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Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation (RDT&E) Program Frequently Asked Questions
"The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) envisions a future where all Americans are able to receive accurate alerts and warnings, regardless of communications technology used. This vision is being achieved through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). IPAWS is a modernization of the Nation's alert and warning infrastructure, integrating new and existing public alert and warning systems and technologies. In partnership with DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), IPAWS is working to incorporate alerts to mobile devices through Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), formerly known as the Commercial Mobile Alert Service (CMAS). This inclusion is an acknowledgement of the important role that wireless technologies play in Americans' lives today. Given the wide use of wireless mobile devices, WEA ensures more people can receive actionable alerts to help avoid danger or respond more quickly during crises--thereby saving lives and property."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2014-04-04?
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Digital Video Quality Handbook
"Anyone who has lost connectivity or suffered packet loss while watching a live televised sporting event knows the frustration of missing a key play because of a poor picture. For security practitioners using incident video services, however, a clear picture could mean the difference between pursuit and capture, loss and recovery, or even life and death. This guidance document--Digital Video Quality Handbook--links a design process with real life situations that use video in public safety applications, called 'use cases,' to the product classes, network infrastructure, and display devices in the solution. […] This document provides voluntary guidance in deploying video quality for network video surveillance applications. All requirements and references stated in this handbook are consistent with established best practices."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2013-05
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Defining Video Quality Requirements: A Guide for Public Safety
Taken from the Executive Summary: "Often, emergency responders must consider a multitude of factors, such as installation, testing, support, redundancy, and training, before making video component procurement decisions. The guide provides an overview of video systems, defines functional concepts of video quality, explains how to generalize a use case with a use class, and provides a brief explanation of the qualitative aspects of video components. Emergency responders involved in the procurement process-of a video system either in part or in its entirety-will find this guide valuable because it considers an end-to-end system. For example, this guide identifies needs associated with a video stream as it travels from the scene (camera) through the system to the end user viewing the scene on a remote display. There is a wide range of information that exists related to video quality and selection of video components such as installation, maintenance, training, and interoperability. While this guide does not provide detailed specifications and standards for video components, the Video Quality in Public Safety Working Group plans to release future guidance on technical performance specifications and standards that address various components of the video system."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2013-05
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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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User Manual: Mutual Aid Support System (MASS)
"The Kentucky Division of Emergency Management (KYEM), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology (DHS S&T) Directorate First Responders Group (FRG), the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), and private sector partners, is developing the Mutual Aid Support System (MASS). MASS is a Web-based platform designed to categorize and track organizations, people, and equipment and to aggregate the information into Mission Ready Packages (MRPs) to allow for efficient and effective management of critical resources during emergencies. This new capability streamlines the resource request and acquisition process and reduces time gaps between steps. MASS integrates with existing resource management software: no purchasing or upgrading existing investments is necessary. The system aggregates and helps organize current resource inventory into MRPs using an easy-to-use database. MRP data stored in MASS can then be exported into an XML file format that can be uploaded to the EMAC Operating System (OS), which facilitates the national mutual aid request and acquisition broadcasting process. Finally, MASS lets users control who has access to view an organization's or agency's resource inventories."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2014-03
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First Responder Support Tools (FiRST) Sharing Service (FSS) Operational Field Assessment
Taken from the Executive Summary: "On September 18, 2013, the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) executed the Operational Field Assessment of the First Responder Support Tools (FiRST) Sharing Service (FSS) for the R-Tech program, a program that seeks to rapidly develop new technology solutions for first responders, in conjunction with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) at NUSTL in New York City. The FSS is an extension of the FiRST application, which was developed by Applied Research Associates Inc. FiRST is a map-based tool used to help the first-on-the-scene responders coordinate response activities. FiRST is specifically designed to help responders handle incidents involving improvised explosive devices or hazardous materials incidents at the very critical moments before specialists can be brought to the scene. FSS is a suite of Web-based software tools that enhance the FiRST tool and allow information to be shared with other first responders who may need access to make more informed response decisions. Overall, the NYPD participants found the FSS to be useful. It has the ability to positively augment the way first responders approach incidents; however, it was not a high-priority need for their agency. Currently the NYPD's standard operating procedures minimize the need for a technological solution to create safe zones for threats. The value added by the device is great but not high enough to warrant the necessary changes to current operating procedures and the cost of implementation. Participants provided feedback concerning methods of implementation, the graphical user interface, and features that may be incorporated into future iterations to make FSS more useful and marketable to other jurisdictions and agencies."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
