On February 4, 2010, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a conversation with Captain Gene Saunders, Chesapeake Police Department (ret.) on the radio tracking and recovery of persons at risk.
Program Date: February 4, 2010
Program Time: 1700 Hours Pacific
Topic: Radio Tracking and Recovery of Persons at Risk
Listen Live:
http://www.hitechcj.com/americanheroesradio/radio_tracking_recovery_persons_at_risk.html
About the Project Lifesaver International
Citizens enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small LoJack® SafetyNet™ personal transmitter around the wrist or ankle that emits an individualized tracking signal. If an enrolled client goes missing, the caregiver notifies their local Project Lifesaver agency, and a trained emergency team responds to the wanderer's area. Most who wander are found within a few miles from home, and search times have been reduced from hours and days to minutes. Recovery times for PLI clients average 30 minutes -- 95% less time than standard operations. The Project Lifesaver Program also offers National Alzheimer’s training and certificates for interested members.
About the Guest
Captain Gene Saunders, Chesapeake Police Department (ret.) served 33 years in Patrol, Vice, Narcotics, Detectives and Training. He served in-line function and command elements of all of these units. Gene Saunders co-founded the Special Weapons and Tactics team in 1974 and served as tactical commander and commander for 23 years and over 800 operations. He served as Chief Investigator on several large multi-state, international drug conspiracy investigations. In addition to his law enforcement service, Gene Saunders also served in National Guard and State Defense force in Infantry, Airborne and Ranger Units in various leadership positions. He has been a certified instructor in Pursuit Driving, Firearms, Special Operations, Raid Planning, General Law Enforcement and Search and Rescue. He founded Project Lifesaver International in 1999 and have overseen its' growth to over 1,070 public safety organizations in 45 states; Canada and Australia.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Public Safety Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.hitechcj.com/americanheroesradio/radio_tracking_recovery_persons_at_risk.html
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
The United States and New Zealand Sign New Agreement to Strengthen Security through Increased Cooperation on Science and Technology
January 8, 2010: New Zealand and the United States have agreed to enhance cooperation in science and technology research to improve the shared capabilities of both nations to protect against acts of terrorism and other threats to domestic and external security. “International collaboration in science and technology is a major part of our ongoing efforts to counter threats of terrorism,” said Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Janet Napolitano. “This agreement will enhance our ability to collaborate on research and share innovative technologies to ensure our mutual security and protect the public.”
“The Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation Contributing to Domestic and External Security Capabilities strengthens New Zealand’s longstanding relationship with the U.S. in research science and technology,” said New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully. “Under the Agreement New Zealand transport security and civil defense emergency management researchers will now benefit from collaborative project work with their U.S. counterparts.”
The Agreement calls for close cooperation between the US and New Zealand on the development of threat and vulnerability analyses and new technologies, and strengthened collaboration on border and transport security and civil defense emergency management.
The Agreement draws on the collective technical expertise of government scientists from both countries, and encourages robust participation by universities, non-profit organization and the private sector through public-private partnerships and collaborative funding.
It was signed today in Washington by Secretary Napolitano and New Zealand Ambassador Roy Ferguson. The United States has recently concluded similar agreements with Spain, Germany, France, Israel, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada.
“The Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation Contributing to Domestic and External Security Capabilities strengthens New Zealand’s longstanding relationship with the U.S. in research science and technology,” said New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully. “Under the Agreement New Zealand transport security and civil defense emergency management researchers will now benefit from collaborative project work with their U.S. counterparts.”
The Agreement calls for close cooperation between the US and New Zealand on the development of threat and vulnerability analyses and new technologies, and strengthened collaboration on border and transport security and civil defense emergency management.
The Agreement draws on the collective technical expertise of government scientists from both countries, and encourages robust participation by universities, non-profit organization and the private sector through public-private partnerships and collaborative funding.
It was signed today in Washington by Secretary Napolitano and New Zealand Ambassador Roy Ferguson. The United States has recently concluded similar agreements with Spain, Germany, France, Israel, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada.
Unmanned Aircraft Program Grows to Support Demand
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 8, 2010 - Discussions about the Army's use of unmanned systems in the combat theater are likely to focus on bomb-detecting robots and ground vehicles able to navigate through hazardous terrain. Chances are the discussion won't immediately go to one of the fast-growing fields in the Army: unmanned aircraft systems.
These systems, operated at the tactical level by troops on the ground, are bringing warfighters unprecedented intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability, Army Col. Christopher B. Carlile, director of the Army Unmanned Aerial System Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, Ala., told reporters yesterday.
