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                         April 4, 2003

UN Tribunal to adopt cadet-developed prototype software

By Maj. Fernando J. Maymí
D/EE&CS

Armed with laptop computers and a multidisciplinary academic backgrounds, U.S. Military Academy cadets traveled to The Hague, Netherlands, during spring break to demonstrate a prototype software system they developed for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

Walter Kuencer, the Tribunal’s database project manager, said he is working with Cadets 1st Class Steven Curtis, Dan Leard and Adam Macallister on final modifications so the program can be used by the Tribunal this summer.

The system addressed the problem of how to manage more than five million documents in the ICTY’s electronic evidence vault. Although storing the documents digitally is simple, determining which of those millions of files supports an alleged offense is not.

"The prototype system addresses this problem by providing a search mechanism tailored for the ICTY’s work," Kuencer said. "Users of the system are able to attach comments on any document. These comments, which themselves become searchable, allow other users to find useful information more effectively."

The document management system was the brainchild of Cadet 1st Class Dan Leard. Other team members included the English instructor Maj. Ted Reich, Lithuanian exchange Cadet 1st Class Giedrimas Jeglinskas, Law Instructor Lt. Col. Michael Newton and ICTY’s Michael Johnson.

"All told, this truly multidisciplinary project draws on the intellectual assets from six of West Point’s academic departments," said Col. Clark Ray, the director of computer science at West Point. "There is incredible power in an education that includes both deep understanding of technology and how it affects people and organizations."