Patel, Bhargav
2013-08
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Executive Summary: Next Generation Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
"While the current self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) used by firefighters in low oxygen environments provides them with air to breathe, they are heavy, bulky, and present snag hazards. Consequently, firefighters and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) issued a requirement for a next-generation SCBA that is lighter and smaller, increases first responders' mobility, reduces their fatigue, and has a sleeker profile to both minimize snag and entanglement hazards and to enable them to work more easily in confined spaces. IAFF also envisions the new SCBA as having plastic instead of metal cylinders (thereby reducing shrapnel effects if the cylinders are punctured or otherwise compromised) which are mounted on a backframe that shifts much of the SCBA's weight from the firefighters' shoulders to their hips. The target customers for the technology are local, tribal, state, and federal firefighters."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2014-03-20
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Ambulance Patient Compartment Human Factors Design Guidebook
Taken from the Executive Summary: "The Ambulance Patient Compartment Human Factors Design Guidebook, hereafter referred to as the Guidebook, is the result of a multiyear effort on the part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) First Responders Group (FRG). It is intended to provide tools and guidance to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) community that will enable the design and manufacture of ambulance patient compartments that are safer and more efficient. The FRG received support in the development of the Guidebook through collaboration between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), BMT Designers and Planners (D&P), and Carlow International as well as input from members of the EMS community representing both EMS providers (EMSP) and manufacturers. EMSP routinely perform essential medical care as they stabilize patients at emergency scenes and provide treatment en route to medical facilities. High injury and fatality rates among EMSP [...] underscore the need for safer and more resilient ambulance design and construction, more efficient patient compartment layouts that allow EMSP to be seated and restrained while tending to patients, and ergonomically designed work spaces that keep EMSP and their patients safe and comfortable and EMSP productive while performing their tasks."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2015-01-13
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Case Study of Interference Between Public Safety Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Public Safety 700 MHz Land Mobile Radio
"Newly developed broadband wireless technology to benefit the consumer market, known as '4G' (fourth generation) or Long Term Evolution (LTE), has been adapted to operate on frequencies to be exclusively used by public safety, and is to be deployed nationwide as the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). Public safety LTE occupies two blocks of spectrum at 758-768 MHz, which is paired with duplex spectrum that is offset +30 MHz, at 788-798 MHz. These frequency bands are adjacent to public safety narrowband spectrum for land mobile radio (LMR), which occupies 769-775 MHz that is similarly paired with duplex spectrum +30 MHz offset at 799-805 MHz. This technical white paper reports on the observations by Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) personnel of one case study on the interference potential between these two services."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2013-06
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Operational Test and Evaluation Performance Report: Halcyon FireGround Compass®, Version 1.1
"This report provides a summary of the findings from the operational test and evaluation (OT&E) of the FireGround Compass, a life safety technology for firefighters sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) TechSolutions program. This operational test and evaluation performance report is designed to provide a summary of the events that took place during the testing activities, which began on June 23, 2008 when TechSolutions received the FireGround Compass test units and performed the initial inspection and calibration. This report also includes a summary of a heat resistance retest conducted on November 13, 2008, per a request from the TechSolutions Program Director. TechSolutions attempted an earlier operational test and evaluation of the FireGround Compass in April 2008. This effort was halted following the product demonstration and training portion of the test. Details regarding that initial test can be found in Appendix A: Preliminary Test Report -- Halcyon FireGround Compass."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2009-01-26
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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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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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Cyber Security Division: Transition to Practice Technology Guide (Volume 1)
Through the TTP [Transition to Practice] Program, S&T [DHS Science & Technology Directorate] is identifying innovative, federally funded cybersecurity research that addresses cybersecurity needs and helping to transition this research into the Homeland Security Enterprise through partnerships and commercialization. This guide represents an important step in that process as all of the technologies included in this guide are ready to be piloted in an operational environment or to be transitioned into a commercially available product. [...] This technology guide is the first edition of what will be an annual publication."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2013?
