Science and Technology Collection

Enhancing the USCG’s Operational Effectiveness With COAST Fact Sheet

Researchers from the Center for Visual and Data Analytics (CVADA), a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Center of Excellence, have worked with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to develop the Coastal Operations Analysis Suite of Tools (COAST) that meets a broad set of USCG mission requirements. This suite of tools includes visualization, simulation, math modeling, and optimization techniques.

Improving Disaster Response and Recovery: Social Media Analytics and Reporting Toolkit Fact Sheet

Developed by the Center for Visualization and Data Analytics at Purdue University, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Center of Excellence, Social Media Analytics and Reporting Toolkit (SMART) is a social media analysis system that provides analysts with scalable analysis and visualization of social media posts. The system uses topic extraction, combinations of key word filters, word cluster examination, and unusual event detection to provide situational awareness and improve decision-making for time-critical tasks.

Mobile Computing Application Platform (MCAP) for Disaster Response Fact Sheet

In an emergency, it is vital that first responders are able to communicate and share information, regardless of the agency they represent. Yet, interoperability and information integration remain a challenge when it comes to real-time, multi-agency coordination.

To address this challenge, the Center for Visualization and Data Analytics (CVADA) at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Center of Excellence, developed the Mobile Computing Application Platform (MCAP) in partnership with the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center.

Predicting Crowd Behavior for Public Safety Fact Sheet and Video

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) is tapping a high-tech approach developed by the DHS S&T Center for Visualization and Data Analytics (CVADA) at Rutgers to enable safer crowd movement during emergencies and other events. The CVADA-Rutgers research team uses a combination of mathematical modeling and LiDAR (light and radar) to determine the best way to manage rush-hour crowds and bus schedules—including emergency evacuations— before, during, and after PANYNJ’s major reconstruction and rehabilitation construction projects.

Security for Large Crowds and Venues Fact Sheet

Stadiums from almost every professional sports league are using patron screening and evacuation simulation tools developed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology (S&T) Center of Excellence for Visualization and Data Analytics (CVADA) at Rutgers in partnership with Regal Decision Systems Inc. The tools enable public safety and emergency managers to select the screening and evacuation methods likely to work best at a particular venue.

Visual Analytics Law Enforcement Toolkit (VALET): Helping Law Enforcement Stay Ahead of Crime Fact Sheet

The Visual Analytics Law Enforcement Toolkit (VALET) integrates large volumes of criminal, traffic and civil incident data into a single, interactive user interface to help law enforcement decision makers, analysts and officers identify crime trends and patterns, discover crime anomalies, and perform predictive crime analytics in order to assist in allocating law enforcement resources.

Developed by the Center for Visualization and Data Analytics, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Center of Excellence, VALET provides users with a visual display of multiple integrated crime datasets and a variety of crime analyses capabilities.

Chemical Security Analysis Center Technical Assistance Fact Sheet

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC) provides a robust and reliable science-based technical assistance capability that puts actionable technical information in the hands of the operational community and decision-makers in a timely and comprehensive manner. Operating on a 24-hours a day, seven-days a week basis, S&T CSAC Technical Assistance responds to questions and information requests from the DHS Components, other agencies within the federal government, as well as state and local authorities. S&T CSAC Technical Assistance plays an integral role in the emergency response protocol of the DHS National Operations Center.

Center for Accelerating Operational Efficiency (CAOE) Fact Sheet

CAOE develops and applies advanced analytical tools and technologies to enhance planning and real-time decision-making in homeland security operations.

Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE) Fact Sheet

CREATE’s mission is to improve the Nation’s security through the development of advanced models and tools for the evaluation of the risks, costs, and consequences of terrorism and to guide economically viable investments in homeland security.

Center for Visualization and Data Analytics (CVADA) Fact Sheet

CVADA creates enduring technologies to analyze large quantities of information in support of real-time decision making across the homeland security enterprise.