Amy Sebring: Welcome to the EIIP Tech Arena! Today we are featuring CoBRA: Chemical Biological Response Aide from Defense Group Inc. Amy Sebring: For the benefit of any first-timers, if you see a blue web address, you can click on it and the referenced Web page should appear in a browser window. Amy Sebring: After the first one, the browser window may not automatically come to the top, so you may need to bring it forward by clicking on a button at the status bar at the bottom of your screen. Then you will need to bring your chat window back to the top in the same way. Amy Sebring: We will start with a presentation, and then follow with a Q&A session for your questions and comments. Right before we begin the Q&A portion we will review the procedure. Amy Sebring: Please do NOT send direct messages to the speaker or moderator as it makes it difficult for us to follow the discussion. Amy Sebring: Background information for today's session may be found at http://www.emforum.org/varena/010221.htm ... Amy Sebring: Now I am pleased to introduce Brad Gardner and Craig Levy. Dr. Ponikvar could not join us after all today. Amy Sebring: Brad is Deputy for Product Development at DGI, where he leads the software development team building the CoBRA family of products. Amy Sebring: He also provides scientific, engineering and technical support to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy and to local First Responder organizations dealing with chemical and biological terrorism. Amy Sebring: Craig is Deputy for Responder Services and he has a background in firefighting and emergency management with Osceola County, Florida, and has served as adjunct faculty with Breward and Valencia Community Colleges. Amy Sebring: He writes a Domestic Preparedness column for National Fire & Rescue magazine and is a member of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors. Amy Sebring: Welcome to you both gentlemen. We appreciate your taking the time to be with us today. Brad will start us off with the presentation. Brad, I turn the floor over to you. Brad Gardner: Thank you, Amy. CoBRA is the Chemical Biological Response Aide. It was literally designed by First Responder teams across the country who participated in surveys and interviews given in 2000. It provides a multitude of tools and data needed when responding to incidents ranging from HAZMAT to terrorism. Brad Gardner: CoBRA was designed to be used on touchscreen computers in the front seats of response vehicles. As such, a major portion of CoBRA is easy to use tools that give responders immediate access to data previously stored in several different formats and locations with expanded functionality. Brad Gardner: On the other hand, CoBRA actively generates incident and status reports that can be instantly communicated up the chain of command to help manage incident response activities. This can be done automatically via wireless communications or something as basic as a floppy disk. Brad Gardner: Slide 1 shows some of the tools and resources that make up CoBRA. Brad Gardner: Amy, slide 1 please. Amy Sebring: http://www.emforum.org/varena/cobra/slide01.htm Brad Gardner: CoBRA was initially funded by the TSWG (Technical Support Working Group), a DoD office responsible for identifying and filling technology needs. This funding provided for First Responder requirements gathering and adaptation of existing software to fill those requirements. Brad Gardner: While gathering requirements from Fire, HAZMAT, Police, Emergency Management, and Forensics communities, DGI concurrently reviewed the major COTS software packages available for assessing, responding to, and managing incidents involving terrorist use of chemical or biological weapons, as well as improvised explosives. Brad Gardner: The TSWG and DGI agreed to base CoBRA on software developed for the National Guard Civil Support Teams, formerly known as RAID teams. This software, known as the Rapid Response Toolkit, was adapted into the First Responder Toolkit for the TSWG, then polished and released commercially as CoBRA. Brad Gardner: Amy, slide 2 please. Amy Sebring: http://www.emforum.org/varena/cobra/slide02.htm Brad Gardner: Since CoBRA was designed from feedback from such a wide range of responders, the system is dynamically configured based on how you log in. This also allows you to customize the contents of CoBRA for different