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Menlo Report: Ethical Principles Guiding Information and Communication Technology Research [2012]
From the Executive Summary: "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 [information and communication technology] 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 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."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2012-08-03
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Research Study of Ambulance Operations and Best Practice Considerations for Emergency Medical Services Personnel: First Responders Group
From the Executive Summary: "The emergency medical services (EMS) community faces many challenges in providing patient care while maintaining the safety of their patients and themselves. One factor that influences patient care and safety is the ability of the EMS provider operating the ambulance to quickly but safely maneuver to the site of the medical emergency and subsequently transport the patient(s) to the hospital. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Emergency Medical Services Community identified a need to research best practices for ambulance operators and identify safety gaps. This research report coincides with the DHS Science and Technology Directorate's First Responders Group and the Resilient Systems Division's partnership with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, BMT Designers and Planners (D&P), and Carlow International's project to develop ambulance safety and design standards and recommendations. The project provides design guidance for ambulance patient compartments for crashworthiness, patient safety and comfort, and EMS provider safety and performance. This research report summarizes the efforts of this team to identify best practices and considerations for use and consideration by the EMS community. A team comprised of D&P and Carlow International used human performance requirements analysis, literature reviews and driver (ambulance operator) interviews to identify ambulance operator tasks required in responding to an incident, transporting patients and potential inhibitors to performance and safety. This research report summarizes best practice information received and consolidates it in an appendix for consideration by the EMS community."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
Boone, Carlotta M.; Avery, Larry W.; Malone, Thomas B.
2015-03
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Wireless Emergency Alerts: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation
"Successful delivery of WEA [Wireless Emergency Alerts] to mobile devices requires four steps: [1] An authorized alert originator, such as a state's Office of Emergency Management, uses a Common Alerting Protocol-compliant alert origination tool to send a geographically targeted alert to the federal alert aggregator managed by FEMA. [2] The federal alert aggregator receives and verifies the alert's authenticity. [3] The alert aggregator translates the alert into a standardized format optimized for dissemination, and sends the alert to the wireless carriers' systems. [4] Upon receipt of an alert, the wireless carriers broadcast it to all WEA-enabled mobile devices serviced by their networks and located within the geo-targeted alert area, including those roaming from other carrier networks. […] WEA RDT&E [research, development, testing, and evaluation] research focus areas [1] Public Response: Research to better understand and improve public response to alerts and warnings. [2] Diverse Populations: Research to better understand how to ensure the same timely and effective alerts reach diverse populations, including those with functional and access needs. [3] Geo-targeting: Research to better determine when more granular geographic targeting is appropriate and to identify, test, and evaluate geographically targeting technologies."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2014-03-06
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Accessible Common Alerting Protocol Radio Data System Demonstration: Gulf Coast States, Final Report
From the Executive Summary: "The goal of this project was to create and demonstrate end-to-end text radio emergency alerting using Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) messages from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) aggregator for individuals living in the U.S. Gulf Coast who are deaf or hard of hearing. Tools created during the project were designed to be used by Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS)-connected FM [frequency modulation] radio stations and to have broad application for adoption by other commercial and non-commercial FM broadcasters using Radio Data Systems (RDS), with the understanding that deaf and hard-of-hearing residents living in the vulnerable Gulf States region would benefit directly from receipt of emergency messages that are currently provided in an audio format to hearing individuals. In utilizing elements of the public radio infrastructure in new ways, NPR [national public radio] demonstrated a system for delivering emergency messaging using CAP messages from the FEMA IPAWS aggregator, which may be expanded now that the underlying infrastructure has been developed."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2014-08
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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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First Responders Group: Improving Communication Between Ambulances and the Hearing Impaired
