Near real-time outbreak surveillance system for early warning as a JCS

Motivation -- This presentation introduces a near-real time outbreak surveillance system, ASTER, which assists physicians in the resolution the management of the outbreak early warning in French military deployment. Research approach. Our approach is to show that ASTER could be described as a joint cognitive system between actors belonging to a specific socio-technical network, a surveillance network and an artificial decision-supported system. Findings/Design -- Two simulations of an outbreak management have been set up. Observations of epidemiologists (analysis network) were conducted during simulated scenarii involving natural and intentional outbreaks within French Forces deployed for the first scenario, in Djibouti, and for the second one, in Tchad. Originality/Value -- The results of these studies highlight the central role of the building of a shared problem representation. This representation appears mainly to result from cooperative activities during decision making processes which are strongly supported by the main system, ASTER, but also by a panel of other decision-support systems and non-computerized and more classical artefacts.