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Semi-Autonomous Pipe Bomb End Cap Remover
"The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate, in partnership with RE2, Inc., is developing the Semi-Autonomous Pipe Bomb End Cap Remover (SAPBER) system which will remove end caps from pipe bombs while keeping operators at a safe distance and collecting video and physical evidence from the pipe bomb."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2012-05-16
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Updated Site-Specific Biosafety and Biosecurity Mitigation Risk Assessment, Volume II
"For each release event from the NBAF [National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility] that causes a Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) infection at a livestock premises, the consequences of that outbreak must be calculated to understand overall risk. The following approach was taken to predict the probability of an outbreak occurring following a release, to determine where the outbreak begins, and to determine the corresponding consequences of the outbreak: [1] Determine the probability that an outbreak starts in various possible locations given release quantity and transport pathways; [2] Estimate the extent and duration of the possible FMD outbreaks in Kansas; [3] Determine the probability that an outbreak would spread from Kansas to other states; [4] Estimate the extent and duration of possible FMD outbreaks in states other than Kansas; and [5] Determine overall risk by combining impact and probability of outbreaks occurring across the region for each release amount and transport pathway. Although this analysis is extensive and is substantially based on data collected from the field and the scientific literature, it is fundamentally a modeling-based approach and therefore has limited ability to predict the absolute probability of an outbreak occurring and the corresponding consequences. That being said, given the shortcomings of the modeling approach (as described in section 6.2.2), the data presented include as thorough a treatment of uncertainty in the modeling as possible. Aleatory uncertainty related to the location in which the outbreak starts (which can be a function of the meteorology on the date the accident happens, for example) is displayed along with uncertainty related to how the outbreak unfolds. Outbreak consequences have components of aleatory and epistemic uncertainty. For example, one source of aleatory uncertainty arises from the timing of an animal shipment relative to the infection of animals on a premises. An example of a source of epistemic uncertainty is the probability of infection should a veterinarian visit an infected farm before visiting an uninfected farm. This uncertainty is presented to provide a reasonable range of possible outbreak risks."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2012-02
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Updated Site-Specific Biosafety and Biosecurity Mitigation Risk Assessment, Appendices
"The following document outlines a stakeholder engagement plan for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF). NBAF will be a state-of-the-art integrated facility designed to protect the United States' agricultural economy, food supply, and public health from natural outbreaks or intentional introductions of foreign animal, emerging, and zoonotic (transmitted from animals to humans) diseases. DHS recognizes the need for comprehensive engagement plan to keep stakeholders informed as NBAF moves forward through design, construction, commissioning, and operation stages. DHS and the U.S. Department of agriculture's agricultural Research Service (IRS) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) (as the tenant research entities) are committed to transparency, open communication with stakeholders, and responding to stakeholder inquiries/concerns in a timely manner. As with any high-containment laboratory, the study of high-consequence pathogens is not without risk. DHS is committed to mitigating these risks through comprehensive threat and risk analyses that will inform NBAF design, construction, and operation. Because public perception of these risks will be influenced by communications and outreach strategies, DHS will outline plans for risk communication as a part of the overall risk management strategy for NBAF. The purpose of the risk communication will be to educate and inform the public regarding risks and to inform the public in the highly unlikely event of an incident. To facilitate open communication and transparency, DHS has prepared this stakeholder engagement plan as a dynamic document that will evolve with NBAF to guide efforts to provide consistent, timely and useful information. This plan draws upon stakeholder engagement best practices gathered from the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) and other biocontainment laboratories, and builds on previous stakeholder engagement activities undertaken during the NBAF Site Selection EIS [Environmental Impact Statement] process. The plan also outlines a preliminary risk communication strategy that will be implemented when NBAF becomes fully operational in FY20. This stakeholder engagement plan will be reviewed at least annually and will be updated as needed."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2012-02
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First Responders Communities of Practice Virtual Social Media Working Group - Community Engagement Guidance and Best Practices [Beta Version 1.1]
"Social media and collaborative technologies have become critical components of emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. From the international response efforts after major tsunamis to hurricane recovery in major U.S. cities, officials now turn to social media technologies to share information and connect with citizens during all phases of a crisis. Implementing these new technologies, however, requires that responding agencies adopt new communication strategies and engagement methods. Recognizing the need to address these challenges, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) established a virtual social media working group (VSMWG). The mission of the VSMWG is to provide recommendations to the emergency preparedness and response community on the safe and sustainable use of social media technologies before, during, and after emergencies. Drawn from a cross-section of subject matter experts from federal, tribal, territorial, state, and local responders from across the United States, VSMWG members are establishing and collecting best