Real-Time Emergency Communication System for HazMat Incidents (REaCH) - Phase III

The primary goal of this project is to create a real-time data gathering and emergency communication system (e.g., integrated dashboard) for HazMat incidents in Nebraska that collects, integrates, and facilitates sharing of information among transportation workers and first responders.  This project aligns directly with the Mid-America Transportation Center’s interest in research projects that seek to advance the USDOT’s strategic goals of enhancing safety. 

Transporting hazardous materials safely, establishing requirements for real-time emergency response information, and monitoring human exposure from hazardous material incidents are national concerns. These concerns are documented in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or “FAST Act.” President Obama signed into law.

The results from this project may serve to inform national guidelines and policy formation in the realm of 1) personal protection equipment (PPE) and protocols (i.e., distance and time within proximity of hazardous material) used in the response to hazardous materials, and 2) statewide IT communication protocols, with an emphasis on data and cyber security, and transfer of health information for hazardous materials incidents. The project will track data on the three MATC research performance metrics for required quarterly and final MATC reports (intellectual property, implementation, scholarly work).