Mobile Communication and Information Systems to Support Emergency Management

Aeptec Microsystems, Inc.

Rockville,MD

Developed Earth Alert as a regional warning system that warns individuals, first responders, and assembly locations of nearby and immediate hazards, with sufficient time and information to save lives. The system utilizes existing satellite and pager/cellular infrastructure to integrate, analyze and disseminate information for emergency management and SAR (search and rescue)

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Integrated web technology, satellite communication, geographic information system (GIS) and state-of-the-art microelectronics to create a large-scale personal warning system for any location served by a commercial paging system.
  
• Designed a two-way pager with built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) and graphic display capabilities. This allows a person’s location to be displayed in relation to where the hazard is thus facilitating rapid decision making.
• In 2001, AEPTEC received the prestigious Tibbetts Award which recognizes excellence in the SBIR Program, for the development of Earth Alert.
• Built a Response Call Center in Blairsville, PA, to support system deployments. Blairsville is a model site for replication of expanded applications such as: Emergency Management, Public Safety, and other Federal / State / local agencies.

• Three (3) ongoing Phase III projects have resulted from the earlier Phase I and Phase II efforts.
• Awarded a contract by GE Financial Assurance for “The Enabling of Telematics/Location-based Services“.

• 2000: FEMA provided NASA with additional funding to support Earth Alert.
• 2000: Maryland Emergency Operation Centers agreed to become beta test sites for Earth Alert.
• Completed NASA/GSFC Phase III contract of $1.8 million for the production of pager and system integration.
• Phase III testing of Emergency Management at Aberdeen and chemical emissions testing at Edgewater, MD with the CSEPP program

Return to NASA SBIR Success Listings