practices and solutions that can be leveraged by responders throughout the nation's emergency response community. Below is a list of agencies to which the VSMWG members belong. [...] The VSMWG developed this document with input from the public safety community through online engagement hosted on the DHS First Responder Communities of Practice portal and through online discussions via other social media channels between February and August of 2011. It is intended for use by all public safety disciplines and all types of agencies to better understand and utilize social media and other Web-based tools without having to 'reinvent the wheel' or spend hours searching for examples or policy templates or use cases. This document provides a high-level introduction to social media and its benefits for public safety, examples and best practices from agencies already using social media, and serves as a starting point for developing an agency's detailed social media strategy. The VSMWG has also developed a Next Steps document as follow up to this Social Media Strategy, which provides considerations and detailed next steps for public safety agencies on developing and implementing social media."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2012-01-18
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Key Planning Factors for Recovery from a Chemical Warfare Agent Incident
"'The Key Planning Factors for Recovery from a Chemical Warfare Agent Incident' is a draft document developed by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) under contract to DHS S&T [Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology] as a stand-alone deliverable to the Wide Area Resiliency and Recovery Program (WARRP). This document is part of the Response and Recovery Knowledge Products (RRKP) data transition agreement established between DHS S&T and FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] in September 2011. It is designed to identify key planning factors that could substantially aid the recovery process by decreasing the recovery timeline and costs, improving public health and safety, and addressing major resource limitations and critical decisions."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
Edwards, Donna M.; Krauter, Paula; Franco, David . . .
2012
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Cyber Security Division: FY 2011 Annual Report
"In Fiscal Year 2011 (FY 2011), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate established the Cyber Security Division (CSD), within the Directorate's Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA), in response to the increasing importance of the cybersecurity mission. CSD's mission is to develop and transition new technologies, tools, and techniques to protect and secure systems, networks, infrastructure, and users, improving the foundational elements of our nation's critical infrastructure and the world's information infrastructure; and, to provide coordination and research and development leadership across federal, state, and municipal government; international partners; the private sector; and academia to improve cybersecurity research infrastructure."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2012?
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Social Media Strategy: Virtual Social Media Working Group and DHS First Responders Group
"The VSMWG [virtual social media working group] developed this document with input from the public safety community through online engagement hosted on the DHS First Responder Communities of Practice portal and through online discussions via other social media channels between February and August of 2011. It is intended for use by all public safety disciplines and all types of agencies to better understand and utilize social media and other Web-based tools without having to 'reinvent the wheel' or spend hours searching for examples or policy templates or use cases. This document provides a high-level introduction to social media and its benefits for public safety, examples and best practices from agencies already using social media, and serves as a starting point for developing an agency's detailed social media strategy. The VSMWG has also developed a Next Steps document as follow up to this Social Media Strategy, which provides considerations and detailed next steps for public safety agencies on developing and implementing social media. The purpose of this document is to: [1] Provide an introduction and general understanding of how social media and Web‐based technologies can be used for public safety in a strategic way; [2] Provide best practices and use cases for agencies that are interested in developing social media programs within their agencies; and [3] Introduce the use of social media for public safety and provide additional materials regarding the challenges associated with implementing social media into existing methods (for more on this, see: 'Next Steps')."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate; Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS)
2012-01
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Buildings and Infrastructure Protection Series: Primer to Design Safe School Projects in Case of Terrorist Attacks and School Shootings
"The purpose of this primer is to provide the design community and school administrators with the basic principles and techniques to make a school safe from terrorist attacks and school shootings and at the same time ensure it is functional and aesthetically pleasing, and meets the needs of the students, staff, administration, and general public. Protecting a school building and grounds from physical attack is a significant challenge because the design, construction, renovation, operation, and maintenance of a facility must consider numerous building users, infrastructure systems, and building design codes."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate; United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2012-01
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Response and Recovery Knowledge Product: Key Planning Factors
"This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government, nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, nor any of their contractors, subcontractors, or their employees, make any warranty, express or implied, or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represent that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government, any agency thereof, or any of their contractors or subcontractors. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government, any agency thereof, or any of their contractors."