This document was delivered on July 28, 2013, and formally released on September 10, 2013. "Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers face high rates of injuries and fatalities. There is a need to ensure that drivers are accurately warned of the presence of an ambulance so that they can quickly remove themselves from the ambulance's path and reduce the probability of injury to themselves, EMS workers, and patients. One population that particularly faces challenges in recognizing an ambulance's presence is the hearing-impaired. Over 38 million people (12 percent of the population) in the United States have a significant hearing loss […]. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) First Responders Group (FRG), in partnership with the S&T Resilient Systems Division (RSD), sponsored an effort to explore the challenges faced by the hearing-impaired in detecting and localizing an ambulance in the area and identify technologies that could address these challenges. A team comprised of BMT Designers & Planners (D&P) and Carlow International used information gathered from literature reviews, interviews, and surveys to examine hearing-impaired drivers' needs in responding to ambulances and potential technology to meet said needs. A set of high-level research objectives and considerations were developed to explore the issue of ambulance communication with hearing-impaired drivers. These included: [1] What characteristics of warning devices would be most effective in communicating ambulance presence and location to hearing-impaired drivers? This would include single modalities like visual or tactile/haptic as well as combined modalities. [2] How effective the warning devices are with respect to improving hearing-impaired driver situation awareness and responses. This report describes the research approach and results in detail."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
Boone, Carlotta M.; Avery, Larry W.; Moore, Jennifer . . .
2013-07-28
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Disentangling the Lexicons of Disaster Response in Twitter
From the Abstract: "People around the world use social media platforms such as Twitter to express their opinion about various aspects of daily life. In the same way social media changes communication in daily life, it also is transforming the way individuals communicate during disasters and emergencies. Emergency officials have come to rely on social media to communicate alerts and updates. How do users communicate risk on social media? We used a novel information-theoretic unsupervised learning tool, CorEx [Correlation Explanation], to extract and classify highly relevant words used by the public on Twitter during known emergencies, such as fires, explosions, and hurricanes. By utilizing the resulting classification strategy, authorities may be able to use the derived language to craft more relevant risk communication to maximize the propagation of short-message broadcasts such as the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) service."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
Hodas, Nathan O.; Harrison, Joshua; Ver Steeg, Greg . . .
2014-08?
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Apex Program: Next Generation First Responder
This factsheet describes high-impact Apex programs launched by the DHS Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate. "Apex programs provide the homeland security enterprise with analyses of stakeholder needs and the capabilities to meet those needs."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2015-02-04
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Enhancing Community Safety: Gang Graffiti Automatic Recognition and Interpretation System
This factsheet describes the Gang Graffiti Automatic Recognition and Interpretation (GARI) system, which was developed by the Center for Visualization and Data Analytics, a DHS Science and Technology (S&T) Center of Excellence. This system identifies and tracks gang activity by analyzing gang graffiti through an app. The user takes an image of the graffiti and GARI gives an immediate analysis of the tag, including gang affiliation and interpretation. GARI is available on Android systems and desktop computers. Currently law enforcement officials in Indiana are using GARI.
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
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Project Responder 4: 2014 National Technology Plan for Emergency Response to Catastrophic Incidents
From the Executive Summary: "Project Responder 4 (PR4) is the fourth in a series of studies begun in 2003 to focus on identifying capability needs, shortfalls and priorities for catastrophic incident response. The approach for the PR4 study allowed a longitudinal look at 11 years of enduring gaps and needs, and distinguishing them from emerging needs and technology. The results of this study are captured in this 'Project Responder 4: 2014 National Technology Plan for Emergency Response to Catastrophic Incidents'. PR4 identifies a set of enduring and emerging capability needs, frames them into technology objectives and assesses the state of science and technology to meet those needs. Findings are based on discussions with federal, state and local first responders as well as technical subject matter experts (SMEs). These interactions ensure that potential solutions reflect operational considerations and are based on an actionable and achievable technology path."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
Royal, Michelle L.; Jennings, David M.
