Bioterrorism and ITEC
EMAN 620 Information Technology in Emergency Management
Module # 5
Mapping Exercise
Due at the end of Module # 5
Goal:
The Goal of this exercise is to familiarize the student with online tools that help organize and display information on a map in a short time frame. The tool I recommend you use is Google Earth. You will be creating a map after an act of terrorism has occurred.
Objectives:
The objectives of this exercise are to:
Explore a online mapping platform like Google Earth
Identify Key Features for a functional site map
Produce a map with a legend that is clear, readable and has value to commanders and responders
Background Scenario:
A Dirty bomb has been detonated directly in front of the White house in Washington D.C . This occurred at 10 a.m. on 04-20-(this year). The President was not at the White House during the blast. It is utter chaos, with DC Fire/EMS responding.
Your role is the Emergency manager for the City of Washington D.C. Within minutes of the attack you activate all emergency functions. At 13:00 you are expected to provide a briefing to the Mayor of D.C., and the President of the United States at a nearby facility. You have been asked to keep your brief short with a single map that portrays the situation and the response effort.
Your initial assessment reveals that there is damage to buildings within a mile. There are currently 86 fatalities and 200+ injured.
There happens to be absolutely no wind on the day. However you are still concerned about the potential for radiation exposure. Your staff recommends a hot zone with a mile radius. That means everything inside that area has potential for radiation.
Tasks:
Your overall task is to create a status map for the purpose of:
1- Assuming you watched the video and have downloaded Google Desk Top
a. If you cannot access Google Maps you can use another map making program to produce your map or you can create a paper map.
2- Review the scenario. More than enough information available.
a. Email or text me with any questions.
3- Create a status map that provides a snapshot of the situation. A few things you should consider
a. The immediate impact zone
b. The hot zone i.e. suspected contamination zone
c. Points of ingress/egress for rescuers
d. Staging area for rescue areas
e. De-contamination area for people/equipment leaving
f. Temporary Debris Storage area. This should be a large area of debris from the rescue effort can be temporarily stockpiled.
4- Create a legend, Title and any other required formatting.
Deliverables:
By the end of Module # 5 you are to submit a file (yes PDF is ok) in the assignment folder with your result. The file should contain the Map with a legend that is clear and easy to read.
Notes:
I purposely provided sparse information. Take as many creative and logical liberties as like to develop the scenario on your own. The point is that you have to produce a single map – with what you feel is the most important info to provide a snapshot of the situation. Its up to you decide to what should go on there.
4 – 2 Question 1:
The Mousepox Experiment
Read the original report on the research that started the conversation on dual-use research in the New Scientist. Then read the lengthy interview with the scientists who performed the research. It is pretty rare to get a look at what happened after. There are many pivotal issues discussed in the interview that will echo through the course.
Killer mousepox virus raises bioterror fears New Scientist (10 January 2001):
Mousepox interview(2010) with Ronald Jackson and Iam Ramshaw
Discussion question: Consider the responsibility of the media and scientists involved in this issue. Should the article have raised these concerns? Should the research have been done? Take a position and argue it logically in 2-3 paragraphs.
Question 2:
The Horsepox Experiment
Must post first.
Horsepox: Read the various articles regarding this experiment below. You will find that much of the conversation on Mousepox is found here as well … over a decade later.
Overview of the topic: Recreation of Horsepox virus:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5853490/ Michael J. Imperiale.
A Holistic Assessment of the Risks and Benefits of the Synthesis of Horsepox Virus: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5853484/ Diane DeIulis and Gigi Kwik Gronvall
A Critical Analysis of the Scientific and Commercial Rationales for theDe NovoSynthesis of Horsepox Virus:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5853483/ Gregory D. Koblentz
To read the experiment itself, go here:
Noyce RS, Lederman S, Evans DH. 2018. Construction of an infectious horsepox virus vaccine from chemically synthesized DNA fragments. PLoS One 13:e0188453. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0188453.
Discussion question: In 2-3 short paragraphs, take a position on whether the scientific benefits outweighed the security risks of doing this research. In the subsequent years, has there been a need for this research?
