Wiley Handbook of Science and Technology for Homeland Security, 4 Volume Set

TECHNOLOGIES FOR REAL-TIME DATA ACQUISITION, INTEGRATION, AND TRANSMISSION

CHARLES K. HUYCK AND PAUL R. AMYX

Imagecat, Inc., Long Beach, California

1 INTRODUCTION

Real-time sources typically stream raw data for a given hazard tied to collection of specific locations. This data is useful not only for engineers and scientists studying natural phenomena, but when the data is processed correctly, it can aid in emergency management decisions. Real-time data can be used in a planning capacity to determine the likelihood of disaster striking a specific area, as with the monitoring of hurricanes tracks, or fault slip rates. Real-time data is essential in tracking events which are slow to evolve and provide ample time to respond, such as tracking hurricanes and flood stages. In some cases, real-time sensors provide immediate access to warning data, such as in situ hazardous material sensors or earthquake early warning systems. Immediately after an event, when the extent of damage is unclear, raw data from accelerometers and anemometers provide data to estimate the spatial extent of damage, and can be used to provide responders with a road map for response. During response, real-time data allows managers to monitor the public, asses traffic congestion, assess damage, and monitor progress. The following section provides a description of select real-time data sources in the United States.

2 AVAILABILITY OF REAL-TIME DATA

Real-time data acquisition should include data from the proliferation ...