L.R. Kimball

Delaware Valley Intelligence Center Designed To Streamline Emergency Operations

Across the country, local, regional and state authorities have struggled to organize and exectue coordinated responses to major emergencies.   This stems, in large part, from the lack of centralized clearinghouses for real time information that can be accessed by entities from various jurisdictions and levels of government. 

Data Fusion Centers close this critical information gap by providing partners with the data they need to quickly and accurately analyze a situation, develop a strategic plan to address it and implement a coordinated response. With engineering and architectural support from L.R. Kimball, the four-state Delaware Valley Intelligence Center (DVIC) is helping to set the standard for 21^st century data fusion centers.

The System of Systems Security Integration Initiative (SOSSEC) is the driving force behind the DVIC design.  This consortium combines the expertise and perspectives of nearly 40 U.S. Department of Defense, industrial, civilian and academic partners. Among other priorities, SOSSEC is charged with developing a state-of-the-art data fusion center that will tie together information from approximately 200 entities across 12 counties and four states.

To meet the objectives of SOSSEC, L.R. Kimball experts designed the DVIC to:

• Provide 24/7/365 data access to approximately 200 DVIC entities
• Allow authorities and analysts to monitor developing situations around the clock
• Directly connect to the DVIC any first responders with a radio system to facilitate real-time information sharing
• Leverage existing resources to the greatest extent possible
• Anticipate and be prepared for future security, emergency, technology and personnel needs

The Delaware Valley Intelligence Center will be state-of-the-art. Through this all-hazards, all-crimes data fusion center, first responders and government officials can exchange information and intelligence, maximize their resource effectiveness, streamline operations and improve the ability to respond to disasters, fight crime and terrorism by analyzing data from a variety of sources. 

Highlights include:

• 40,000 square-foot adaptive re-use of an urban 1940s era Navy manufacturing and distribution structure
• Houses Philadelphia Police Department’s Homeland Security and Criminal Intelligence Units, state and federal agencies, and private sector resources
• Watch Center that enables authorities and analysts to monitor developing situations 24/7/365
• Secure Room Suite that provides a strictly controlled space for handling classified information, with encrypted connections to federal agencies
• Security features, including hardened windows, card access system, biometrics and CCTV
• Expansive water tanks to be used in the event the public water system is compromised
• Collaborative spaces that facilitate interaction between partners, including conference and breakout areas with tackable surfaces
• 24-hour amenities, including showers, locker rooms and lunchroom 

The 3 P's of Cyber Security for 9-1-1: Planning, Procedures and Policies

Blog post by Monique Lewis and Lori Kleckner on May 26, 2011

Our work in cyber security often finds us assessing a Public Safety Answering Point’s (PSAP) readiness to comply with the National Emergency Number Association’s (NENA’s) Security for Next Generation 9-1-1 Standard (NG-SEC). 

Over the past year, we’ve looked at a variety of PSAPs across the country and without divulging specific private information related to a client, we’ve taken note of several small steps many PSAPs could take to improve their readiness for a cyber security breach. One of these areas is related to security plans and policies.

NENA’s NG-SEC standard and the NG-SEC Audit Checklist is a great starting point for developing security plans and policies. The general areas covered by NG-SEC include

• security policies
• information classification and protection
• general security
• safeguarding information assets
• physical security guidelines
• network and remote access security guidelines
• change control and documentation
• compliance audits and reviews
• exception approval and risk acceptance process
• incident response and planning.

Although many PSAPs have processes in place, the amount of formal documentation they have is very limited. Quite often, written plans, policies, and procedures are lacking, creating inconsistencies that allow for dangerous gaps in security.

Funding Update: 2011 Grant Guidance for the Homeland Security Grant Program

Blog post by Kevin McGeary on May 20, 2011

The Department of Homeland Security released the new 2011 grant guidance for various programs that fall under the Homeland Security Grant Program, which includes the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), the Metropolitian Medical Response System (MMRS), Stage Homeland Security Program (SHSP), Operation Stoneguard (OPSG) and the Citizen Corps Program (CCP).  More information and details including applications and detailed guidance documents can be found here.

