Achieving Common Operational Data (COD): A conceptual informational framework using the Unified Incident Command and Decision Support™ (UICDS™) approach

Common Operational Data (COD) is the essential building block of emergency information sharing. This paper describes how a Conceptual Interoperability Framework is being operationalized by UICDS, a national middleware developed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and deployed across the country. The interoperability model defines three layers essential to composing an information sharing system: data, integration, and presentation. UICDS employs the principles of this model using international data exchange standards to achieve COD. UICDS links to existing applications and enables two-way, collaborative sharing of data through the integration layer. Content in the integration layer is managed by UICDS allowing applications to obtain and compose coherent views of the current situation. Overcoming the information sharing obstacles of governance and process is aided by having an operational integration layer which handles security, data ownership, and information sharing agreements in a flexible way that is defined by local concepts of operations. Finally, the UICDS concept of sharing only a fraction of data, that which is useful to manage relationships among organizations, contributes to building trust among the sharing partners.