SensorNet
proposed as system to protect millions nationwide
Media Contact: Ron Walli
Communications and Community Outreach
(865) 576-0226
OAK RIDGE,
Tenn., March 12, 2004 — Tennessee could become
a model for the nation when it comes to protecting
the public from chemical, biological or radiological
releases.
Already, sensors that are part of Oak Ridge National Laboratory's
SensorNet are deployed in Nashville, Knoxville and Oak Ridge, and
in other parts of the nation. Additional sensors are planned for
Memphis, Chattanooga and Sullivan County in Upper East Tennessee.
ORNL project managers envision more being added in the next few
years, eventually spanning the state with sensors that would alert
emergency responders and the public if they were in danger of being
exposed to water or airborne hazards.
Frank Libutti, the Department of Homeland Security's under secretary
for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection, was in
Nashville today to see first hand how the system works. Also attending
the demonstration were several homeland security advisers from
neighboring states.
John Strand, project manager for ORNL's SensorNet program, hopes
the presentation builds additional momentum for the project.
"We were able to provide
Mr. Libutti and other homeland security advisers responsible for
protecting the public with an overview of SensorNet, explain the
benefits and answer a lot of questions," Strand
said. "And seeing scenarios unfold helped drive home the importance
of SensorNet to the nation." The event was coordinated by Jerry Humble, director of the Tennessee
Office of Homeland Security, which has designated the Department
of Energy's ORNL as its technology partner. SensorNet, which is being developed to provide near real-time
detection, identification and assessment of chemical, biological
and radiological threats, will allow informed first responders
to be dispatched within minutes of an event. Nationally, the system would combine assets from government and
private sectors to provide state-of-the-art sensors and remote
telemetry by strategically locating and connecting remote sensors
on or at existing commercial and government facilities. Critical
information then can be sent simultaneously to incident management
centers at the local, state and national levels within minutes
of an event. First responders would know the critical details of
the event, including assessment of the chemical or biological hazards
as well as levels of radiological releases. In addition, emergency
management personnel would know the projected path of the plume
in time to take corrective action. Furthermore, it is possible
to rapidly deploy a nationwide SensorNet system because much of
the technology and infrastructure already exist. A communications center at ORNL is operational and shows real-time
data from test beds in Washington, D.C., New York and Tennessee.
Data on several monitors show visual locations with zoom capability.
Sensor operational status can be monitored in real time as well,
and plume progressions are visible in two dimensions as well as
in 3D.
Protecting the nation's population is a daunting
task, Strand noted. Tennessee alone, for example,
has 87,000 miles of public roads, 1,073 miles of
interstate, 3,000 miles of freight rail, five municipal/international
airports and 603 hospitals. The Volunteer State
is also home to 332 chemical sites with between 500,000 and 1 billion
pounds of explosive materials, and to an additional 342 sites with
more than 1 billion pounds of explosive materials.
By establishing Tennessee as a test bed for the nation, Strand
said his team would be able to identify requirements necessary
to make SensorNet work on a national scale.
Partners in the effort include the Tennessee Office
of Homeland Security, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
and several commercial partners. ORNL is managed for DOE by UT-Battelle.
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