The Homeland Security Grant Program funds a variety of initiatives for building and sustaining national preparedness capabilities, including planning, organization, equipment purchase, training, exercises and management and administration.

Cuts were made to the UASI Program in some of the “Tier 2” areas. Some of the places whose UASI funding was cut or dropped off include the Nashville and Memphis areas, Austin, El Paso, San Antonio, New Orleans, Syracuse and Buffalo.

Altogether, the program went from 64 cities in FY 2010 to 31 cities this year.

Some of the areas in the SHSP and UASI programs that could provide funding opportunities for our clients include priorities on planning, enhancement of fusion centers, homeland security strategy updates and continued development of governance structures.

Project of the Week: Plaquemines Parish Correctional Facility

When Hurricane Katrina pushed across the Gulf in 2005, it struck particularly hard at Plaquemines Parish, caused major damage and destroyed the jail.  Congress quickly appropriated supplemental help for the region, allocating funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the design and construction of a new jail.

L.R. Kimball helped the Plaquemines Parish Sherriff’s Office, who is managing to reconstruction, complete the required paperwork to quickly move the project through the FEMA funding application, review and approval process and kept it moving forward. 

The building design and engineering demanded solid and creative thinking – an innovative permanent structure built on a platform well-situated above the flood plain to mitigate any future impacts resulting from high water events. 

As a result of their efforts, L.R. Kimball played a vital role in helping to secure a FEMA allocation of more than $111 million for the project according to the most recent Project Worksheet.

Other achievements included designing and engineering a facility to meet the Sheriff’s needs and offer protection against future weather-related events, incorporating money-saving design and construction techniques, assisting the project team and FEMA fund a single, permanent jail and reducing future maintenance and repairs costs for the jail.

Let us know what you think of the before and after images!

A Federal Funding Update for the AEC Industry

>>> Guest post contributed by Chris Grady, Federal Analyst

On Friday, April 15, President Obama signed a compromise fiscal year 2011 continuing resolution bill, ending the long-running debate on federal funding for the remainder of the current budget year.

The compromise bill cuts $38.5 billion from Fiscal Year 2010 enacted levels, including significant cuts to infrastructure and in additional road and bridge investments from FY10.

The following highlights some areas of interest to the A/E/C industy:

Federal Highway Administration:
$41.1 billion for highways and bridges, which would be the same level of funding as the FY10 enacted level. The funding level includes a decrease of $650 million in additional road and bridge investments from FY10. It also rescinds $630 million in earmark funding that is over 13 years old and $2.5 billion from unobligated balances of highway contract authority. The TIGER Grant program would receive $528 million, $72 million below FY 10 enacted levels.

Interoperability Planning for Radio Communications: A Step-by-Step, Logical Approach

This September will mark the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 and public safety radio interoperability still remains a problem in many areas.

This is hard to imagine, especially since the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and other agencies have investment more than $900 million since then.  So, you might wonder, what’s the issue? 

In many areas, investments have been made without an overall strategy or identified goals on the local and regional level.  Some regions are still struggling with where and how to develop a plan or address all of the requirement elements.  Funding for planning and training has been distributed; however, many regions have not taken full advantage of it.

True interoperable communications cannot occur without every component of the interoperability picture coming together.  The components that must be addressed include technology, operating procedures, governance, training and funding.

Here’s a logical, step-by-step process for interoperability planning:

Step 1: Assess and document the current state of where your agency currently stands related to technology, operating procedures, governance, training and funding. Read more on public safety radio inventories.

Step 2: Complete a gap analysis to analyze each of these areas based current state versus desired state.  Identify trends and common issues with your operational assessment and establish priorities.  Document, define and categorize all issues and un-met needs associated with technology, spectrum, SOPs, agreements, training, personnel and knowledge.

We refer to training, governance and SOPs as the “soft side of interoperability.”  Download our white paper on this subject.

Our Response on the FCC Notice of Inquiry on Next Generation 9-1-1: Part 3: Specialized 911 Applications and Social Media

Today’s blog is a continuation of last Friday’s blog highlighting key points from the comments we recently sent to the FCC for their Notice of Inquiry on Next Generation 9-1-1.