Sandia National Laboratories; United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2012
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Operational Field Assessment Post Assessment Report: Emergency Medical Services Board Armor Backboard Cover
Taken from the Executive Summary: "This document contains results from an Operational Field Assessment of the Board Armor Backboard Cover designed by Advanced EMS Designs (Orlando, FL) to prevent contamination between a victim and a backboard while also protecting Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers. The First Responder Technologies (R-Tech) Program, Science and Technology Directorate of the United States (US) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified this need of the EMS community and supported the development of an EMS backboard cover. The Board Armor Backboard Cover Operational Field Assessment was conducted for the R-Tech Program by DDL OMNI Engineering LLC (DDL OMNI) on August 1, 2011 at the Prince George's County Fire Service Building grounds. Prince George's County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel played the roles of victims and end users. The backboard cover was evaluated against a full range of EMS emergency scenarios selected based on results of an EMS Focus Group Survey. The scenarios included utilization of the covered backboard for extraction of a victim from an automobile, exposing the cover to a victim covered in simulated blood, application of the cover when the backboard was dry, and application of the cover when the backboard was wetted by both simulated blood and water prior to covering the backboard. The victim was secured to the covered backboard and transported over flat and inclined terrain, through brush and up and down a stairwell. All testing was performed using qualified EMS end-users following standard emergency medical services protocols."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011-11-08
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FIT-EAR™ MPD and VS-1 Earpiece Operational Field Assessment Report
Taken from the Executive Summary: "In support of the TechSolutions Program within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) conducted an independent and comprehensive operational field assessment of the commercially available Fit-Ear™ Multi Purpose Device (MPD) and Vented Stereo (VS-1) communication enhancing earpieces. The purpose of the field assessment was to provide an opportunity for firefighters to test and evaluate the effectiveness of the MPD and VS-1 during simulated emergency response operations to determine if they would be valuable tools for the firefighting community. The MPD and VS-1 earpieces are molded to the individual user for a custom fit. […] The results of the field assessment indicate that the MPD is highly efficient in providing clear communication and reducing background noise and can be effectively utilized with firefighting turnout gear. The overall opinion of the test subjects is that the MPD provided them the best communication enhancement they have ever experienced and that the firefighting community would benefit from the technology. In addition, the test subjects believe that the increase in clear communication with less background noise raises the level of safety for the firefighter. The test subjects also provided valuable recommendations to enhance the usability of the MPD. The results of the field assessment for the VS-1 indicate that it provides good hearing protection by reducing background noise and the vented design, which allows amplified ambient sound to be heard, would be beneficial in certain applications."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011-11
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Buildings and Infrastructure Protection Series: High Performance Based Design for the Building Enclosure, A Resilience Application Project Report
"This Technical Report describes a project performed by the National Institute of Building Sciences (Institute) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to address High Performance Based Design for the Building Enclosure (HPBDE). The Institute convened an expert team to develop a method for analyzing multiple performance objectives early in the project planning process. This method allows building owners to optimize their investments in building security, along with safety, energy conservation, environmental footprint and durability, in addition to evaluating the resulting risk and resilience of a proposed project. The model of performance developed by the Project Team was integrated within an online software program specifically focused on establishing Owner Performance Requirements (OPR).The OPR Tool provides project planners with a previously unavailable resource for selecting and documenting performance goals for a project. This first-phase effort, limited to enclosure systems for new office buildings, lays the technical foundation and soft¬ware framework for expanding the approach in later phases to address retrofit of enclosure systems, as well as moving on to cover the whole building and additional building types."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011-11
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Buildings and Infrastructure Protection Series: Reference Manual to Mitigate Potential Terrorist Attacks Against Buildings