"There's an old saying that science and science fiction is only separated by timing, and that timing is now," he said during an Association of the U.S. Army aviation forum. "We have it."
Some considered Army UASs little more than "model airplanes with some sensors hanging from them and a bunch of guys flying around with play toys" when they first entered the scene in the mid-1990s, Carlile conceded. But they've proven themselves as force multipliers that save lives on the battlefield, and have come to be embraced by the warfighters who employ them, he said.
With almost 1 million UAS flight hours clocked in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army is committed to growing the program to keep pace with demand for UAS capabilities. This year alone, the Army plans to train more than 2,000 operators who ultimately will deploy with the ground troops they will support, Carlile reported.
Army UASs come in three primary forms. The Raven, just under 3 feet long, supports battalions down to the platoon level. The Shadow, 11 feet long with a 14-foot wingspan, supports brigade-level operations. The more sophisticated "big daddy" of Army UASs, the Extended Range Multi-Purpose system, has a 56-foot wingspan and supports division-level operations.
These systems provide life-saving situational awareness and make soldiers more effective in tracking down enemy targets, Carlile explained.
"This is not the movies," Carlile said. "There is not an infantryman who can call up and have the National Security Agency turn a satellite so he can see what's on the back side of a building. That doesn't happen."
In the past, infantrymen found out what was behind the building when gunfire came from it, or a rocket-propelled grenade came at them from around the corner. Now, they have the Raven, the smallest UAS. At less than 5 pounds, it is lightweight and portable enough to deliver an aerial reconnaissance capability once limited to higher-echelon elements.
"They can take that and fly it and put it above, and see if there is an ambush on the other side of the street, in real time," Carlile said. Troops also can determine what the enemy is up to – such as hiding behind civilian shields – to reduce the risk of collateral damage during operations.
Army UASs also have proven their effectiveness in identifying and taking out enemy operatives. A little-known fact, Carlile said, is that Army UASs have launched about 80 percent of the successful drone strikes that have made headlines in the news.
When he commanded the 4th Infantry Division in Iraq as a major general, Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, now commander of U.S. Forces Iraq, called the tactical UAV Shadow system "an absolute must" for his brigade commanders in locating, identifying and ultimately defeating high-value targets.
The UAS Center of Excellence leads the Army's effort to synchronize its UAS program with those of the other services, especially the higher-visibility Air Force remotely piloted vehicle program based at Creech Air Force Base, Nev.
Recognizing the contribution these sister-service aircraft make to the fight, Carlile emphasized the complementary value of unmanned aircraft operated by troops on the ground, directly alongside the soldiers they support.
"Their whole intent is to support the guys they eat dinner with every night, the ones they sleep in the same tactical assembly area with," he said. "Because of that, they have a tie they would not have if they were in Las Vegas, Nev.," home of the Air Force UAV center at Creech Air Force Base.
"You cannot have that same tie with the soldier. You cannot have that same situational awareness 8,000 miles away," he said. "It just does not exist."
Lt. Gen. James Thurman, the Army's deputy chief of staff for operations, told attendees at the AUSA session yesterday the Army will continue to invest in unmanned as well as manned aircraft to support warfighters.
"Unmanned aircraft systems continue to significantly improve our war efforts, and demand for these specialized systems continues to rise," he said. "The Army will continue to pursue highly capable systems while providing aircraft, highly skilled operators and advanced capabilities to support the war efforts."
While pointing toward solid growth within the Army UAS program, Carlile isn't predicting a day when unmanned aircraft will take the place of piloted ones. Army experiments to measure both platforms' effectiveness in tracking enemy targets in combat found they had the best results when working collaboratively to support the operation, he said.
"When we put the manned and unmanned together into the combat operation, we get an exponential increase in synergy," he said.
That synergy can be measured in the number of successful target identifications or hits, Carlile said, with equipment providing consistent binary data and humans contributing the ability to think outside of that data field to make logic.
