Real-time detection, monitoring and analyzis of threats and hazards

The focus of this is the ongoing surveillance and monitoring of threats on an incident scene. Solutions developed to address this will allow responders to continuously evaluate existing, emerging, and potential hazards. Areas that may monitoring include a broad radius around an incident scene, areas where and actions are underway, or specific ingress/egress routes. Addressing this gap includes a modular solution comprised of fixed and/or mobile platforms that carry sensor packages; software systems that integrate data, assess threats, and provide decision support; and a graphical user interface to display threat and hazard information.

The nature and inherent danger of threats and hazards change over the course of an incident. This is exemplified by the cascading effects following landfall of Hurricane Katrina. Mass flooding and leakage from chemical facilities significantly changed the nature of the operations. Awareness of the threats and hazards that already exist on the scene, as well as those that have the potential to affect health, safety, or operations is critical.

Active threats and hazards are defined in this document as objects or persons that exist on an incident scene that are currently or imminently dangerous to the life or health of responders, victims, or the public. Examples include: active shooters, the presence of flammable or explosive chemicals in proximity to fire or gunfire, significant structural instability of buildings or debris in proximity to response operations, booby-traps, etc. Identification, geolocation, and monitoring of these threats will allow responders and incident commanders to conduct operations more safely.

Passive threats and hazards are defined in this documents objects or persons that exist on an incident scene that are not currently or imminently dangerous to the life or health of responders, victims, or the public. Examples include: the presence of household or industrial chemicals on an incident scene, the forecast of inclement weather in proximity to response operations, etc. The presence of objects or persons that may be dangerous does not mean that the danger will manifest, but it is essential to responders to know that they exist. Passive threats may become active during the course of the incident.

This second gap is distinct from the third gap, “the ability to rapidly identify hazardous agents and contaminants, “which focuses on the rapid detection, identification, and characterization of specific chemical, biological, and radiological hazards. Solutions to address the gap described in this document may integrate some of the data from “the ability to rapidly identify hazardous agents and contaminants”. However, this gap is distinct as it addresses the continuous monitoring and analysis of a wider array of threats, along with the integration and visualization of threat data.

Rationale & related CM function(s)

Detects and continuously monitors threats and hazards on the incident scene in real time

Assesses threat and hazard data to provide appropriate guidance and decision support to responders and commanders

Provides visualization capability of threat locations and proximity to responders.

Develop expertise for hazards mapping, vulnerabilities and risk assessment

Provenance

IFAFRI Common capability gaps

IFAFRI SOO Capability Gap 2 (PDF)

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