user types in a department or jurisdiction. Brad Gardner: Amy, slide 3 please. Amy Sebring: http://www.emforum.org/varena/cobra/slide03.htm Brad Gardner: Once the user is logged in, incident reporting is automatically started behind the scenes. CoBRA's interface consists of a TreeView on the left, which holds all guides, checklists, SOPs, data resources, and tools. Navigation mirrors typical windows navigation. Brad Gardner: The data window shows the tools or resource that the user selected from the TreeView. Along the bottom of the screen the incident information is maintained. Brad Gardner: Amy, slide 4 please. Amy Sebring: http://www.emforum.org/varena/cobra/slide04.htm Brad Gardner: The ERG2000 tool is just one example of how CoBRA takes some typical resources and makes them better. The ERG2000 is one of the documents that HAZMAT teams are required by law to reference on the scene of a HAZMAT incident. It is slow to use, but CoBRA's version has a simple search screen which makes getting to the appropriate response guide page very quick. Brad Gardner: Amy, slide 5 please. Amy Sebring: http://www.emforum.org/varena/cobra/slide05.htm Brad Gardner: The Jane's Chem-Bio Handbook is integrated into CoBRA in html format. The hyperlinks at the top of the data window correspond to the tabs sticking out of the hardcopy book. Brad Gardner: CoBRA contains many other guides, and has the ability to import additional guides and data sources the user or department references regularly. Brad Gardner: Amy, slide 6 please. Amy Sebring: http://www.emforum.org/varena/cobra/slide06.htm Brad Gardner: Many HAZMAT teams perform their preplanning with a free EPA program called CAMEO (Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations). CoBRA can read directly from CAMEO database tables, including the RIDS (Response Information Data Sheets). Brad Gardner: This provides responders and managers a ready reference on over 80,000 chemical names. CoBRA's search screen for the RIDS data is much quicker and easier to use, featuring several search methods (Chemical name, UNID #, STCC #, CAS #, NOAA #). Brad Gardner: Amy, slide 7 please. Amy Sebring: http://www.emforum.org/varena/cobra/slide07.htm Brad Gardner: Since CoBRA is designed for daily use and Chemical or Biological terrorism response, most screens are used in the exact same way for either response. RIDS, for example, can present the user with Sarin response data the same way it presents Chlorine data. Brad Gardner: One exception is the Agent ID tool, which can identify the chemical warfare agent class based on signs and symptoms exhibited by victims at the scene of a suspected incident. If the user suspects the release of a chemical weapon, the most likely class of agent can be identified in seconds. Brad Gardner: Scoring information is displayed for further analysis, and additional signs and symptoms can be entered to refine the query. Everything is date and time stamped in the incident log for accountability. Brad Gardner: Amy, slide 8 please. Amy Sebring: http://www.emforum.org/varena/cobra/slide08.htm Brad Gardner: Improvised explosives data is also included inside of CoBRA. The ATF's data makes up our current tool, which furnishes standoff distances based on an identified vehicle's capacity for improvised explosives. Brad Gardner: The TSWG recently released data that goes down to pipe bomb sized threats. This data is directly importable into CoBRA, and the next version of the explosives data tools will include this new data. Brad Gardner: Amy, slide 9 please. Amy Sebring: http://www.emforum.org/varena/cobra/slide09.htm Brad Gardner: Checklists can be built and deployed into CoBRA as well. The incident reporting system tracks the date and time that each item is checked. A special merge function allows users receiving incident reports to compare incoming checklists with their own, and merge remote checklist data into the local checklist. Brad Gardner: This allows people managing the incident to track checklist items from several sources, merge them into a local master checklist, and send it further up the chain of command. This is one example of how CoBRA can be used inside an Incident Command System. Brad Gardner: Amy, slide 10 please. Amy Sebring: http://www.emforum.org/varena/cobra/slide10.htm Brad Gardner: I've been mentioning the incident reporting system off and on throughout