The two come together very sweetly, and that is what gives us the capability," he said.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Public Safety Technology in the News
700 Connecticut Inmates’ Cases Eligible for Possible DNA Review
Hartford Courant, (12/27/2009), Dave Altimari
Connecticut will soon begin reviewing several hundred cases to determine if DNA evidence exists that could exonerate convicted prisoners, thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the National Institute of Justice. In the past two years, NIJ has awarded $17.6 million to 14 states for post-conviction DNA testing. Connecticut will use the grant over the next 18 months. A group composed of New Haven prosecutor James Clark; Karen Goodrow, executive director for the Connecticut Innocence Project; an Innocence Project attorney and an investigator; a state inspector; and a DNA analyst and criminologist from the State Police Forensic Laboratory sent applications to about 700 inmates who were convicted of murder, manslaughter or sexual assault before 2000, when DNA testing was in its infancy. Inmates will be interviewed by Goodrow’s team. If the team determines the case has potential, Clark would then determine if DNA evidence is available for testing by the state lab. Some cases will h! ave testable evidence; some will not. Inmates can elect not to participate. The team will first focus on inmates who were convicted by a jury during trial. The Connecticut Innocence Project has freed three men based on DNA evidence.
www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-dna-testing-1227.artdec27,0,5168355.story
Video Conferencing Keeps Inmates in Jail
The Brewton Standard, (12/28/2009), Adam Prestridge
Alabama prison authorities are experimenting with video conferencing to cut costs. The state Department of Corrections, the Alabama Administrative Office of the Courts and the Circuit Court of Escambia County are conducting a pilot video project at the Holman Correctional Facility at Atmore. Video conferencing connects the courthouse with the prison, eliminating the need to transport prisoners to and from court. The technology includes full motion video and audio via close circuit cameras. Officials hope to eventually set up 18 video conferencing systems across the state. Once fully implemented, conferencing could save the state hundreds of thousands of dollars.
www.brewtonstandard.com/articles/2009/12/28/news/doc4b38d5e634a2e892245650.txt
Red Light, Parking Tickets Are Growing Revenue Sources for New Orleans
The Times-Picayune, (12/28/2009), Cindy Chang
New Orleans officials expect red light and speed cameras to generate nearly $10 million for the city in 2009. Parking tickets will add an additional $10.5 to the city’s coffers. The city first began using red light cameras in April 2008, and now has 25 speed and red light cameras at various intersections and in school zones. In 2009, the amount collected from the cameras has ranged from $650,000 to $900,000 a month. The fine for running a red light is $105. Speeding tickets range from $40 to $200.
www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/12/red_light_parking_tickets_prov.html
Taser Ruling Sets Standards for Police, Claims
San Francisco Chronicle, (12/29/2009), Bob Egelko
A federal appeals court has ruled that police must have reason to believe a suspect is dangerous before firing a Taser and cannot use a stun gun simply because a person is disobeying orders or acting erratically. In the 3-0 decision by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, Judge Kim Wardlaw said stun guns may offer a valuable nonlethal alternative to deadly force, however, adding that, “The objective facts must indicate that the suspect poses an immediate threat to the officer or a member of the public.” Wardlaw said stun guns inflict a “painful and frightening blow” and should be used only when substantial force is necessary and other options are unavailable. Groups such as Amnesty International have questioned the safety of Tasers and criticized their use. The appeals court ruling stemmed from a case involving police use of a stun gun in Coronado, Calif.
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/28/BA811BAG5G.DTL&tsp=1
San Jose Police Mount Cameras on Officers’ Heads
The Associated Press via The New York Times (12/29/2009)
Police officers in San Jose, Calif. are using head cameras as part of a free trial. Eighteen of San Jose’s 1,300 sworn officers have been trained to use the AXON head cameras, which proponents say could help catch officers who use excessive force and clear those officers who are falsely accused. Manufactured by Taser International, Inc., the device resembles a Bluetooth earpiece and is attached by a band that runs around the officer’s head. It can be connected to an on/off switch on the officer’s chest, then to a video screen on a holster. San Jose officers are required to switch on the cameras for even routine activities such as traffic stops. A three-year contract for the system for one officer costs $5,700. The cameras have been tested on one other police department so far, in Fort Smith, Ark.
www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/12/29/us/AP-US-Police-Head-Cams.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=taser&st=cse
Along U.S.-Mexico Border, a Torrent of Illicit Cash
The New York Times, (12/25/2009), James C. McKinley, Jr. and Marc Lacey
American customs officials seized $138 million in illicit cash last year, but officials say that’s a small percentage of what flows across the border to Mexico. The Drug Enforcement Administration estimates that $18 billion to $39 billion is being smuggled into Mexico each year. As the United States has tightened bank regulations and targeted money-laundering schemes, more money from illegal drug sales is being funneled into Mexico through old fashioned smuggling. Customs officials have assigned 25 more dog and handler teams to border crossings in the past two years. Dogs find money because much of it has traces of narcotics on it. Officials are also using handheld meters that measure the density of objects, and vans with X-ray equipment that scan cars headed to Mexico for hidden compartments. Once in Mexico, the money is relatively easy to launder. Drug cartels buy real estate, businesses and jewels with cash, and no reports of suspicious activity are made to the governm! ent. The sellers in turn make large but legal cash deposits to banks.
