Next generation emergency management common operating picture software/systems (COPSS)

In the state-of-the-art Command Center at the Morrelly Homeland Security Center in Bethpage NY, VCORE Solutions has integrated, demonstrated, tested, deployed, and is operating powerful Emergency Management Common Operating Picture Software/Systems (COPSS). This Regional COPSS demonstrates in an operational environment the next generation of emergency management situational awareness, command & control, and information sharing in a natural, easy to use and understand four-dimensional (4D) common operating picture. This Regional COPSS is based on patented fourDscape® software technology, developed over the past decade by Long Island, NY-based Balfour Technologies. This powerful fourDscape augmented virtual reality technology has been effectively applied to local and regional emergency management operations and can be deployed nationally to deliver comprehensive situational awareness in support of safety, security and emergency preparedness, prevention, mitigation, response and recovery operations at all levels. A fourDscape browser/server-based COPSS is designed as an open, multi-layered service/resource oriented networked architecture (SOA/ROA, i.e. “cloud”) capable of (1) integrating and managing a multitude of disparate data sources of all types (including live and static data feeds); (2) interoperability with numerous other vendors information systems, COPs, information sharing frameworks, notification and alerting systems, analytics, etc.; and (3) sharing and passing information and comprehensive, timely situational awareness between first responders at the incident site, incident commanders, and emergency managers and decision makers at local, regional and national emergency operations centers across the country. And consistent with the recent Presidential Policy Directive on National Preparedness (PPD-8), this fourDscape COPSS capabilities and framework represents currently operational technology that can achieve an integrated, layered, and all-of-Nation [capabilities-based] preparedness approach that optimizes the use of available resources. Next Generation COPSS such as fourDscape need to be open and scalable to facilitate global information sharing; deliver information in an easy-to-understand augmented virtual reality common operating picture; be easy-to-use walk-up technology with a full complement of embedded training/simulation capability; provide for effective information assurance; and be compliant and effective in executing national preparedness goals. All this can and will be achieved by next generation COPSS.