## 2 Materials and Methods
### Identification of Input Data Requirements and Internal Frameworks for the Development of CMSSs  
A rigorous examination was carried out on data and program requirements for supporting operational procedures in order to study the characteristics of desired data cores and programs. Representative examples of complex missions (outlined in A) were reviewed, highlighting their prevalence among the most frequent missions encountered by operational officers in their professional experience. Additionally, extensive interviews were conducted with operational specialists from various sectors in order to examine the realistic data and program needs for supporting the operational procedures which they are responsible for handling. These interviews helped in acquiring of a significant number of different types of critical operational information. This information directly yielded data and program requirements for the development of general DSSs to support complex missions of broad thematic range (as outlined in Appendix B). Input Information Requirements in CMSSs for Operational Specialists to Successfully Execute Complex Missions  
By conducting interviews with the operational specialists, who are an inextricable part of the present study, valuable operational experience has been gained and therefore actionable information has been gathered towards the development of a general system for the effective support of complex missions, for the needs of the present study. The aforementioned information can be categorized into two main groups (see [24] and for more details Appendix B):  
* The _common information_. It is the type of information which usually satisfies common needs and operational requirements of mission actors. The most characteristic aspects of this information are presented below: First of all, there is information including the time-constraint context. This type of information has the potential to heighten the complexity of a mission. This results in altering the mission structure which may require significant modifications to the required information. For instance, the allocated time for mission execution, the strategic utilization of timelines, obligations, and prioritization may undergo substantial changes. The analysis of a mission hinges upon the limitations imposed by time and the corresponding informational prerequisites [38]. Furthermore, there is another kind of _information concerning the terrain characteristics, encompassing its morphology_ such as vegetation, river pathways, points of higher elevation, areas with high visibility, evacuation routes and pathways, etc. Moreover, _an additional type of information concerns environmental conditions_ such as temperature, wind speed, humidity, visibility, cloud concentration, fog, etc. It is imperative to proactively take these factors into consideration before embarking on a mission. Special emphasis should be given to instances where weather conditions impact the landscape, especially during intense rainfall or flooding, as well as when topography influences communication channels and the extent of visibility [39]. In addition, _information concerning the capabilities and qualifications of actors in a mission_ significantly affects the success of the entire mission. Key determinants also include the number of actors, their designated duties, their level of training, their readiness to handle emergencies, and the possibility of continuous flow of information. These factors stand as pivotal considerations throughout a mission. In addition, all types of _information related to available technical or specialized equipment_ are crucial, encompassing vehicles, communication protocols, area surveillance systems, motion detection systems, telecommunications relays, satellites, etc. The quantity and quality of available technological resources, their adaptability to the specific needs of the mission, as well as their availability, decisively facilitate the execution of the mission.