• Research may yield more compact antennas for military use

    Researchers say that the tall, bulky antennas the U.S. military uses could be scrapped for low-profile, broadband antennas — thanks to a different approach to antenna design that replaces large dipole antennas with a more compact and conformal multi-mode radiator

  • New material increases weapons' explosive force

    A new material, called High-Density Reactive Material (HDRM), is designed to replace steel in warhead casings with little or no compromise in strength or design

  • New sensor system tracks, locate firefighters where GPS fails

    With support from the National Science Foundation, electrical engineers are developing a portable device called the Sentrix Tracking Unit; it straps on like a belt and consists of a suite of sensors; the sensors help locates missing firefighters— saving time and maybe lives

  • First responders learn how to deal with electric cars

    With the growing number of electric vehicles on the road, first responders are now faced with a new type of vehicle that they know little about, which could be potentially dangerous in the event of a fatal crash; to help emergency responders learn about the new technology on the road today, Tesla, a manufacturer of electric vehicles, recently held a training seminar at one of its locations in California

  • Research centre to combat devastating effects of roadside bombs

    Gaining a better understanding of the injuries caused by roadside bombs and improving both treatment and the means of protection are key aims of a new £8 million research center launched the other day; designing “intelligent” combat boots to deflect the impact of a roadside bomb and diagnosing damage more quickly in the injured to reduce future medical problems are two potential benefits

  • Disaster evacuation plans need to incorporate family perspectives

    A recent study sponsored by the National Science Foundation found that most respondents felt the evacuation of New Orleans residents to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina was a “failure” and this opinion has shaped their willingness to accept shelter if offered in an emergency evacuation

  • Why law enforcement officers should earn a degree in homeland security

    In a guest column, Dennis Porter, a former law enforcement officer with more than thirty years of experience, argues that it is critical for U.S. national security that members of the law enforcement community return to school to obtain degrees in homeland security; with counterterrorism becoming an increasingly more crucial duty for law enforcement officers, it is imperative that they have the skills and knowledge to effectively combat extremism

  • Emergency response for the disabled

    Roughly 56 million Americans have a disability and with many living without a telephone or television, communicating with them in the event of a major disaster is no easy task; to address the needs of disabled Americans during natural and manmade disasters, emergency officials recently participated in a seminar called “Planning for the Whole Community”

  • Iridium offers emergency response service on satellite phone

    Iridium offers free SOS service on its Iridium Extreme satellite phone; individuals who need emergency help can now maintain contact with an operator during the emergency rather than rely on one-way SOS alerting

  • Local towns signing up for Twitter and Facebook for emergency comm.

    Following the lead of several other cities and federal agencies, the town of Wilton, Connecticut recently launched a Facebook page and Twitter account to help communicate with residents and share information during a disaster

  • Yellow Dot gets medical info to first responders fast

    Emergency officials in Alabama recently introduced a new program aimed at quickly providing first responders with critical information during accidents; in the event of a car accident, first responders will be able immediately to find vital medical information on victims by simply looking in their glove compartment

  • FBI adds biometrics to national databases to improve accuracy

    To help improve the speed and accuracy of its national criminal records database, the FBI is increasingly incorporating biometrics technology

  • U.S. Marines train in collect biometrics, evidence

    U.S. Marines train in an “Afghan” city built inside a California Marines base; they train in foot-patrols, room clearing, and search operations where they collected biometric data and other evidence on citizens displaying suspicious behavior or possessing contraband

  • K-9 units outfitted with GPS collars

    Thanks to new GPS collars, Michigan State police officers are now able to keep track of their canine partners and locate them or their handlers if they become lost or injured

  • Dogs of war: the role of canines in the Second World War

    A new book examines how dogs were used by the U.S. and Japanese militaries during the Second World War; the book goes beyond the battlefield duties of these four-legged soldiers and captures how dogs like New York City’s “Skippy” and Tokyo’s “Aren” mobilized their people to their nations’ causes