the presentation. More specifically, it enables the user of CoBRA to send an instant picture of their response activities without typing any text. Brad Gardner: Incident reports can be sent through a common e-mail server, or directly across a network. We typically use wireless communications such as CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) and wireless LAN (802.11b standard). Brad Gardner: Receiving an incident report presents you with a miniature TreeView that shows only the tools and data references by the sender. Further, it allows you to jump into the tool exactly as the sender viewed it. For example, if the sender identified Sarin in the RIDS tool, the receiver can click on this in the incident report and instantly jump to the Sarin screen of RIDS on the local machine. Brad Gardner: Amy, slide 11 please. Amy Sebring: http://www.emforum.org/varena/cobra/slide11.htm Brad Gardner: The last and most powerful feature of CoBRA is the CoBRA Administrator Tools, which come free with CoBRA. This allows you to modify CoBRA's contents and deploy them (in a similar way as incident reports) to the CoBRA's in the field, which will automatically accept the changes at startup. Brad Gardner: The Administrator Tools allow you to modify profiles, logon IDs, checklists, and the TreeView. Modification of the TreeView includes adding tools or data guides into your new profiles, including adding your own new checklists and documents. Slide 12 lists the file formats that CoBRA supports, which includes most common PC formats, such as DOC, PPT, and PDF. Brad Gardner: Amy, slide 12 please. Amy Sebring: http://www.emforum.org/varena/cobra/slide12.htm Brad Gardner: In summary, CoBRA is product that we feel is much simpler to use without sacrificing capability. It scales seamlessly from HAZMAT incidents to terrorism response. Brad Gardner: Amy, slide 13 please. Amy Sebring: http://www.emforum.org/varena/cobra/slide13.htm Brad Gardner: We have a demo CD available for people who are interested, which contains a 30 day full working copy of a smaller product called CoBRA GUIDE 2000, which is just the ERG2000 portion of CoBRA. The CD also contains multimedia tours through some of CoBRA's main features. Brad Gardner: Anyone interested can call us toll-free at 1-877-233- 5789, email us at cobra@cobraguides.com, or visit us online at www.cobraguides.com. Brad Gardner: Amy, slide 14 please. Amy Sebring: http://www.emforum.org/varena/cobra/slide14.htm Brad Gardner: Lastly, I want to encourage everyone to give us a close look and help strengthen First Responder products like CoBRA through detailed feedback. Many of our features in development now come from people like yourselves who have great ideas but don't lead a software development team for implementing them. Brad Gardner: Thanks. We look forward to you questions and feedback. Amy Sebring: Thank you Brad. Audience please enter a question mark (?) to indicate you wish to be recognized, go ahead and compose your comment or question, but wait for recognition before hitting the enter key or clicking on Send. Amy Sebring: We now invite your questions/comments. Elaine Sudanowicz: ? Amy Sebring: Elaine, when you are ready please. Elaine Sudanowicz: What is the cost of the COBRA System? Terry Storer: ? Brad Gardner: $500 per license. Very inexpensive due to the ... Andre Thomas: Is there a charge for the Demo CD? Brad Gardner: sponsorship of TSWG during the initial development. Jim McBride: ? Amy Sebring: Go ahead and respond to Andre please. I think you said it was a free demo? Craig Levy: The Demo CD is free. Andre Thomas: Thank you. Amy Sebring: Thanks Craig. Can you explain how it is licensed? Per vehicle? Craig Levy: Per computer installation. Amy Sebring: Ok, Terry next please. Terry Storer: Do you have the capability to export data elements into NFIRS 5.0? Brad Gardner: Not at this time. That is a good idea for the next version, though. Amy Sebring: Jim next please. Jim McBride: Can this be used on handheld devices? Avagene Moore: ? Brad Gardner: Yes, we have a version for Windows CE devices... Brad Gardner: That has some limitations but overall does almost everything that the laptop version does. Same price. No Palm version yet. Amy Sebring: Avagene next please. Bernard Dubb: ? Avagene Moore: I missed the first few minutes and apologize if you explained this -- is there a tutorial