"This manual, part of the new Building Infrastructure Protection Series published by the United States (U.S.) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Infrastructure Protection and Disaster Management Division (IDD), serves to advance high performance and integrated design for buildings and infrastructure. This manual was prepared as a component of the S&T program for infrastructure protection and disaster management; the overall goal of this program is to enhance the blast and chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) resistance of our Nation's buildings and infrastructure to meet specific performance requirements at the highest possible level. This manual revises and expands the original 2003 edition with updated risk assessment techniques, infrastructure resiliency standards, protective measures, and emerging technologies. Readability has been enhanced, and the reader is provided with a straightforward approach to find answers to pertinent questions. This revised manual provides guidance that will help design professionals translate a multitude of security concerns into solutions to make buildings more resilient to hazards and terrorist attacks. Security design goals are introduced as an integral part of the overall approach to building design. […] The purpose of this manual is to provide guidance to designers and decision makers in these sectors, to building professionals working for public and private institutions, and to first responder communities. It presents tools to help assess the performance of buildings and infrastructure against terrorist threats and to rank recommend¬ed protective measures."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011-10
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Field Guide for Building Stabilization and Shoring Techniques
"This guide is a field reference book for vertical shoring, lateral shoring, and in-situ rapid strengthening and/or repair of damaged building components. This guide refines and expands on the information provided in the existing US&R [Urban Search & Rescue] Structures Specialist Field Operations Guide (FOG). This guide includes concise information - including descriptive graphics -- on the current FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] developed built-in- place shoring systems, newly designed and tested built-in- place shoring systems, the results of the most recent testing of built-in-place shoring systems, and a system by system discussion of the relevant characteristics of Manufactured Shoring and Repair and Strengthening techniques that may be able to be adapted to rescue operations. Also included in this Guide is expanded information on Building Size-Up and new Shoring Size-up information. Information contained in this guidebook is based on experience, experimental testing, engineering analysis, and common sense. However, all rescue scenarios are unique and the stabilization techniques contained herein must be applied with judgment, considering the specifics of the operations underway. In many instances, additional input from a qualified engineer is required."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011-10
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Menlo Report: Ethical Principles Guiding Information and Communication Technology Research [2011]
"This report proposes a framework for ethical guidelines for computer and information security research, based on the principles set forth in the 1979 Belmont Report, a seminal guide for ethical research in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. Despite its age, the Belmont Report's insightful abstraction renders it a valuable cornerstone for other domains. We describe how the three principles in the Belmont report can be usefully applied in fields related to research about or involving information and communication technology [ICT]. ICT research raises new challenges resulting from interactions between humans and communications technologies. In particular, today's ICT research contexts contend with ubiquitously connected network environments, overlaid with varied, often discordant legal regimes and social norms. We illustrate the application of these principles to information systems security research -- a critical infrastructure priority with broad impact and demonstrated potential for widespread harm -- although we expect the proposed framework to be relevant to other disciplines, including those targeted by the Belmont report but now now operating in more complex and interconnected contexts. We first outline the scope and motivation for this document, including a historical summary of the conceptual framework for traditional human subjects research, and the landscape of ICT research stakeholders. We review four core ethical principles, the three from the Belmont Report (Respect for Persons, Beneficence, and Justice) and an additional principle Respect for Law and Public Interest."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011-09-15
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Buildings and Infrastructure Protection Series: Integrated Rapid Visual Screening of Buildings
"The methodology, referred to as the integrated rapid visual screening (IRVS) for buildings, was developed by the DHS [Department of Homeland Security] Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T), Infrastructure Protection and Disaster Management Division (IDD), and public- and private-sector stakeholders involved in the design, operation, and management of critical infrastructure. The IRVS is intended to provide an assessment of the risk and resilience of the buildings in our Nation's cities and communities that can be used by law enforcement, the design community, building managers, and first responders. […] The result of an IRVS for buildings is a quantifiable assessment of the risk to a given building to a terrorist attack or natural disaster that leads to catastrophic losses (fatalities, injuries, damage, or business interruption) and a quantifiable assessment of the resiliency of the building (ability to recovery from such an event). The methodology is intended to be applicable nationwide for all conventional building types."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011-09