www.nytimes.com/2009/12/26/world/americas/26laredo.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=%22law%20enforcement%22&st=cse
New York on Track for Fewest Homicides on Record
The New York Times, (12/28/2009), Al Baker
In 2009 New York City experienced the lowest number of homicides in 46 years. The police department began tracking homicides in the current manner in 1963. Prior to then, homicides were not counted until they were solved. As of December 27, 2009, the number of homicides was 461; the previous record low was in 2007, when 496 homicides occurred. New York is not the only city to experience a drop in homicides. According to the FBI, homicides nationwide fell 10 percent during the first half of 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. New York City saw a 19 percent drop during that period.
www.nytimes.com/2009/12/29/nyregion/29murder.html?_r=1&scp=19&sq=police&st=cse
Court Overturns California Ban on Body Armor for Convicted Felons
Courthouse News Service, (12/29/2009), Avery Fellow
California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown says he will appeal a state appeals court ruling that struck down a state law barring convicted felons from wearing body armor. The Second District Court of Appeals said the law making it illegal for felons to possess body armor was too vague. The law defines body armor using technical bullet-resistance specifications and deems armor illegal if it has the same characteristics of vests sold to state peace officers. The appeals court said that only an expert would know if a particular protective vest was proscribed by the statute, and reversed a Los Angeles County Superior Court ruling.
www.courthousenews.com/2009/12/29/23214.htm
Running Robots Draw Inspiration From Cockroaches
Softpedia, (12/29/2009), Tudor Vieru
Researchers at Oregon State University are analyzing the common cockroach for clues on how to build a robot that can run easily over rough terrain, which would be useful to the military, law enforcement and space exploration. Assistant Professor John Schmitt says that cockroaches “can run fast, turn on a dime, move easily over rough terrain and react to perturbations faster than a nerve impulse can travel.” He further explains that a cockroach only slows down about 20 percent when going over blocks that are three times higher than its hips, indicating that their stability is related to how they are built.
news.softpedia.com/news/Running-Robots-Draw-Inspiration-from-Cockroaches-130752.shtml
Hartford Courant, (12/27/2009), Dave Altimari
Connecticut will soon begin reviewing several hundred cases to determine if DNA evidence exists that could exonerate convicted prisoners, thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the National Institute of Justice. In the past two years, NIJ has awarded $17.6 million to 14 states for post-conviction DNA testing. Connecticut will use the grant over the next 18 months. A group composed of New Haven prosecutor James Clark; Karen Goodrow, executive director for the Connecticut Innocence Project; an Innocence Project attorney and an investigator; a state inspector; and a DNA analyst and criminologist from the State Police Forensic Laboratory sent applications to about 700 inmates who were convicted of murder, manslaughter or sexual assault before 2000, when DNA testing was in its infancy. Inmates will be interviewed by Goodrow’s team. If the team determines the case has potential, Clark would then determine if DNA evidence is available for testing by the state lab. Some cases will h! ave testable evidence; some will not. Inmates can elect not to participate. The team will first focus on inmates who were convicted by a jury during trial. The Connecticut Innocence Project has freed three men based on DNA evidence.
www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-dna-testing-1227.artdec27,0,5168355.story
Video Conferencing Keeps Inmates in Jail
The Brewton Standard, (12/28/2009), Adam Prestridge
Alabama prison authorities are experimenting with video conferencing to cut costs. The state Department of Corrections, the Alabama Administrative Office of the Courts and the Circuit Court of Escambia County are conducting a pilot video project at the Holman Correctional Facility at Atmore. Video conferencing connects the courthouse with the prison, eliminating the need to transport prisoners to and from court. The technology includes full motion video and audio via close circuit cameras. Officials hope to eventually set up 18 video conferencing systems across the state. Once fully implemented, conferencing could save the state hundreds of thousands of dollars.
www.brewtonstandard.com/articles/2009/12/28/news/doc4b38d5e634a2e892245650.txt
Red Light, Parking Tickets Are Growing Revenue Sources for New Orleans
The Times-Picayune, (12/28/2009), Cindy Chang
New Orleans officials expect red light and speed cameras to generate nearly $10 million for the city in 2009. Parking tickets will add an additional $10.5 to the city’s coffers. The city first began using red light cameras in April 2008, and now has 25 speed and red light cameras at various intersections and in school zones. In 2009, the amount collected from the cameras has ranged from $650,000 to $900,000 a month. The fine for running a red light is $105. Speeding tickets range from $40 to $200.