2014-07
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After Action Report: Next Generation Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Discussion Meeting, June 26-27, 2013
From the Executive Summary: "The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate's (S&T) Support to the Homeland Security Enterprise and First Responders Group, commonly referred to as the First Responders Group (FRG), works to strengthen the emergency preparedness and response community's ability to protect the homeland. By involving first responders throughout the technology development process, FRG pursues a better understanding of needs and requirements and develops innovative solutions to the most pressing challenges faced during daily operations and emergencies. FRG engages first responders at an operational level to identify their roles, needs, concerns, and obstacles. The need for responder input led to the creation of the First Responder Resource Group (FRRG). The FRRG is comprised of over 120 practitioners from around the country representing multiple disciplines including fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services (EMS), emergency management, communications, and the medical community. In addition to speaking to the needs of their respective disciplines, many of the members represent major national emergency response associations." This document includes images and tables to illustrate the text.
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2013-09-24
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National Hurricane Program Technology Modernization Local Evacuation Alert Verification (LEAV) Portfolio
"The National Hurricane Program (NHP) provides support to state, local, and tribal emergency managers (EMs) to support the planning, evaluation and execution of tropical storm evacuation decisions. Hurricane Evacuation Studies (HES) that are prepared long before a storm ever hits, define the regions where varying storm intensities present the greatest hazard to the public; these studies inform 'evacuation zones.' EMs use these 'evacuation zones,' identified by letters or numbers in the HES, to determine which zone needs to be evacuated for a particular storm. Once an evacuation decision is made, EMs have the responsibility of alerting the impacted public and overseeing the efficient evacuation of the affected zones. A well-known challenge in evacuations is that the public is often unaware of what the 'letter' or 'number' of their evacuation zone is. While local campaigns attempt to notify the public of their zone, the effectiveness is limited. Some members of the public that should evacuate do not and those that should not may opt to evacuate. In both cases the risk of injury or death is increased."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2015-10-01
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From Concept to Reality: Operationalizing Social Media for Preparedness, Reponse and Recovery: Virtual Social Media Working Group and DHS First Responders Group
"The role of social media in operations and decision-making continues to evolve as it is increasingly used for communications in preparedness, response and recovery. Although government agencies commonly use social media to push information to the public, there is hesitation to use information from the public for operational decision-making due to concerns relating to verification, privacy and liability. While accurate information is critical for decision-making, the inability to verify the trustworthiness of sources makes decision makers reluctant to trust social media sources. Despite this challenge, information gleaned from social media has proven to be useful and support for its use will continue to expand once integrated into an agency's operational workflow in a robust and complete manner. The development of social media solutions has historically been sporadic, disjointed, and often performed without consideration for existing technologies, best practices or lessons learned. Ongoing, iterative experimentation is essential in long-term technology development because it supports the identification of information and technical requirements, and standards. Experimentation also supports the institutionalization of social media activities. To truly integrate social media into all aspects of public safety, from preparedness to response and recovery, it must be included in the following: planning and strategy development; operational and procedural documentation; legal, security, privacy, and other related policies; education, training, hiring, and exercises; evaluation and assessment; standards development; private sector collaboration and technology development; and funding strategy (both short- and long-term). Additionally, public safety agencies, especially those with legacy technology investments and long-term purchasing strategies, must consider long-term adoption and continued use of social media. This includes the need for maintaining flexibility to adapt as technology advances and internet trends change."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2016-04
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Environmental Assessment of Proposed NYC (New York City) Subway Tracer Particle and Gas Releases for the Underground Transport Restoration (UTR) Project
From the Executive Summary: "This Environmental Assessment (EA) documents the analysis of the potential effects from proposed tests involving the release of low concentrations of particles and gases at three stations within the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (NYCT) subway system by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T). No construction, permanent land disturbance, or land use changes would occur with implementation of the Proposed Action or the Alternatives. No appreciable risk to passengers, MTA NYCT workers, or field test personnel is anticipated. Subways are attractive targets for terrorists to release a biological weapon due to the low physical security and rapid agent dispersion from train and passenger activity. Subway dispersion models have been created to aid in understanding where biological particles travel after a release. These models help in both pre- and post-attack planning for first responders. Pre-attack planning includes identifying ideal locations for bio-detection technologies. Post-attack planning includes determining the source location for attribution, identifying exposed passengers, and aiding the remediation effort (e.g., mapping, decontamination). While the subway dispersion models are critically important for homeland defense, there is little quantitative evidence as to their accuracy due to limited testing."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2016-04-14