included? How much time does it take for the average person to get up to speed? David Crews: ? Craig Levy: It is simple to use... Elaine Sudanowicz: ? Craig Levy: We have training material available... Craig Levy: I can use it and am a computer idiot. Amy Sebring: Bernard next please. Martha Davis: ? Bernard Dubb: Can COBRA be integrated into a packet radio and/or APRS system? Bruce Smith: ? Craig Levy: Yes, it works with radio modems. Amy Sebring: David Crews next please. David Crews: Does it have a capability to do nuclear materials/response? Brad Gardner: We do have the ability to import guides and data specific to any response type... Brad Gardner: but CoBRA does not ship pre-configured with as much data for nuclear as it does for HAZMAT / Chem-Bio. Amy Sebring: Elaine please. Elaine Sudanowicz: Is COBRA interoperable with ENCOMPASS developed by DARPA now transitioning to local first responders ? Brad Gardner: I'm not sure. Although DGI has several contracts with DARPA, I am not personally familiar with ENCOMPASS... Brad Gardner: although CoBRA's next version will use the XML specification heavily, which will increase it's interoperability with other systems greatly. Amy Sebring: Martha next please. Martha Davis: Regarding agent ID by symptom...how many agents (chem. and bio) are included? Also, what about mixed releases, how would these be identified by symptoms? Brad Gardner: The agent ID tool identifies the agent class, and all chemical agent classes are included in the tool... Brad Gardner: The included Jane's CB Handbook also has a section that will allow you to double-check... Brad Gardner: against the agent ID tool. Mixed releases will most likely result in the agent ID tool identifying the worst agent class. Amy Sebring: Bruce next please. Bruce Smith: What are your sources of data for agent ID and what type of systems architecture are you using?? Martha Davis: ? Elaine Sudanowicz: Clarification: Sorry for the acronym: ENCOMPASS, Enhanced Consequence Management Planning and Support System. Brad Gardner: The agent ID tool data is based on SBCCOM data. Systems architecture... Brad Gardner: The system has all data local on the machine, and receives updates over the wireless... Brad Gardner: or wired network. This ensures that Responders on scene will not lose any functionality if they lose network connectivity. Amy Sebring: Martha please. Martha Davis: So how many classes of agents? Any difference than Jane's CB? Amy Sebring: (Martha is at the end of the queue, so if anyone else has questions, please enter a ?) Brad Gardner: I believe the agents are classed into 6 classes. The difference... Brad Gardner: between the tool and the Jane's book is automation, scoring analysis view, and ability to easily refine the sign/s symptoms.... Brad Gardner: Also everything is automatically logged.... beth c. booth: ? Brad Gardner: One more thing in response to Bruce - we rely on only FREE viewers so there is never a hidden cost in server software, third party software, etc. Amy Sebring: Beth next please. beth c. booth: Who is currently using CoBRA? Craig Levy: The New Mexico CST... Craig Levy: Several Fire Departments... Brad Gardner: (CST is Civil Support Team)... Amy Sebring: ? Craig Levy: A couple of Police Departments. Amy Sebring: I am unclear about the Agent ID. Was that chem. only, or is there some bio also? Brad Gardner: We are relatively new (December release). Craig Levy: It is Chemical Agent only... Craig Levy: But we have Bio agent information as patient presentation info for DR's. Brad Gardner: Biological agent ID is very hard to do based on signs/symptoms, since many happen over days and may not be exhibited on scene. Amy Sebring: Right. Thanks. Other questions? Amy Sebring: Brad, I believe you mentioned plans for a future release. Can you tell us more about what you have planned? Brad Gardner: Yes... Brad Gardner: CoBRA Pro will have an expanded tool set, including custom reports, more mapping, a precursors identification tool, ... Brad Gardner: and enhanced Web-reporting of incident reports. Bruce Smith: ? Amy Sebring: Bruce please. Terry Storer: ? Martha Davis: ? Bruce Smith: What method are you using to consider data righteousness? Brad Gardner: Data sources are documented in the user's manual, and come from well known sources such as SBCCOM, FBI, EPA, CDC... Judy Jaeger: ? Bruce Smith: ? Brad Gardner: User-added