NATSC project demonstrates the latest project developments

Date:  July 9, 2010

On Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at 1 p.m. EST, members of the North American Transportation Security Center project team met at the NIHS office in Somerset, Kentucky to demonstrate the latest project developments. 

Dr. Joe Crabtree with the University of Kentucky is implementing a hazmat truck tracking center.  The University of Kentucky, specifically the Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) and its partners, is expanding upon the work completed under the Hazmat Truck Security Pilot by building a functional prototype of a hazmat truck tracking center.  A multi-state implementation program will support development of the hazmat truck tracking center into full operational status.

The project team demonstrated the Security Specialist Desktop.  The demonstration illustrated the capabilities of the technology used in the system i.e. the 3-D features of the maps.  The software also incorporates requirements of future deliverables, such as the illumination of red, urban areas.  In addition to the functionality of the software, Fedtrack also showed the components of the Security Specialist’s workstation to iterate how the software will be used.  A working Plume model was also viewed and discussed.

Below, from L-R is the NATSC team present for the meeting:  Michael Barclay, president of Coldstream Digital, LLC; Kirby Stephens of Kirby Stephens Design; Doug Kreis, PI and John Minor IV, VP/COO of Visual Risk Technologies

NIHS News Image

The Challenge

The task of assuring the security of our homeland involves protecting the citizens of the United States, the nation's critical infrastructure and key assets. This is necessary to sustain the nation's vitality against terrorism and other threats. This protection must originate at the community level. It requires discovering, developing and deploying new technology that will support first responders and key decision makers in local communities.

The Mission

NIHS' mission is to discover, develop and deploy solutions that protect and preserve the critical infrastructure of the nation's communities.

The Institute

NIHS aligns projects and research objectives with the needs and requirements of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The strategy is to manage a distributed research enterprise that effectively transitions research and development into solutions. NIHS works with DHS to determine technology needs at the community level. Then, teams are quickly assembled from multiple universities to develop solutions to the needs.

The Strategy

Through management of the Kentucky Critical Infrastructure Protections Program (KCI), the National Institute for Hometown Security (NIHS) provides an ongoing, integrated program dedicated to developing new technologies and devices. NIHS works through qualified academic institutions to accomplish the technological objectives.