354 Int. J. Intelligent Systems Technologies and Applications, Vol. 14, Nos. 3/4, 2015 Search algorithm for optimal execution of incident commander guidance in macro action planning Reza Nourjou* and Hirokazu Tatano Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan Email: nourjour@gmail.com Email: tatano@imdr.dpri.kyoto-u.ac.jp *Corresponding author Hossein Aghamohammadi Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, Science and Research Branch, IAU, Tehran 1477893855, Iran Email: hossein.aghamohammadi@gmail.com Abstract: This paper presents a state space search algorithm that solves the optimal execution problem of incident commander’s guidance during disaster emergency management. To achieve a joint goal, the IC should select the best choice, as an optimal strategic decision, from available alternatives in a definite time. A strategic decision coordinates/controls macro actions of a team of field units by constraining a subteam to a subgoal in sublocation in a time window; moreover a sequence of strategic decisions generates a macro action plan that defines how to reach the goal. Three results are achieved by running this algorithm for a scenario: (1) calculate an optimal macro action plan; (2) estimate a minimum total time to achieve a joint goal and (3) reason about the best choice. We applied our approach to develop an intelligent software system (autonomous agent) for assisting the human in crisis response to earthquake disaster. Keywords: state space search algorithm; multi-agent planning; disaster crisis response; incident commander; optimal decision making; human strategy execution. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Nourjou, R., Tatano, H. and Aghamohammadi, H. (2015) ‘Search algorithm for optimal execution of incident commander guidance in macro action planning’, Int. J. Intelligent Systems Technologies and Applications, Vol. 14, Nos. 3/4, pp.354–384. Biographical notes: Reza Nourjou received his Master degree in GIS and the PhD in Informatics in 2006 and 2014, respectively. He was a Research Student and a Researcher of Disaster Prevention Research Institute at the Kyoto University during 2009–2014 and 2014, respectively. Since 2006, he has been contributing to the public safety domain (disaster emergency management, crisis response, rescue and relief operations) by applying: GIS, autonomous software Copyright © 2015 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.