data is not our responsibility, and it is possible (if need be) to tell what has been added vs. what came preloaded. Amy Sebring: Terry next please. Terry Storer: Will you have a demo at the FDIC in Indianapolis later this month ? Booth # ? Brad Gardner: Booth number is 3404, and we will be showing CoBRA and hardened laptops that are decon-able. Craig - ... Amy Sebring: FDIC=? Terry? Craig Levy: We are also doing a technical presentation Wed at 3pm on WMD Scene management... Terry Storer: Fire Dept. Instructor's Conference Amy Sebring: (Thanks) Brad Gardner: We will also do mini-training on the show floor free of charge. Amy Sebring: Martha is next please. Martha Davis: Will the mapping include plume models? Integrate with GIS/CATS? Also, which wireless ability(s)? Also will you be at Texas A&M in March? Brad Gardner: Mapping will be GIS based capable of reading in standard ESRI layers (same as CATS - an ArcView based system).... Brad Gardner: Wireless includes pretty much anything that can connect you - we have several different methods you can use for transferring data... Brad Gardner: and selecting the appropriate one can be done based on the type of wireless you have... Brad Gardner: For example, Craig is using the 802.11b wireless LAN now, and we've used CoBRA very successfully over that, which makes a great ... Brad Gardner: solution for entering a hot zone. Amy Sebring: Judy is next please. Brad Gardner: We will not be at Texas A&M. Sorry. Judy Jaeger: Does CoBRA create its own incident log? If so, what information is recorded? Brad Gardner: Yes.... Amy Sebring: ? Brad Gardner: Lots and lots of information goes into the log. A text version is generated that says things like "WMD Checklist 5 activated at 10:15."... Brad Gardner: and a data portion is generated that gets directed by CoBRA into a point and click... Brad Gardner: type interface. You can add any text to the incident log, but it automatically tracks every checklist, document viewed, chemical identified, in what tool, ant what time, etc.... Brad Gardner: The demo CD shows a little more of this. Amy Sebring: Is there any way of integrating real-time weather data or do you have any plans in this regard? Brad Gardner: CoBRA has a browser function, so if ... Brad Gardner: you have a www site that you can access, consider it done already. Amy Sebring: We have time for one or two more questions. Anyone else? Bruce Smith: We know about different sources but they do not always agree. How do you deal with that? Craig Levy: WE take the most conservative approach... Craig Levy: As we currently do to manage the differences in our hazmat info. Amy Sebring: Let's go ahead and wrap up ... Amy Sebring: Excellent presentation. Thank you very much Brad and Craig for being with us today. We very much appreciate your time and effort. Please stand by a moment while we take care of some business. Amy Sebring: We will have a text transcript posted later today, and reformatted versions with links to the slides at the end of the week. Avagene can you tell us what is on for next week please? Avagene Moore: Thank you, Amy. Gentlemen, on behalf of the EIIP, we appreciate your time and effort and commend you for a fine presentation. Avagene Moore: Next week, February 28, 12:00 Noon EST, we feature the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) in a session follow up to their recent mid-year conference in Washington DC, Feb. 10-14. Avagene Moore: Emily DeMers will be with us as well as one or two State Directors/NEMA members to discuss highlights and outcomes of this working meeting. Avagene Moore: Of course, we are urging NEMA members as well as you to support the session and participate in the dialogue. Topics and issues covered by the NEMA Conference Program are relevant to anyone / everyone in the emergency management business today. Avagene Moore: Schedule next Weds and please join us. That's all for now, Amy. Amy Sebring: Thanks Ava. If you are not on our mailing list and would like to receive weekly notices and our newsletter, please see http://www.speccomm.com:81/guest/RemoteListSummary/EIIP to subscribe. Amy Sebring: Thanks to all our participants today. We will adjourn the session for now, but you are welcome to remain for open discussion. You no longer need to use question marks. Please help us express our appreciation to Brad and Craig for today's presentation.