www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/12/red_light_parking_tickets_prov.html
Taser Ruling Sets Standards for Police, Claims
San Francisco Chronicle, (12/29/2009), Bob Egelko
A federal appeals court has ruled that police must have reason to believe a suspect is dangerous before firing a Taser and cannot use a stun gun simply because a person is disobeying orders or acting erratically. In the 3-0 decision by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, Judge Kim Wardlaw said stun guns may offer a valuable nonlethal alternative to deadly force, however, adding that, “The objective facts must indicate that the suspect poses an immediate threat to the officer or a member of the public.” Wardlaw said stun guns inflict a “painful and frightening blow” and should be used only when substantial force is necessary and other options are unavailable. Groups such as Amnesty International have questioned the safety of Tasers and criticized their use. The appeals court ruling stemmed from a case involving police use of a stun gun in Coronado, Calif.
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/28/BA811BAG5G.DTL&tsp=1
San Jose Police Mount Cameras on Officers’ Heads
The Associated Press via The New York Times (12/29/2009)
Police officers in San Jose, Calif. are using head cameras as part of a free trial. Eighteen of San Jose’s 1,300 sworn officers have been trained to use the AXON head cameras, which proponents say could help catch officers who use excessive force and clear those officers who are falsely accused. Manufactured by Taser International, Inc., the device resembles a Bluetooth earpiece and is attached by a band that runs around the officer’s head. It can be connected to an on/off switch on the officer’s chest, then to a video screen on a holster. San Jose officers are required to switch on the cameras for even routine activities such as traffic stops. A three-year contract for the system for one officer costs $5,700. The cameras have been tested on one other police department so far, in Fort Smith, Ark.
www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/12/29/us/AP-US-Police-Head-Cams.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=taser&st=cse
Along U.S.-Mexico Border, a Torrent of Illicit Cash
The New York Times, (12/25/2009), James C. McKinley, Jr. and Marc Lacey
American customs officials seized $138 million in illicit cash last year, but officials say that’s a small percentage of what flows across the border to Mexico. The Drug Enforcement Administration estimates that $18 billion to $39 billion is being smuggled into Mexico each year. As the United States has tightened bank regulations and targeted money-laundering schemes, more money from illegal drug sales is being funneled into Mexico through old fashioned smuggling. Customs officials have assigned 25 more dog and handler teams to border crossings in the past two years. Dogs find money because much of it has traces of narcotics on it. Officials are also using handheld meters that measure the density of objects, and vans with X-ray equipment that scan cars headed to Mexico for hidden compartments. Once in Mexico, the money is relatively easy to launder. Drug cartels buy real estate, businesses and jewels with cash, and no reports of suspicious activity are made to the governm! ent. The sellers in turn make large but legal cash deposits to banks.
www.nytimes.com/2009/12/26/world/americas/26laredo.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=%22law%20enforcement%22&st=cse
New York on Track for Fewest Homicides on Record
The New York Times, (12/28/2009), Al Baker
In 2009 New York City experienced the lowest number of homicides in 46 years. The police department began tracking homicides in the current manner in 1963. Prior to then, homicides were not counted until they were solved. As of December 27, 2009, the number of homicides was 461; the previous record low was in 2007, when 496 homicides occurred. New York is not the only city to experience a drop in homicides. According to the FBI, homicides nationwide fell 10 percent during the first half of 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. New York City saw a 19 percent drop during that period.
www.nytimes.com/2009/12/29/nyregion/29murder.html?_r=1&scp=19&sq=police&st=cse
Court Overturns California Ban on Body Armor for Convicted Felons
Courthouse News Service, (12/29/2009), Avery Fellow
California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown says he will appeal a state appeals court ruling that struck down a state law barring convicted felons from wearing body armor. The Second District Court of Appeals said the law making it illegal for felons to possess body armor was too vague. The law defines body armor using technical bullet-resistance specifications and deems armor illegal if it has the same characteristics of vests sold to state peace officers. The appeals court said that only an expert would know if a particular protective vest was proscribed by the statute, and reversed a Los Angeles County Superior Court ruling.
www.courthousenews.com/2009/12/29/23214.htm
Running Robots Draw Inspiration From Cockroaches
Softpedia, (12/29/2009), Tudor Vieru
Researchers at Oregon State University are analyzing the common cockroach for clues on how to build a robot that can run easily over rough terrain, which would be useful to the military, law enforcement and space exploration. Assistant Professor John Schmitt says that cockroaches “can run fast, turn on a dime, move easily over rough terrain and react to perturbations faster than a nerve impulse can travel.” He further explains that a cockroach only slows down about 20 percent when going over blocks that are three times higher than its hips, indicating that their stability is related to how they are built.
news.softpedia.com/news/Running-Robots-Draw-Inspiration-from-Cockroaches-130752.shtml
Submit Technology Needs Online
Law enforcement and corrections practitioners now have a direct online resource to identify and submit their technology needs and requirements to the National Institute of Justice. Practitioners can use the JUSTNET Tech Need Input Form to identify problems with existing technology or lack of technology and a possible solution.
