schedules, ship berthing histories, and costs.
 
    The initial release of CIAT in 1997 was tailored specifically to manage port operations at the Naval Station San Diego. Sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), this first version of CIAT was developed to assist decision makers at the naval station deal with the complex situations and information overload resulting from managing nearly 60 Navy ships, 50 home-base commands, and 48,000 military and civilian personnel.
 
    As an object-based system, CIAT employs expert technology for the analysis and evaluation of complex problem situations at military piers. Large facility management is plagued by information overload, uncertainty, and the inability for decision makers to reach a consensus in a timely manner. CIAT has been designed as an integrated decision-support system that facilitates collaboration between different groups and the computer through the use of expert agents with knowledge in specific domains. These agents act as intelligent advisors that work with decision makers and provide assistance in the analysis, evaluation, and planning of facility proceedings.
 
    CIAT is based upon the Integrated Cooperative Decision Making (ICDM) framework.