The Department of Defense www.defense.gov is using geospatial or mapping technology to deal with the consequences of earthquakes, hurricanes, other disasters, and humanitarian crises. Humanitarian disaster relief operations personnel have reported gaps in being able to share geographic data on critical aspects related to emergency response with governmental and non-governmental organizations.
The open-source software assisting with disasters and emergency relief is called “Geospatial Tool for Security, Humanitarian Assistance, and Partnership Engagement” or referred to as GeoSHAPE. The software integrates data from multiple sources and displays it in a dynamic internet-based map to provide situational awareness and help in decision-making.
The software shows the location and availability of hospitals, helicopter landing zones, sources for food, water, and medical supplies, the condition of roads and bridges, deployment of rescue personnel, and other key elements that are plotted in a map that authorized users can see from anywhere in the world. The mobile application “Arbiter” part of the GeoSHAPE, lets users capture data and photos in the field.
Organizations can use the tool to collaboratively create a dynamic picture of available resources and the extent of damage. This can be available in near real-time when connectivity is present, or synchronized as soon as a connection is established.
When GeoSHAPE is ready for use worldwide, the software will be accessible in two ways. One way is through an internet portal using an application called DisasterAWARE hosted by the Pacific Disaster Center www.pdc.org (PDC) in Hawaii and the second way is available through downloadable software openly available on the internet. PDC is managed by the University of Hawaii under a cooperative agreement with DOD’s Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy http://policy.defense.gov.
Aside from PDC, other organizations involved in the program are the Army Engineer Research and Development Center www.erdc.usage.army.mil, State Department’s Humanitarian Information Unit www.state.gov/s/inr/hin, and LMN Solutions www.lmnsolutions.com a IT company.
So far, GeoSHAPE and other technologies have been tested to improve disaster response such as:
- A portable unmanned aerial system with an on-board camera to allow for overhead visual assessments of damage sponsored by DOD’s Rapid Reaction Technology Office
- A wireless mesh network to provide internet access to remote or disconnected areas
- A medical application developed in conjunction with TATRC to use for speech translation when doctors and patients face language barriers
- The collaboration portal called “All Partners Access Network” (APAN) that provides a place for organizations to coordinate events across geographic barriers