This post will focus on other specialized NG9-1-1 applications, such as the use of automated devices and social media.

Other Specialized NG911 Applications

The use of specialized NG911 applications has long been debated and several states have laws that prohibit automated systems from sending alerts to the 911 system. In the current 911 system, automated devices typically connect to a 3^rd party screening center that forwards the information to 911. 

Alerts should be considered for NG911, but better links from the device/service’s 3^rd party answering centers to the 911 system should be developed.

Social Media and NG911

More people are using social media every day and therefore, it might be beneficial to allow them to access 911.  Social media access should be provided the same level of service as other types.  However, security needs to be addressed to prevent these sources from launching attacks on the system.

The FAA's Wildlife Hazard Initiative: New Program Announced for General Aviation Airports

The bird strike that caused the USAir Flight 1549 emergency landing in the Hudson River in 2009 may seem like an uncommon occurrence, but the truth is that bird strikes and other wildlife hazards pose a major threat to airports.  In fact, since the Federal Aviation Authority made the National Wildlife Database public, there have been approximately 21,489 strike reports over the last three years.

In 2009, the FAA initiated a rulemaking making Wildlife Hazard Assessments mandatory for commercial service airports regardless of a triggering event.  Late last month, the FAA’s Office of Airports further enforced their commitment to bird strike prevention by initiating a program encouraging General Aviation airports to conduct wildlife hazard assessments. (Read the press release.)

To help fund these mitigation efforts, the FAA will support general aviation efforts by making Airport Improvement Programs grants available to conduct an assessment.

Our Response to the FCC Notice of Inquiry on Next Generation 9-1-1: Part 2

Today’s blog is a continuation of last Friday’s blog highlighting key points from the comments we recently sent to the FCC for their Notice of Inquiry on Next Generation 9-1-1. 

In this post, we’ll highlight our viewpoints on the network architecture required for NG9-1-1.  Beware to readers: today’s post is fairly technical. (If you are looking for something on the lighter side, check out last week’s post on NG9-1-1 capabilities and applications.)

Transport Mechanisms in a NG9-1-1 Environment

IP can be transported by many different low-level media (layer 1) including copper, fiber and radio signals and using different media access control protocols (layer 2) such as Ethernet, WiFi, WiMax and others.  The choice and implementation of these protocols is largely driven by the marketplace and engineering considerations and won’t have a major impact on PSAPs or 9-1-1 users. 

NG9-1-1 PSAPs are and will be built using layer 1 and 2 transports appropriate for the task, which today is likely to be UTP-based Ethernet and possibly some WiFi. As technology evolves, they’ll be replaced by the newest and most economical infrastructures, but shouldn’t be incorporated into the PSAP until they are widely adopted in the marketplace. 

IP is undergoing a change from IPv4 to IPv6, therefore, ESInet infrastructures should be capable of supporting IPv6 even if the network is implemented using IPv4 (this means higher costs now but lower costs later.)

To see more information about SIP, TRP, and signaling and routing, read our complete document.

NG9-1-1 Participants

NG9-1-1 will vary differently than traditional telecom because consumers can pick and choose their service and device they where they want to use it.

Our Response to the FCC Notice of Inquiry on Next Generation 9-1-1: Part 1

 

On December 21, 2010 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Notice of Inquiry on Next Generation 9-1-1. 

We submitted our comments to the NOI in a very comprehensive document covering our viewpoints on how to bridge the gap between today's 9-1-1 system to an advanced communications system that enables the public to obtain emergency assistance beyond traditional voice-centric devices.

We invite you view the complete comments on the FCC website.  However, if you're looking for the cliff notes, we're planning on a 4-series blog post that begins today with a focus on NG9-1-1 capabilities and applications.

Potential Media Types in NG9-1-1

All media types should be reviewed to determine how each will benefit a 9-1-1 caller and first responders and the primary media type should remain two-way communications between the user and the public safety answering point.

Primary v. Secondary Usage of Media Types

Primary media should include "message-based" text and "real-time text."  Additional methods should include still images, real-time video, telemetry data and auxiliary medical and other personal data should be considered secondary data.