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From Random Hacks of Kindness

1 USAR

[edit] USAR

Urban Search and Rescue Data Collection application

RHoK2.0 Status: Chicago

[edit] Owner

Deborah Shaddon, CrisisCommons/Chicago CERT Team
deborahshaddon (@) gmail (dot) com

Best way and times to contact during RHoK 2.0 Dec 4/5 2010: e.g. email, but on skype 10am-3pm EST (GMT+5) *Deborah is Chicago RHoK2 City Lead

[edit] Summary

USAR teams, Urban Search and Rescue, follow a prescribed methodology when searching buildings and locations after a disaster. Buildings are marked with an 'X' (Called INSARGAR), which is intended to provide 4 quadrants of data collection and gathering of the search. Often data of the various searches is collected manually on paper, to later be correlated into a larger situational report. This problem aims to find ways in which technology can assist, expedite, and produce better quality of the collected data results.

[edit] Example

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_search_and_rescue

[edit] Use Case/User Story/Scenario

[edit] User story 1: bluetooth connection to wallpaper antenna

[edit] User story 2: What's next

You can also go ahead and produce detailed use cases for each user story (or on their own) if that's where you're at. e.g.

[edit] Use Case 1: Data Collection Structural Analysis

Consider the 4 types of data collected and how structures would exist and how different reporting data structures will be needed to support this

[edit] Use Case 2: Data Capture in the Field

Even if the data cannot be captured in automated ways in the 'field', consider that even a picture of the marking, with a geocoded location, is steps above paper based systems today.

[edit] Use Case 3: Data Upload

Data needs to be uploaded, either on a wireless or phone network, and collected to a backend entry point.

[edit] Use Case 4: Data Aggregation and Transformation

If the upload is just a picture, considerations are how to build in a, albiet human, translation step into the system. This still speeds up the process and aids in data verification. However, methods to 'detect' and pull this data automatically out of the image for formatting should also be considered.

[edit] Use Case 5: Data Reporting

Ultimately, once uploaded and cleansed, this data could be used to create a situational report across all reported search transaction events.

[edit] Description and Constraints

System collection needs need to happen in both connected (as in wireless or 3g network) mode for later transmission, and are not required to be a real time upload.

[edit] Extra Credit

Consider an open data standard for the upload, and reporting of this data (perhaps, for example, JSON extract web service, but structured appropriately.

[edit] Similar projects and Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_search_and_rescue

[edit] What next and Sustainability

Completed as project progress

[edit] Current State and Solutions