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First Responder Technologies Program Expenditure Plan: Fiscal Year 2011 Report to Congress
From the Executive Summary: "The emergency preparedness and response community faces ever-evolving challenges in their efforts to save lives and protect property every day. S&T [Science and Technology Directorate] established FRG [First Responder Group] in October 2010 to strengthen the emergency preparedness and response community's ability to protect the homeland and respond to disasters. In 2009, S&T established the thirteenth IPT [Integrated Product Team], now known as the FRT [First Responder Technologies] Program, to change this situation by systematically addressing needs and capability gaps that are of benefit across disciplines and maximizing the return on investment in research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) funding. The FRT Program provides practitioners the opportunity to voice these challenges to DHS and become involved in a forum to help identify and define emerging technologies and equipment that help them meet their mission. One of the five main departmental priorities is ensuring resilience to disasters. The FRT Program directly addresses that mission space by enabling responders to be better prepared and equipped for all-hazards incidents with the most effective and efficient technologies. The FRT Program focuses on quickly transitioning key technologies needed in the field, accelerating performance standards, and developing knowledge products."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011-07-13
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Buildings and Infrastructure Protection Series: Integrated Rapid Visual Screening of Buildings [fact sheet]
"The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate's Infrastructure Protection and Disaster Management Division (IDD) has developed an integrated rapid visual screening (IRVS) procedure for assessing the risk to a building from natural and human-caused hazards that have the potential to cause catastrophic losses (fatalities, injuries, damage, and business interruption). This procedure is an enhanced version of FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] 455, 'Handbook for Rapid Visual Screening of Buildings to Evaluate Terrorism Risk', and includes improvements to the methodology, updates to the catalogue of building characteristics, and updates to the forms that incorporate natural hazards, building types, and critical functions. IRVS is a simple and quick procedure for obtaining a preliminary risk assessment rating. Risk is determined by evaluating key building characteristics for consequences, threats, and vulnerabilities. The screening process can be conducted by one or two screeners and completed in a few hours. The procedure is intended to be used to identify the level of risk for a single building, to identify the relative risk among buildings in a community or region, and to be used as a prioritization tool for further risk management activities. Information from the visual inspection can be used to support higher level assessments and mitigation options by experts."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011-07-01
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Integrated Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive Program: The Final Report, 2010 ICBRNE Sensor Detection Demonstration Program
"The goal of the Integrated Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosive (ICBRNE) detection demonstration program is to educate, explore, test and develop improved interoperability of emergency information using standards. The ICBRNE process enables multiple organizations from various jurisdictions, each using their own chosen tools and standards, to work together to manage emergencies more effectively and save lives. This report provides in its short 15 page introduction the primary lessons learned and guidance for other cities or organizations who may wish to understand the essence of the project and how to replicate this information sharing process to achieve similar benefits in their own region. The report details the merits of the program both from the perspective of increased safety as well as cost/time savings."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011-06-02?
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Federal Recovery & Resiliency Programs [Presentation]
"The panel discussion focused on the Federal and Regional investments in all hazard recovery. Participants provided an overview of programs from both a Federal and local perspective with a moderated panel with Federal Leaders and Local UASI representatives. This presentation covered IBRD [International Bank for Reconstruction and Development], PATH/AWARE [Prioritization Analysis Toolset for All-Hazards/Analyzer for Wide-Area Restoration Effectiveness], WARRP [Wide Area Recovery and Resiliency Program], the WARRP Recovery Framework, and BOTE [Bio-Response Operational Testing and Evaluation]."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate; Wide Area Recovery and Resiliency Program (WARRP)
Briese, Garry L.