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Annual Report 2014: National Urban Security Technology Laboratory
Taken from the Introduction: "The National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) celebrates another exceptional year in which it delivered on its mission to test, evaluate and analyze homeland security capabilities, while serving as a technical authority to the first responders protecting our cities. NUSTL's 2014 Annual Report details its accomplishments and recognizes our staff that made such accomplishments possible. […] In addition, NUSTL also expanded its Radiological/Nuclear Response and Recovery (RNRR) Research and Development (R&D) portfolio by initiating six new projects that aim to identify gaps in training, provide a transportation hub with the capability to detect the presence of radiation and initiate the development of a handbook that details guidance and field operational job tools. NUSTL also strengthened its relationships with the federal, interagency, local and state first responders, academia and private sector entities this year through extensive outreach by collaborating with more than 110 organizations. This was done primarily through NUSTL's New York Area Science and Technology Forum (NYAST). In 2014, NUSTL held NYAST meetings on virtual training for first responders, electromagnetic pulse effects on first responder equipment and on the latest advancements in surveillance technologies. More than 100 NYAST members, representing numerous organizations across the Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE) attended the three NYAST meetings in person and virtually through the NYAST webinar."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
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Video Datacasting: Houston Pilot After Action Report
"The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL), under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), First Responders Group (FRG), Office for Interoperability and Compatibility (OIC), executed a demonstration and evaluation of a prototype datacasting system installed at the offices of Houston Public Media (Public Broadcasting Station KUHT) and operated by the University of Houston Office of Emergency Management (OEM) in Houston, Texas, on July 20-24, 2015. During the exercise, two potential operational scenarios involving public safety and private sector entities were executed, and the datacasting system was used to broadcast relevant video and other data to test participants. The test team from JHU/APL and subcontractor SpectraRep analyzed the system's technical performance and its operational utility. Datacasting leverages underutilized capacity in digital television signals to provide secure, targeted broadcasts of data, including voice, text, files, images and video. Data is encoded, encrypted, registered (for access control), and multiplexed with other streams into the digital television signal. Relatively inexpensive datacasting receivers are used to view the encrypted data. Existing digital TV transmission infrastructure (i.e., power, radio frequency equipment, antenna, tower) is used, so datacasting does not add a significant cost to the broadcaster. Using television station infrastructure makes datacasting highly reliable, especially during emergencies."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2015-10
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2015 Video Quality in Public Safety (VQiPS) Workshop After Action Report
"This year's Workshop brought together more than 65 attendees including public safety, industry, standards development organization representatives, federal partners and more. Our impetus for continuing to host this workshop is to provide public safety with a venue to share their most pressing capability gaps in the video arena, as well as share with them the latest VQiPS knowledge products/tools in development, emerging technologies from industry partners, and the latest in video standards developments. The workshop provided updates from federal partners including the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice and the First Responder Network Authority. There was an overview of DHS S&T's SAVER [System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders] Program, along with a review of their latest report on body worn cameras. Attendees gained insight and heard about key lessons learned from the recent Baltimore riots. Case study sessions included presentations from representatives from the Philadelphia Police Department, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, General Mitchell International Airport and the Port Authority New York and New Jersey. Attendees were also able to hear about ongoing activities within the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council, such as a recent EMS [Emergency Medical Services] video survey they conducted. There was a session on the latest video standards, which included presentations from the Underwriters Laboratory and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Finally, there were numerous industry partners in attendance highlighting the latest in video technologies, specifically in the areas of license plate readers, video redaction, body worn cameras, video imaging, video compression and more."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2015?
