Virtual USA enters second phase of regional operating pilot

Federal News Radio has told you about Virtual USA -- a program that seeks to give first responders a real time view of what is happening.

It's taking information sharing to a whole new level.

David Boyd is director of Homeland Security's Science and Technology's Command, Control and Interoperability Division, and explained how the program works and where the idea came from.

He started out by explaining that the federal government had to look at operations a bit differently than it was used to.

"The approach we've used is to [tell other governments] -- you keep doing things the way you are. Keep using the equipment you've got. Do things the way you built to do your business and what we're going to focus on are those points where you exchange information. We can resolve those. [This] instantly caused all of the states and localities to want to play. That's the most important component -- that they want to play."

Virtual USA is modeled on a very successful program called Virtual Alabama, which is a system that visualizes real-time emergency information.

Boyd said the Virgina VIPER system also played an important role when developing Virtual USA. The federal system pulled VIPER's analytical tools into its mix, which allows for quick data analysis.

Virtual USA now allows first responders and others to ask important questions if disaster were ever to strike.

"You can use it to look at [for example] -- where is the plume of smoke going to go? How should I now figure out how to handle my evacuation? What's the wave action going to be and what will the tidal wave look like when it comes ashore -- so what part of the community am I going to have to evacuate and how fast am I going to have to do that -- and when?"

Ultimately the goal is to get the most accurate data collected as quickly as possible, not, he said, make it so that the federal government controls everything.

Though this was a bit of a mind-shift, Boyd said it's what makes Virtual USA so unique.

"Part of the philosophy says -- instead of you sending us a bunch of data that we're going to warehouse and hope that somebody will update, you keep using your own data. Use it for your own purposes and we'll create the mechanism so that when, say, the state needs the data from the county or the federal government needs the data from the county and the county's willing to share it, they can provide that visual information the way they want to and still retain control and ownership and decide what and when they're going to exchange."

This is especially important when it comes to discovering things you didn't know you didn't know, which can save lives during a time of crisis.

Virtual USA is moving to the second phase of the regional operating platform pilot, which is running along the Gulf Coast.

Those responsible for the program are working on making data move seamlessly throughout that entire region.

Additional Resources

Federal News Radio: DHS, states work to create Virtual USA

DorobekInsider on Virtual Alabama