2011-06-01
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Buildings and Infrastructure Protection Series: Preventing Structures from Collapsing to Limit Damage to Adjacent Structures and Additional Loss of Life when Explosives Devices Impact Highly Populated Urban Centers
"This Technical Report describes Weidlinger Associates, Inc.'s Phase I effort to study the effects of Blast in Urban Environments under sponsorship of the Department of Homeland Security. This effort represents a wide ranging investigation into Urban Blast effects including (a) the influence of the presence of buildings on the blast pressures propagating from explosions located in urban settings, (b) the potential for these blast pressures to damage primary structural members of buildings, (c) the sensitivity of several common building design types to experience progressive collapse due to damage of key support members, and (d) the likelihood that blast pressures may damage building equipment needed for Emergency Evacuation, Rescue and Recovery operations. The results and insights from this broad based investigation were integrated within a fast running software program specifically focused on the Manhattan Financial District. This tool represents a 'proof of concept' demonstration of an approach for a quick running software tool for security planning and first responders' uses. This first phase effort lays the technical foundation and software framework for refining the approach in later phases and adapting the methodology for other critical urban centers in the United [Corrected] States."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011-06
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Blast Load Effects in Urban Canyons- The Urban Blast Tool (UBT)
"Since 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate's Infrastructure Protection and Disaster Management Division (IDD) has been working to develop different methods for the rapid evaluation of significant damage to buildings resulting from explosive attacks in large urban centers. For this study, the streetscapes of the New York City Financial District were modeled to represent the surfaces of all the buildings and the geometry of all the streets and alleys. Extensive Computational Fluid Dynamics analyses were performed for different size explosive threats and the results were stored in the UBT [Urban Blast Tool]. Nonlinear explicit dynamic finite element analyses were performed for representative structures to determine the effectiveness of the simplified methods to evaluate the potential for progressive collapse."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011-05-17
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National Alliance for Public Safety GIS Foundation (NAPSG) Symbology Working Group Meeting - March 22-24, 2011
Taken from the Executive Summary: "The National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) seeks to establish a common and scalable approach to incident response operations across the nation. To that end, many of the NIMS principles codify practices to ensure interoperability and compatibility in terms of both technology and business practices. However, the current state of Incident Command System (ICS) geospatial doctrine does not establish a standard methodology for representing information visually, a common practice in state geographic information systems (GIS). As a result, many jurisdictions have established their own representative symbols, resulting in a large number of disparate symbol sets being in use. Without a common symbol set, multi-disciplinary and multi-jurisdictional sharing of geospatial information becomes problematic. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate's (S&T) First Responder Technologies (R-Tech) program has been tasked by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) National Integration Center to undertake a project to develop/identify a best practice symbol set and consensus methodology for the visual display of information in ICS operations. Phase I of the project consisted of performing a due diligence study to determine applicable current and past work in this area to avoid duplication of efforts. This included conducting research and meeting with representatives from relevant stakeholder groups. In Phase II, R-Tech partnered with the National Alliance for Public Safety GIS Foundation (NAPSG) to leverage their extensive network of practitioners and the symbol set research they have conducted to date."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011-04-11
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Framework for a Biothreat Field Response Mission Capability
"The critical elements of a mission capability for biothreat response include: 1. A concept of operations (ConOps) to support use of fielded assays and coordination of response among the key stakeholders in the jurisdiction; 2. Training and certification of end-users; 3. Proficiency testing in the hands of the end-user in the field; 4. Sample collection and handling standards; and 5. Assays that have been properly tested by a qualified third party and certified to meet or exceed appropriately recognized national voluntary consensus standards for performance. This document describes significant progress toward development of the first, fourth, and fifth critical elements listed above and that are needed to support a field-based mission capability. […] In addition to describing the progress that has been made, this document describes which elements require remaining work to develop a field-based mission capability, as well as a framework for how these elements should be integrated to build a mission capability for biothreat detection in the field. The field-based mission capability will enhance communication and coordination for initial response to suspected biothreats among members of the response community, including: local HAZMAT and law enforcement, emergency response officials, EPA's On-Scene Coordinators and Environmental Response Team, FBI Hazardous Materials Response Teams, FBI WMD Coordinators, public health officials and reference laboratories that participate in the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] Laboratory LRN [Laboratory Response Network]. These key stakeholders at the Federal, state and local levels have worked to develop several of the critical elements. Additionally, the laboratory-based mission capability is described in this document and is the essential confirmatory follow-on activity to any field testing for biothreat agents."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011-04-05
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Buildings and Infrastructure Protection Series: Integrated Rapid Visual Screening of Mass Transit Stations
