Disaster Data In The Palm of Your Hand
In the early stages of a disaster, the ability to rapidly communicate concise and accurate information is of vital importance to key decision makers. Yet, catastrophic disasters can often compromise or even cripple the telecommunications infrastructure - putting lives and property at further risk.
One New England company has designed an innovative new information system that they hope will make communications blackouts in catastrophic events a thing of the past.
Global Relief Technologies of Portsmouth, New Hampshire has developed a Rapid Data Management System (RDMS) employing the latest in satellite technology and data collection software all on a rugged handheld Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device. With it, critical information can be quickly delivered and analyzed to and from even the most remote environments.
"We develop software for gathering data in the field that takes information and conducts rapid analysis on a real-time basis," explains CEO Michael Gray.
Founded four years ago, GRT has already begun successful partnerships with Raytheon, The American Red Cross and the U.S. military. The system has been tested to process disaster victims, locate resources and coordinate logistics support from the field; all of which can help to significantly speed up the recovery process.
"Our hope is to utilize the technology to achieve a more efficient and accurate assessment of infrastructure damage during the very initial stages of a disaster," said Sarah Cherne, executive director for the Great Bay Chapter of The American Red Cross in New Hampshire. "The technology will not just improve but revolutionize how we assess damage, identify human and material resource needs and ultimately determine financial needs to support the entire relief operation."
The field operator using the PDA is simultaneously supported by a 24/7 Virtual Network Operations Center (VNOC) for technical help. The data coming in from the field is then transferred to the VNOC, where it is stored, analyzed and accessible through a secure web-based network. With this information, key decision makers and field operators can coordinate and plan the most effective strategies.
Gray sees this technology changing the future of disaster assistance and humanitarian aid. A former State Department officer, he worked on relief campaigns in the Balkans during the 1990s and recalled the frustration of being limited by pen and paper knowing it would be days, if not weeks until key officials would receive the data he was collecting in the field.
"You're going to be much closer to the ground truth if you have multiple points of information reporting back in from the field," says Gray. "You're going to see a consistency that shows you what's happening in different areas. You're not dependent upon one person sending in a report saying this is what's happening in the field, so this is how you should respond."
In 2007, the U.S. military working with the Thai armed forces and other allied Asian nations tested the GRT device in its joint exercise "Cobra Gold." The device was tested for its application in possible humanitarian relief, such as a potential Avian flu outbreak.
"You see the use of this technology which would conceivably be into a country or region that is suffering the scourge of avian influenza," says Col. Brendan P. Kearney, USMC (Ret.), Vice President of Civil-Military Affairs for GRT.
Disaster relief workers operating the PDAs were able to collect contact information, while medical personnel were able to input medical records data all into customized templates.
"This is where this technology allows you to go ahead and continue to function knowing full well that telecommunications infrastructure may collapse or has collapsed as a result of what the pandemic has done," said Kearney.
Gray also notes that the company is FIPS 140-2 compliant (Federal Information Processing Standard); a government standard for Sensitive but Unclassified (SBU) use.
"Ultimately, the powerful aspect of this tool is the ability to share information between different organizations and information that is accurate," said Gray. "We’re not imposing a new system on people. This technology is coming anyway."
Last Modified: Tuesday, 06-Nov-2007 10:54:44 EST