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Cornell University, Lockheed Martin jointly to develop computerized system for hospitals
A joint academia-industry collaboration on a hospital emergency computer system
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U.S. Government launches massive new data-mining project
If you did not like the NSA domestic spying in the United States, wait until you read about this massive data-mining (or, as the government calls it, “dataveillance”) project with the innocent code name ADVISE
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Cyber Storm drill under way
Nation-wide (indeed, international) cybersecurity drill under way
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BU biolab raises evacuation concern
BU cleared the legal hurdles to building a Level 4 biolab on campus — and the city of Boston’s evacuation plans in case of a disaster come under scrutiny
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State of federal-state cybersecurity cooperation unsatisfactory
There is a lot of talk about the need for greater federal-state cooperation on cyber security, but much is still to be done
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Florida Power & Light prepares for hurricane season
FP&L is not waiting for the hurricane season to begin to take more drastic measures than it did in the past to get ready
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NC4, RAINS in strategic partnership
Here is an example of collaboration between two organizations whose missions — and technologies — complement each other nicely
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Applied Geographics develops paperless emergency management system
Most companies and government organizations pay lip service to the notion of a paper-less office, but they still depend on a lot of paper, which could be detrimental in the event of a disaster
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BlackBerry wins one legal skirmish
Thank God for small favors: The popular e-mail device may be on the verge of losing its patent battle in the U.S., but it has one a small victory in Germany, and will likely win another one in England
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U.S. infrastructure security depends on private sector
A paradox: The government is in charge of public safety, but more than 80 percent of U.S. critical infrastructure is in private hands; there is thus a need for government-private industry cooperation
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Criticism of patent office in BlackBerry row
BlackBerry’s legal wrangling brings more criticism of U.S. patent office, with life science-IT battle over patent law reform looming
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Eagle awarded patent for non-line-of-sight satellite communication technology
9/11 and Katrina exposed the vulnerability of communication systems during disasters, and marrying IP telephony and satellite communication may be the solution
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DHS, private industry in national IT emergency exercise
Most of the nation’s critical infrastructure is privately owned including the communication infrastructure, so DHS is going to test government-private industry coordination in the event of emergency
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The long view
Training Students to Succeed in the “Fourth Industrial Revolution”
Transformational changes are already underway in the manufacturing industry as technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and smart devices from the “fourth industrial revolution” or Industry 4.0., inspire a digital-first approach to engineering. University of Missouri researchers are using a $1 million grant to support the development of an Industry 4.0 lab, training engineering students for the future of digitization in manufacturing.
Tech Breakthrough Could Increase States’ Use of Geothermal Power
Lawmakers in some states have been laying the groundwork to add geothermal power to the electrical grid and pump underground heat into buildings. Now, a technological breakthrough could dramatically expand those ambitions — and perhaps unleash a new wave of policies to tap into geothermal sources. If the technology’s promise is fulfilled, geothermal could power as much as 20% of the U.S. grid.
State Pension Fund is Helping a Middle Eastern Firm Export Arizona’s Precious Groundwater
As rural Arizonans face the prospect of wells running dry, foreign firms are sucking up vast amounts of the state’s groundwater to grow hay for Saudi Arabia and other wealthy nations. The state’s retirement system invested heavily in a private land deal that allowed a foreign company to effectively ship Arizona’s scarce water supply overseas.
Climate Change and U.S. Property Insurance: A Stormy Mix
Accelerating risks and damage from climate change are spurring private insurers in the United States to limit coverage in a growing number of areas, thus imposing mounting stress on local communities and straining the country’s overall economic health.
Wastewater Can Help Tackle Water Shortages
Europe has experienced severe heat and drought over the last few summers, and 2023 has been no different. Vast swathes of Central and Southern Europe are simply too dry from a lack of rainfall. Water shortages are causing tensions in some countries. But, for now, there’s enough water to go around. Using the precious resource more efficiently is key.
Sediment Movement During Hurricane Harvey Could Negatively Impact Future Flooding
Enormous amounts of sediment, or sand and mud, flowed through Houston waterways during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, due in part to modifications made by humans to bayous, rivers and streams over the past century. Harvey was the largest rainfall event in U.S. history, and it moved 27 million cubic meters of sediment, or 16 Astrodomes, through Houston waterways and reservoirs. This could seriously impact future flooding events and be costly to the City of Houston.