press
releases/web announcements carleton partners
with industry and government to combat terrorism
and protect canadians in the event of a disaster
(Ottawa, November 5, 2009) – Ground-breaking
software applications to combat terrorism and protect
Canadians in the event of a disaster have been developed
by Carleton University and AMITA Corporation with
planned deployment at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic
and Paralympic Games.
The Casualty Care Continuum (CCC), a unique joint
project of Carleton’s Human Oriented Technology
Lab (HOT Lab) and AMITA Corporation, is a casualty
management system targeted for use by the British
Columbia Ambulance Service that allows first responders
to quickly identify and track victim injuries in
the event of a major disaster.
“When industry partners
with government and academia, we can achieve great
success,’’ says Carleton President
Roseann O’Reilly Runte. “By
combining the knowledge of our faculty, the assessed
needs of the community and the capability of business,
we can positively impact the lives of Canadians.”
The casualty tracking system provides a method of
transmitting data on victim injuries to health care
and emergency co-ordination agencies so they can
provide fast and effective emergency response. Hospitals
would know exactly what is wrong with victims the
moment they arrive and decision-makers could have
access to real-time information on the size and
scope of the unfolding incident.
The tracking system is based on AMITA’s Rapid
Triage Management Workbench (RTMW).
“The RTMW system will
enable the B.C. Ambulance Service to move ahead
with improved patient tracking and real-time communication
with partner agencies and health authorities,’’
says Rene Bernklau, Provincial Co-ordinator of Hazardous
Substance Response for the CBRNE Team Emergency
Management Office of the British Columbia Ambulance
Service.
“The benefits of the
system will be felt downstream by our patients,
paramedics, dispatchers and first receivers. The
real-time communication technology and support will
improve patient care.’’
A second software application, SOCIUS, is already
accessible nation-wide by the RCMP. It captures
highly technical overviews of incidents involving
the terrorist or criminal use of materials such
as Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The information
can be shared with a large community of responders,
including military and civilian, in Canada or beyond
its borders.
“SOCIUS is an invaluable
tool for bomb technicians to remain current on emerging
trends related to hazardous devices and the most
appropriate means to conduct safe operations and
investigations. It is extremely easy to use and
maintain high proficiency in all functionalities,”
says John Bureaux, former Officer in Charge of the
RCMP’s Explosives Disposal and Technology
Section and project team lead for the development
and implementation of the system.
“The ability for SOCIUS
to exchange incident information amongst countries
will aid in tracking and interdiction of international
terrorists/groups.”
Carleton’s HOT Lab, led by Psychology Professor
Gitte Lindgaard, designed the user interface for
both systems. Research in the HOT Lab focuses on
understanding how interactive technology should
be designed to maximize user satisfaction, effectiveness
and efficiency. It also ensures that the user interface
is visually appealing and user-friendly. Defence
R&D Canada is the team lead of CCC, while AMITA
provided project management and led the technical
system development, featuring the database structure
and tracking functionality for both projects.
“Carleton University
and AMITA Corporation have a long history of collaboration,”
says Sonny Lundahl, the company’s Vice-President
of Research and Development.
“Our partnership on
these vital systems will protect the lives of Canadians
and give law enforcement agencies the upper hand
in combating global terrorism.”
The projects received funding through the Chemical,
Biological, Radiological-Nuclear and Explosives
(CBRNE) Research & Technology Initiative (CRTI).
CRTI is led by the Defence R&D Canada (DRDC) –
Centre for Security Science (CSS), a joint endeavour
between DRDC and Public Safety Canada. DRDC CSS’s
mission is to strengthen Canada’s ability
to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover
from incidents that impact on Canada’s safety
and security through investments in science and
technology.
AMITA Corporation
Founded in 1985, AMITA Corporation is a public safety
and emergency management solutions company that
offers IT consulting, commercialized software solutions
and expertise in CBRNE-based research and development
programs. Focusing on the industries of law enforcement/first
responders, military/defence and public health,
AMITA serves the requirements of government, health
care, public safety and emergency management agencies
in the areas of counter-terrorism, IED, mass casualty
triage and CBRNE incidents. For more information,
visit www.amita.com.
Carleton University
Located in the nation’s capital, Carleton
University is a dynamic research and teaching institution
with a tradition of leading change. Its internationally
recognized faculty, staff and researchers provide
more than 24,000 full- and part-time students from
every province and more than 100 countries around
the world with academic opportunities in more than
65 programs of study, including public affairs,
journalism, film studies, engineering, high technology,
and international studies. Carleton’s creative,
interdisciplinary and international approach to
research has led to many significant discoveries
and creative works in science and technology, business,
governance, public policy and the arts. As an innovative
institution Carleton is uniquely committed to developing
solutions to real-world problems by pushing the
boundaries of knowledge and understanding daily.
For more information:
Steve Blais
Media Relations Officer
Carleton University
613-520-2600 x1391 steve_blais@carleton.ca
Shelley Bryen
SR Manager, Marketing Communications
AMITA Corporation and WorldReach Software
613-742-6482 x209 shelley.bryen@amita.com
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