NR – 10.007 - October 4, 2010
OTTAWA – From October 4 to 8, the Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre Air Force Experiment Centre (CFAWC AFEC), in conjunction with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), lead a Disaster Interoperability Response Experiment (DIRE) aimed at advancing theintegration of communication systems, open source tools, and the adoption of technical standards to achieve better coordinated response between emergency response organizations during disasters.
This year's experiment (DIRE 10), the first of a series expected to be held annually, is using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and tethered balloons (aerostats) to look at the advantages of employing existing equipment as part of a coordination system to provide better long-distance communications and imagery gathering during disaster response.
Conducted in the area between Connaught Range and Shirley's Bay in Ottawa, DIRE 10 involves a variety of key governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), such as: Ottawa Police, Fire and Paramedic Services, DRDC CFAWC AFEC team members, and other DND participants. NGOs, represented by the Canadian Red Cross, will be observing this year, but may participate in future experiments.
This cooperative effort between emergency response partners is expected to provide invaluable insights into how to increase interoperability, create communication standards, and experiment with the feasibility of new technology. The DIRE experiment will allow for more dynamic decision-making and dissemination of information, hence faster response time in support of Canadians and populations in need of assistance anywhere in the world in the aftermath of a disaster.
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Note to the editor/news director: For additional information, please contact Lieutenant Lisa Evong, Air Force Public Affairs Officer, at 613-325-9440.
For more information on DIRE visit :
http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/v2/nr-sp/index-eng.asp?id=11072
