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University of Pittsburgh HLS virtual program helps to pool resources and data for emergency response | 10.31.2007 | 08:08:22 | Views: 5768 | ID: October 31 '07: WTAE TV 4 in Pittsburgh has reported that the University of Pittsburgh's Center for National Preparedness has been working on a new online information and resource collaborative tool called the Dynamic Discrete Disaster Decision Simulation System much like the Essential Public Network, although Pitt's resource is targeted toward the local community. The system "is a circumstance-independent laboratory for testing how the type and scale of an event, as well as situational variables and command decisions affect responders' efficiency and effectiveness in dealing with disasters," the website read. Dr. Ken Sochats told the local Pittsburgh station, "We were able to build a virtual emergency operations center simulator, so this is as real as we could get." At its heart, the system would allow local business, government and community leaders to meet virtually, share resources and information about specific events and collaborate on the best ways to respond to a disaster. Jim Powers, the director of Pennsylvania's Department of Homeland Security said, "We are probably not going to be able to prevent everything from happening, and we're probably not going to [protect] every single piece of critical infrastructure," but that the tool would help.
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