The form asks submitters to identify the scientific or technology fields that relate to the need based on NIJ technology portfolio areas, such as biometrics, school safety, corrections and electronic crime. The entries are sorted by technology area and sent to NIJ-sponsored Technology Working Groups to evaluate. The information will be used to help prioritize how NIJ invests its resources in technology development.
Access the form:
http://www.justnet.org/Pages/TechNeedForm.aspx
The form asks submitters to identify the scientific or technology fields that relate to the need based on NIJ technology portfolio areas, such as biometrics, school safety, corrections and electronic crime. The entries are sorted by technology area and sent to NIJ-sponsored Technology Working Groups to evaluate. The information will be used to help prioritize how NIJ invests its resources in technology development.
Access the form:
http://www.justnet.org/Pages/TechNeedForm.aspx
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Mineral Research Grants for 2010
New research on a range of minerals important to our economy, national security, and land-use decisions has been funded through grants awarded by the U.S. Geological Survey. Recipients of the 2010 USGS Mineral Resources External Research Program grants will study copper, lithium, rare earth elements, uranium, and phosphate in the United States. The principal investigators and a brief description of the successful proposals are provided below.
A Technique for Identifying Hidden Copper Resources
John Dilles of Oregon State University will help provide a means to identify potential porphyry copper resources that are concealed from surface exposure. The research will look at the three-dimensional footprint of porphyry copper deposits and define the trends that occur in rocks from a deposit’s center to its margins. This will help in identifying the direction of the deposit’s center based on the nearby geologic characteristics.
Lithium Resources: Important for Alternative Energy Technology
LeeAnn Munk of the University of Alaska, Anchorage, and C. Page Chamberlain of Stanford University will study the formation of lithium resources in brine waters and clays, helping with estimations of resource potential in these environments. Lithium is an increasingly important commodity for alternative energy technology. This research will focus on brine resources at Clayton Valley in southwest Nevada and on clay resources at McDermitt Caldera in north-central Nevada.
Formation of Lithium and Rare-Earth-Element Deposits
Adriana Heimann of East Carolina University will investigate the formation of granitic pegmatite deposits that contain lithium and rare earth elements. Particular focus will be placed on understanding the variability of mineral compositions in barren versus metal-rich deposits. This study is expected to provide a clearer understanding of the conditions under which these types of deposits formed and help in identifying where these deposits may occur.
Uranium Resources in Sandstone
Craig Lundstrom and Thomas Johnson of the University of Illinois will help in understanding the formation of uranium deposits found in sandstone units and provide a means to assess their uranium resource concentration. Research will look at the character of uranium in groundwater to better understand the process that leads to formation of uranium deposits in sandstone. These types of deposits are the most common uranium deposits in the United States, and this study will focus on characterizing current conditions in an active sandstone aquifer system in Texas.
Thomas Monecke and colleagues at the Colorado School of Mines will research the three-dimensional variations in rock compositions found in sandstone-hosted uranium deposits using state-of the-art technology. Research will be conducted at the Lost Creek uranium deposit in south-central Wyoming. Findings are expected to help develop new means to direct exploration and assessment of these deposits.
Hidden Phosphate in Virginia
William Lassetter, Jr., of the Virginia Division of Geology and Mineral Resources will help identify the potential for concealed phosphate resources along Virginia’s coastal plain. Research will look at the characteristics of rock layers in Virginia, and findings are expected to be applicable to identifying the phosphate resource potential along other regions of the eastern U.S. coastal plain.
The USGS Mineral Resources External Research Program invited research proposals that will help ensure a sustainable supply of minerals for the Nation’s future; understand the relationship between minerals, the environment, and public health; provide information to make informed land-use decisions; and deliver mineral information critical to national security. Proposals were accepted from academia, state agencies, industry and other private sector organizations and scientists. For more information visit the Mineral Resources - External Research Program site
http://minerals.usgs.gov/mrerp/
A Technique for Identifying Hidden Copper Resources
John Dilles of Oregon State University will help provide a means to identify potential porphyry copper resources that are concealed from surface exposure. The research will look at the three-dimensional footprint of porphyry copper deposits and define the trends that occur in rocks from a deposit’s center to its margins. This will help in identifying the direction of the deposit’s center based on the nearby geologic characteristics.