"DHS [Department of Homeland Security] has sponsored the development of a methodology for assessing the risk and resilience of mass transit stations to terrorist attacks and selected natural hazards. The methodology, referred to as the integrated rapid visual screening (IRVS) for mass transit stations, was developed by the DHS Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T), Infrastructure Protection and Disaster Management Division, in partnership with public and private-sector stakeholders involved in the design, operation, and management of critical infrastructure. The result of an IRVS of mass transit stations is a quantifiable assessment of the risk of a given mass transit station to a terrorist attack or natural disaster that leads to catastrophic losses (fatalities, injuries, damage, or business interruption) and a quantifiable assessment of the resiliency of the station (ability to recovery from such an event). […] The primary purpose of the IRVS of mass transit stations is to rank the risk in a group of mass transit stations in a community. The results of an IRVS can also be used in infrastructure-specific risk assessments and higher level assessments of threats, consequences, and vulnerabilities. This document is the manual for conducting an IRVS of mass transit stations, including subway stations, and as such, provides guidance in rating a mass transit station's potential risk of and resiliency to terrorist attacks and selected natural disasters (fire and flooding)."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011-03
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Buildings and Infrastructure Protection Series: Integrated Rapid Visual Screening of Tunnels
"DHS [Department of Homeland Security] has sponsored the development of a methodology for assessing the risk and resilience of tunnels to terrorist attacks and selected natural hazards. The methodology, referred to as the integrated rapid visual screening (IRVS) for tunnels, was developed by the DHS Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T), Infrastructure Protection and Disaster Management Division, in partnership with the public and private-sector stakeholders involved in the design, operation, and management of critical infrastructure. The result of an IRVS of tunnels is a quantifiable assessment of the risk of a given tunnel to a terrorist attack or natural disaster that leads to catastrophic losses (fatalities, injuries, damage, or business interruption) and a quantifiable assessment of the resiliency of the tunnel (ability to recovery from such an event). […] The primary purpose of the IRVS of tunnels is to rank the risk in a group of tunnels in a transportation system or region. The results of an IRVS can also be used in infrastructure-specific risk assessments and higher level assessments of threats, consequences, and vulnerabilities. This document is the manual for conducting an IRVS of tunnels and provides guidance in rating a tunnel's potential risk of and resiliency to terrorist attacks and selected natural disasters (fire and flooding)."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011-03
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Video Quality in Public Safety: Workshop Report
"In partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office for Interoperability and Compatibility, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Public Safety Communications Research program (PSCR) hosted the fourth Video Quality in Public Safety (VQiPS) Workshop. Held February 16-18, 2011, this Workshop provided VQiPS Working Group members with the opportunity to share key information and best practices about video quality in various operational environments. United by the common goal of improving video quality for public safety, participants represented a diverse range of public safety agencies and practitioners, homeland security operations, and critical infrastructure communities across the Nation."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011-02-18
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Ultra High Performance Concrete: Roadmap to Commercialization
"The Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) Workshop was held on January 11 -- 12, 2011 at Columbia University in New York City. The workshop was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate, and the National Transportation Security Center of Excellence (NTSCOE) at the University of Connecticut. The purpose of the workshop was to identify impediments to UHPC acceptance and usage in the U.S., and to identify actions needed to promote UHPC acceptance and use in U.S. construction. The workshop was attended by over 80 participants from 8 countries representing federal and state agencies, laboratories, universities, industry associations and organizations, and the private sector."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011-01-12
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Interoperability Technology Today Fall 2010 / Winter 2011
"Interoperability Technology Today is published quarterly by the Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at no cost to subscribers. Its mission is to provide the emergency response community, policy makers, and local officials with information about interoperability initiatives nationwide, best practices, and lessons learned." This edition includes the following articles: "Fairfax, Arlington, and Alexandria Counties EOCs [Emergency Operations Center] First to Integrate CAD-to-CAD [Computer-Aided Dispatch] Interoperable System" and "In Memory of Jim Thomas".
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011
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Interoperability Technology Today, Summer 2011
"Interoperability Technology Today is published by the Science and Technology Directorate's First Responders Group (FRG) at no cost to subscribers. Its mission is to provide the emergency response community, policy makers, and local officials with information about interoperability initiatives nationwide, best practices, and lessons learned. FRG interoperability programs address both data and voice interoperability." This edition includes the following articles: "GODAWGS [Georgia Online Disaster Awareness Geospatial System]: Leader of the (Info-Sharing) Pack"; "R-Tech Tackles Top-Priority Needs"; "OIC [Office for Interoperability and Compatibility] Joins Forces with First Response Community to Alert and Warn the Public Using Social Media"; "Big-Time T&E [testing and evaluation] in the Big Apple"; and "Identifying Solutions in an Evolving Video Environment".
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2011
