📌 Project Overview

ChIRPS is a web-based simulation and training platform designed to model complex chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) emergency response scenarios. The system enables facilitators to run realistic, multi-agency incident exercises while capturing detailed, time-ordered decision-making and operational actions.

The platform bridges the gap between traditional training exercises and real-world incident complexity by introducing dynamic, AI-driven scenario evolution that accounts for human behavior and crowd dynamics.

🎯 Problem Statement

Training and exercising for low-frequency, high-consequence threats like CBRN incidents is increasingly difficult at all levels of response due to resource limitations, personnel attrition, and the growing number of high-frequency threats responders must prepare for.

Current Exercise Limitations:

  • Functional Exercises excel at assessing specific tactics and multi-agency coordination, but require pulling responders “off the line” or bringing them in during off-shifts
  • Table Top Exercises identify communication and coordination challenges but lack realism
  • Neither approach adequately simulates one of the most challenging response aspects: unpredictable human behavior and crowd dynamics

ChIRPS addresses these gaps by providing near real-time problem-solving scenarios with AI-generated injects and crowd behavior elements that stress-test response capabilities.

✨ Key Capabilities

  • Multi-Exercise Support: Run concurrent simulations across different scenarios and agencies
  • Role-Based Interaction: Distinct interfaces and permissions for facilitators, responders, and observers
  • Event-Driven Simulation Engine: Dynamic scenario evolution based on responder actions
  • Immutable Event Logging: Complete audit trail for compliance and replay analysis
  • Materialized State Views: Real-time simulation status and decision tracking
  • After Action Reports (AAR): Automated documentation of decisions and outcomes
  • API-Driven Architecture: Extensible design for analytics, UI, and third-party integration

🏗 High-Level Architecture

The system employs a layered, event-driven architecture with clear separation of concerns:

ChIRPS Architecture

Architectural Principles:

  • Simulation Logic: Domain-driven design with deterministic simulation rules
  • API Orchestration: FastAPI-based service layer for all interactions
  • Current State: Materialized views for real-time query performance
  • Immutable History: Event sourcing pattern for complete audit trail and replay capability

This design supports traceability, debugging, and compliance use cases common in emergency management and government systems.

🛠 Tools & Technologies

Layer Technology Purpose
Language Python Core application development and business logic
API Framework FastAPI High-performance async API with automatic documentation
Data Validation Pydantic Type-safe models and data validation
Architecture Event Sourcing Immutable event log with materialized views
Design Pattern Repository Pattern Persistence abstraction for future database flexibility
API Design API-First Clean separation enabling multiple client types

🚀 Future Roadmap: Cloud Scale

The platform is architected for deployment to AWS GovCloud to support sensitive-but-unclassified (SBU) use cases:

  • Cloud Infrastructure: AWS GovCloud compliance and security controls
  • Database: DynamoDB for scalable event storage
  • Security: IAM-based access control and encryption at rest/in transit
  • Compliance: Audit logging and data retention patterns for government requirements