Lithium Resources: Important for Alternative Energy Technology
LeeAnn Munk of the University of Alaska, Anchorage, and C. Page Chamberlain of Stanford University will study the formation of lithium resources in brine waters and clays, helping with estimations of resource potential in these environments. Lithium is an increasingly important commodity for alternative energy technology. This research will focus on brine resources at Clayton Valley in southwest Nevada and on clay resources at McDermitt Caldera in north-central Nevada.
Formation of Lithium and Rare-Earth-Element Deposits
Adriana Heimann of East Carolina University will investigate the formation of granitic pegmatite deposits that contain lithium and rare earth elements. Particular focus will be placed on understanding the variability of mineral compositions in barren versus metal-rich deposits. This study is expected to provide a clearer understanding of the conditions under which these types of deposits formed and help in identifying where these deposits may occur.
Uranium Resources in Sandstone
Craig Lundstrom and Thomas Johnson of the University of Illinois will help in understanding the formation of uranium deposits found in sandstone units and provide a means to assess their uranium resource concentration. Research will look at the character of uranium in groundwater to better understand the process that leads to formation of uranium deposits in sandstone. These types of deposits are the most common uranium deposits in the United States, and this study will focus on characterizing current conditions in an active sandstone aquifer system in Texas.
Thomas Monecke and colleagues at the Colorado School of Mines will research the three-dimensional variations in rock compositions found in sandstone-hosted uranium deposits using state-of the-art technology. Research will be conducted at the Lost Creek uranium deposit in south-central Wyoming. Findings are expected to help develop new means to direct exploration and assessment of these deposits.
Hidden Phosphate in Virginia
William Lassetter, Jr., of the Virginia Division of Geology and Mineral Resources will help identify the potential for concealed phosphate resources along Virginia’s coastal plain. Research will look at the characteristics of rock layers in Virginia, and findings are expected to be applicable to identifying the phosphate resource potential along other regions of the eastern U.S. coastal plain.
The USGS Mineral Resources External Research Program invited research proposals that will help ensure a sustainable supply of minerals for the Nation’s future; understand the relationship between minerals, the environment, and public health; provide information to make informed land-use decisions; and deliver mineral information critical to national security. Proposals were accepted from academia, state agencies, industry and other private sector organizations and scientists. For more information visit the Mineral Resources - External Research Program site
http://minerals.usgs.gov/mrerp/
Defense, Veterans Affairs Step Closer to Integrated Records
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 6, 2010 - The Defense Department soon will join a Veterans Affairs Department and Kaiser Permanente partnership designed to improve the way military veterans and the nation receive health care, the VA's top health affairs policy advisor said today. For the past month, Kaiser Permanente and VA – the nation's two largest electronic medical records systems – have been working to integrate their standards for veterans through a pilot program in San Diego using the Nationwide Health Information Network. The network was developed by the Health and Human Services Department in 2008, and allows government and several private sector health care providers like Kaiser to share health exchanges, such as integrated delivery networks, pharmacies, labs and patient information.
More than 400 San Diego veterans are participating in the pilot.
The partnership has been successful so far, and is the culmination of decades of work in the medical community, Dr. Stephen L. Ondra, senior VA policy advisor for health affairs, said in a press conference from Kaiser Permanente's Otay Mesa Outpatient Medical Center in San Diego.
The Defense Department plans to join those efforts in San Diego within the first quarter of this year, he said.
"It's a very exciting moment for us," Ondra said. "This is the very first multi-party exchange to the nationwide health information network. [VA] feels committed and responsible to go forward to extend this to other providers and across the nation as we build on this effort."
VA is the largest integrated health system in the nation, serving more than 5.4 million veterans. More than half of those veterans seek some of their medical services outside the VA. Also, there are more than 1.5 million veterans who don't use VA health-care services at all, said Ondra, a former Army surgeon and Gulf War veteran.
Although, VA and the Defense Department are leaders in health information exchanges, Ondra said, it's important for their systems also to be integrated into the private sector.
"We've got to take care of those patients, and we really need to have the visibility ... to understand conditions and to understand what treatment they've had, what medications, what allergies they've had," he said. "Those are all things that this exchange will do. It improves quality, safety and efficiency."
