Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer - 2003

Department of Energy
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

In an emergency, getting the right information to the right people in time to make the right decisions can save lives and property. A team from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has developed an emergency management software system that accomplishes that goal. Emergency Management Advantage (EMAdvantage) is a software tool that simultaneously supports planning, daily operations, incident identification, emergency declaration, and emergency response activities for multiple users within an emergency operations center. Combining real-time modeling, visualization, and communications capabilities, EMAdvantage enables emergency managers to identify hazards, perform threat and risk analysis, declare emergencies, execute and track responses, register and reunite evacuees, and implement protective action decisions.

This technology has been transferred to Petroleos Mexicanos, which manages the national petroleum industry in Mexico; Aptec Microsystems, Inc.; NASA; and the U.S. Army. The transfer process involved software engineering, collaborative tools, copyrights, and licensing.

EMAdvantage is the only emergency management system that supports all phases of emergency management and makes the information available via desktop computer, the Internet, and personal digital assistants. Millions of people will be helped by this technology, although most may never be aware of its existence. Whether it is a natural disaster, an explosion, or a terrorist attack, EMAdvantage will provide invaluable assistance to emergency personnel and its use will save lives and property.

Contact: W. David Millard, (509) 375-2947, Dave.Millard@pnl.gov