‘UrbanAware’ collects and analyses data to
deliver critical incident intelligence straight to the tactical
edge
Smiths Detection, a global leader in threat detection and
security screening technologies, and a business of Smiths Group, in
partnership with Riskaware, an incident modelling specialist, have
today launched UrbanAware, an end-to-end platform to augment,
integrate and digitise the delivery of chemical, biological,
radiological and nuclear (CBRN) hazard intelligence in real time
during an incident.
This press release features multimedia. View
the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240924728864/en/
(Graphic: Business Wire)
This joint solution not only closes the gap between data
collection, analysis and strategic awareness of CBRN threats, it
also brings insights closer to the tactical edge, enabling
stakeholders to quickly identify and understand chemical and other
hazards in the field. Threats can be seen in real time on a map in
relation to the team’s position, thus providing critical and
potentially life-saving intelligence. Likely next stages of a
chemical attack or accidental industrial release can also be
forecast using the simulation capabilities.
Dr Sarah Robinson, Global Industry Director - Defence at
Smiths Detection, said: “Our partnership represents a joint
mission to create safer spaces and address complex global
challenges in order to protect people, environments, infrastructure
and societies worldwide. First responders and military planners
need to act quickly when faced with disaster management and
UrbanAware enables incredibly fast access to critical information.
When combined with sensor data, it becomes a very powerful tool as
a situation unfolds – supporting faster, more informed response
strategies.”
Landscape and population considerations make it challenging to
evaluate the potential impact of any incident and determine the
best course of action. As the name suggests, UrbanAware is
optimised for these complex urban environments where the topography
of streets and buildings influences dispersion of airborne hazards.
Typical use cases range from planning evacuation routes in a civil
emergency to establishing optimal cordon areas based on predictive
hazard modelling.
Underpinning Riskaware’s CBRN system is the Hazard Assessment
Simulation and Prediction (HASP) Suite, which was developed over
two decades by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl)
and is licensed to Riskaware by Ploughshare. The HASP Suite was
originally developed to provide rapid hazard prediction in complex
urban environments in a matter of minutes, greatly improving upon
previous models. It also takes into consideration the interactions
between indoor and outdoor dispersion and is able to estimate
source parameters, such as location, discharge time, and the amount
of substance released. Integrating these robust capabilities with
Smith Detection’s well established chemical sensor gives defence
and security organisations a rich hazard modelling solution which
surpasses any traditional options.
Dr James Christley, Senior Principal Scientist, Dstl,
said: “Sustained Defence investment in science and technology
consistently produces innovation that protects lives. We’re pleased
that Dstl’s work developed originally for UK Defence will be
exploited to benefit a wider audience.”
Simon Agass, Riskaware Business Development Director,
added: “We’ve worked with multiple military agencies and have
seen that the available CBRN solutions are highly manual and not
fit for purpose in today’s threat landscape. Bringing together our
comprehensive CBRN modelling capabilities with Smith Detection
sensor technology provides a much-needed, end-to-end CBRN incident
response capability that saves critical time, informs targeted
action and protects more people.”
About Riskaware
Riskaware is a leading incident modelling solutions provider.
Using data, systems and software expertise, it creates operational
solutions that support organisations to make informed decisions and
enhance their resilience. Working primarily with defence and
security industries, Riskaware helps its partners address the most
complex global challenges and protect people and environments
worldwide.
About Smiths Detection
Smiths Detection is a global leader in threat detection and
security screening technologies. It delivers the solutions needed
to protect society from the threat and illegal passage of
explosives, prohibitive weapons, contraband, biological threats,
toxic chemicals and narcotics, to protect people and
infrastructure.
HASP Suite Background Information
The Hazard Assessment Simulation and Prediction (HASP) Suite is
a software toolset providing superior situational awareness and
decision support in the CBRN/HazMat domain. It has been developed
by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) in
conjunction with Riskaware and licensed by Ploughshare Innovations.
1
The HASP Suite is comprised of a number of individual
components, each tackling a different aspect of the CBRN/HazMat
challenge to create complete situational awareness. These
include:
- Urban Dispersion Model (UDM)
- Urban Subsystem (USS)
- Sensor Placement Tool (SPT)
- Source Term Estimation (STE)
- Geographical and Environmental Database Information System
(GEDIS)
A core component of the HASP Suite is the Urban Dispersion Model
(UDM). UDM was originally funded by Dstl and the US Defense Threat
Reduction Agency (DTRA) to satisfy a requirement for a numerical
model that accurately predicts the dispersion of airborne
contaminants through urban areas at ranges between about 10 m and
10 km. The model needed to be fast running in order to meet
'real-time' incident support requirements and operational analysis
requirements. Since its inception in the 1990's UDM has been used
in support of many major events. Early examples, in the public
domain, include2:
- 2000 Sydney Olympics
- 2001 US Presidential Inauguration
- 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics
- 2004 Athens Olympics
Throughout its development, the UDM has been validated in a
number of field trial experiments including 2:
- Project Prairie Grass
- Urban 2000 Dataset, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Joint Urban 2003, Oklahoma City release
- Madison Square Gardens 2005
- Wind tunnel experiments
- MUST Experiment, Conex containers to create mock urban
setting
UDM has also undergone independent external reviews,
including:
- Defence Scientific Advisory Council (2006)
- Scientific Review by Hanna Consultants (2009)
UDM and other components of the HASP Suits have also received
significant funding from the US Department of Defense through the
US Program of Record and are integrated into the US Hazard
Prediction and Analysis Capability (HPAC) and the Joint Effects
Model (JEM)3,4,5, 6. Riskaware continue to support these programmes
though its US Prime Contractor partnerships.
_________________________
1 “The UDM A Puff Model for Estimating
Dispersion in UrbanAreas”, D.J. Hall, A.M. Spanton, I.H. Griffiths,
M. Hargrave, S.Walker, C. John, 7th Int. Conf. on Harmonisation
within Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling for Regulatory Purposes
(https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/22174201/the-udm-a-model-for-estimating-dispersion-in-urban-areas)
2 “Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling in
Support of Civil Emergency Operations”, Ben Swindlehurst, Dstl,
https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA460246.pdf
3 “Acceptance of mathematical modelling -
a defence science perspective”, Paul Westoby, CBR Advice Dstl.
https://nc3rs.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Workshop_reports/maths/14%20-%20Defence%20%E2%80%93%20Dr%20Paul%20Westoby,%20DSTL.pdf
4 “Acceptance criteria for urban
dispersion model evaluation”, Steven Hanna, Joseph C. Chang,
Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics 116(3-4),
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257448979_Acceptance_criteria_for_urban_dispersion_model_evaluation
5 “The Geographical and Environmental
Database Information System (GEDIS) as a Tool for Urban Dispersion
Modelling”, Richard N. Fry, Jr. Defense Threat Reduction Agency,
Ian Griffiths* Dstl, Iain Crawford, Tim Dudman, Matthew Gilbert and
David Stewart RiskAware Ltd,
https://ams.confex.com/ams/pdfpapers/80142.pdf
6 “Urban Subsystem CBRN Dispersion
Modeling”, CBRNE Central, Urban Subsystem CBRN Dispersion Modeling
(cbrnecentral.com)
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