Ondra explained that the network isn't so much a system as it is a set of standards and protocols, meaning that no organization is tied to any single system. Interoperability in sharing health record information and administrative data can occur in any system that follows the nationwide standard, he said.
"[The network] empowers the private sector with standards to develop more choices that are always good for consumers," he said. "With a standard, it opens up space for new solutions and ultimately it aims to lower cost and better the health system for the public."
Ondra noted that such an integrated system will relieve the burden on patients and families who are often ill. With the network, and with patients' consent, they won't have to "scurry back and forth between providers with records," he said.
"This is about making patients' lives and health better ... doing something that is sustainable for our country," he continued. "We are committed to making their lives better."
As the partnership moves forward and grows, Ondra said the medical community is one step closer to President Barack Obama's vision of a lifetime electronic records system. He called the initiative the embodiment of Obama's commitment to servicemembers, veterans and improving overall health care for the nation.
Ondra also said their efforts are in keeping with VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki's commitment to transform VA into a 21st-century organization centered on patients.
"This healthcare record-sharing initiative is the most exciting development I've seen in my [25-year] medical career," Ondra said. "This has the greatest potential to improve and change how we deliver care than anything that's happened in my lifetime."
Along with the efforts in San Diego, a number of other private institutions have expressed interest in joining the VA and Defense Department partnership. Ondra expects several more pilot programs to be established this year, he said.
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 6, 2010 - The Defense Department soon will join a Veterans Affairs Department and Kaiser Permanente partnership designed to improve the way military veterans and the nation receive health care, the VA's top health affairs policy advisor said today. For the past month, Kaiser Permanente and VA – the nation's two largest electronic medical records systems – have been working to integrate their standards for veterans through a pilot program in San Diego using the Nationwide Health Information Network. The network was developed by the Health and Human Services Department in 2008, and allows government and several private sector health care providers like Kaiser to share health exchanges, such as integrated delivery networks, pharmacies, labs and patient information.
More than 400 San Diego veterans are participating in the pilot.
The partnership has been successful so far, and is the culmination of decades of work in the medical community, Dr. Stephen L. Ondra, senior VA policy advisor for health affairs, said in a press conference from Kaiser Permanente's Otay Mesa Outpatient Medical Center in San Diego.
The Defense Department plans to join those efforts in San Diego within the first quarter of this year, he said.
"It's a very exciting moment for us," Ondra said. "This is the very first multi-party exchange to the nationwide health information network. [VA] feels committed and responsible to go forward to extend this to other providers and across the nation as we build on this effort."
VA is the largest integrated health system in the nation, serving more than 5.4 million veterans. More than half of those veterans seek some of their medical services outside the VA. Also, there are more than 1.5 million veterans who don't use VA health-care services at all, said Ondra, a former Army surgeon and Gulf War veteran.
Although, VA and the Defense Department are leaders in health information exchanges, Ondra said, it's important for their systems also to be integrated into the private sector.
"We've got to take care of those patients, and we really need to have the visibility ... to understand conditions and to understand what treatment they've had, what medications, what allergies they've had," he said. "Those are all things that this exchange will do. It improves quality, safety and efficiency."
Ondra explained that the network isn't so much a system as it is a set of standards and protocols, meaning that no organization is tied to any single system. Interoperability in sharing health record information and administrative data can occur in any system that follows the nationwide standard, he said.
"[The network] empowers the private sector with standards to develop more choices that are always good for consumers," he said. "With a standard, it opens up space for new solutions and ultimately it aims to lower cost and better the health system for the public."
Ondra noted that such an integrated system will relieve the burden on patients and families who are often ill. With the network, and with patients' consent, they won't have to "scurry back and forth between providers with records," he said.
"This is about making patients' lives and health better ... doing something that is sustainable for our country," he continued. "We are committed to making their lives better."
As the partnership moves forward and grows, Ondra said the medical community is one step closer to President Barack Obama's vision of a lifetime electronic records system. He called the initiative the embodiment of Obama's commitment to servicemembers, veterans and improving overall health care for the nation.
Ondra also said their efforts are in keeping with VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki's commitment to transform VA into a 21st-century organization centered on patients.
"This healthcare record-sharing initiative is the most exciting development I've seen in my [25-year] medical career," Ondra said. "This has the greatest potential to improve and change how we deliver care than anything that's happened in my lifetime."
Along with the efforts in San Diego, a number of other private institutions have expressed interest in joining the VA and Defense Department partnership. Ondra expects several more pilot programs to be established this year, he said.
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