Here are a list of recommended reading on the issue of GUI-design for time-critical applications. In addition, a set of papers on Situation Awareness is also suggested.

Litterature on User-interface design issues for emergency and crisis responders
Marcus & Gasperini (2006) Usability Study of San Jose Police Communication Systems. Interactions (sept-oct 2006). ACM Press
Download via Aaron Marcus & Associates founded by Aaron Marcus http://www.amanda.com/home/home_f.html

Litterature on Team Situational Awareness
Bolstad, C.A., Cuevas, H.M., Gonzalez, C. & Schneider, M. (2005)
Modeling Shared Situation Awareness
Paper presented at the 14th Conference on Behavior Representation in Modeling & Simulation (BRIMS), Los Angles, CA

Bolstad, C.A., & Endsley, M.R. (2003)
Tools for Supporting Team Collaboration
Paper Presented at the Human Factors and Ergonomics 47th Annual Meeting, Denver, Colorado

Bolstad, C.A. & Endsley, M.R. (2000)
Shared displays and team performance
Human Performance, Situation Awareness & Automation Conf., Savannah, GA

Download via SA Technologies founded by Dr. Mica Endsley
http://www.satechnologies.com/publications/list.php?topic=16