CWMD Sensor Networks Government Only Collaboration Event (CE)

Challenge Summary

Description

EVENT DATE: TBD
LOCATION: Washington, DC
RSVP NLT: TBD

Event Information

How You Can Participate

RSVP to the Government-Only Collaboration Event: TBD

Purpose

The DEFENSEWERX Pilot Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Innovation Hub, in collaboration with the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD), will host a Government-Only Collaboration Event (CE) to identify needs and define requirements for interoperable and expandable Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) sensor networks. The purpose of this CE is to identify current limitations and brainstorm ways to overcome limiting factors. During this open forum, participants from government will ideate on specific challenge areas and develop potential paths forward with actionable plans for implementation.

Event Resources

Objective

DHS is looking for an interoperable network of disparate sensors tied to a Common Operating Picture (COP), operations center, and connected inter-agencies. The desired solution will provide a one-stop, real-time, dynamic situational awareness picture between DHS and externals. It will need to have open/modular standards to support future expansion, be interoperable to legalities and current systems, and be backwards compatible.

Background

DHS has the mission to enhance and coordinate the federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial (FSLTT) agencies response to counter a range of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) threats. The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD) has the responsibility to understand these threats and their implications for FSLTT missions, capabilities, and resources and help implement national and Departmental policy in support of the CWMD mission. As part of this mission, CWMD has developed three strategic goals:

Anticipate, identify, and assess current and emerging WMD threats
Strengthen detection and disruption of CBRN threats to the homeland
Synchronize homeland counter-WMD and health security planning and execution

To enable these strategic goals, CWMD requires the capability to collect, analyze, store, and report a wide array of sensor data. The DARPA-developed SIGMA system “has been used in prototype form to support several CWMD programs, most notably the Mobile Detection Deployment Program (MDDP).” The DARPA SIGMA system was developed in multiple phases to:

Use a common network infrastructure and mobile sensing strategy scalable to cover a major urban and suburban region; and
Provide initial data and insights into functionality of new chemical sensors; these new chemical sensor packages would incorporate chemical sensors, wind sensors, and a communications board all in a weatherproof housing.

Going forward, CWMD must implement and operationalize a production-level sensor network system beyond the prototype level to enable the operational components to execute their respective counter CBRN missions. Is this a “one-size fits all” system for all DHS components, or is it a common backbone which can be customized and adjusted to fit the needs of the components and their respective missions? Or are the mission sets too unique and complex, thus dictating completely independent and separate network system solutions?

Why You Should Participate

The Government-Only CE provides an opportunity for DHS and other government partners to review prior work, share current information, and determine a collective desired end state.

Event Timeline

Phase 1 - TBD Government-Only Collaboration Event: DWX will facilitate the CE with government partners focused on DHS’s needs. Attendees will identify current limitations and ideate ways to overcome limiting factors. Problem statement(s) will be developed to frame the CWMD Office’s sensor network needs. Outcomes from the Government-Only CE will shape potential follow-on efforts with industry, academia, laboratories, and other subject matter experts. This event will take place in person near Washington, DC.

Tentative Agenda

All times listed are in ET

08:00 – 08:20: Participants arrive at Industrious
08:20 – 08:25: DWX Welcome
08:25 – 08:45: Stakeholder Overview & Problem Set
08:45 – 09:45: Current Limitations Breakout
09:45 – 10:00: Break
10:00 – 11:00: Ways to Overcome Limitations Breakout
11:00 – 12:00: Lunch (on your own)
12:00 – 02:30: Problem Statement Development
02:30 – 02:45: Break
02:45 – 03:45: Problem Statement Briefs
03:45 – 04:30: Voting
04:30 – 05:00: Path Forward

Note: Agenda is subject to change

Additional information regarding follow-on efforts will be posted to this site following the event.

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