ARIES: Program Overview
Through a $3 million grant from the Department of Homeland Security, Office for Domestic Preparedness, EarthData Technologies (EarthData) is developing the Airborne Rapid Imaging for Emergency Support (ARIES) system and conducting a rapid response mapping demonstration of the system. Designed to gather and process multi-sensor geospatial information, integrate existing tabular data, and produce high-quality map information in a minimum of time between data collection and delivery of products to first-responders, ARIES has five main components: an airborne component that provides multiple types of sensor data to depict the disaster site, a ground component that provides on-site data processing operations and mission control, a data link component to transfer data and facilitate communications from the aircraft to the ground station at gaigabit-per-second speeds, a storage and exploitation component to interface with national geospatial databases and provide specialized data processing tools, and a dissemination component to provide geospatial products to the personnel and agencies who need the information. ARIES will shave valuable hours off the data processing time, from the 8-10 hours required at Ground Zero – by itself an industry benchmark – down to 3 hours from data acquisition to data delivery, thereby giving first-responders the knowledge they need to make informed decisions under chaotic and rapidly changing conditions.
Phase 1 of the project will culminate in a 1-day demonstration of the ARIES system, consisting of system deployment, data collection, data processing, product development, exploitation, and distribution of information to first-responders. The demonstration, scheduled for mid-September 2004, will take place at Picatinny Arsenal in northern New Jersey and will involve the collaborative efforts of the EarthData team, the Office for Domestic Preparedness, and other federal and local agencies. The location was selected for its proximity to major metropolitan areas, uncongested airspace, and existing emergency response capabilities.
Subsequent phases of the ARIES program will involve full system development, nationwide implementation, training, and system sustainment and enhancements. Fielded nationwide by FEMA regions, ARIES systems could be operated by federal, state, or local first-responders during any emergency that depends on geospatial information to save lives and property.
While EarthData has a long and successful record of providing rapid response mapping services to support rescue and recovery efforts for both natural and manmade disasters, the concept for ARIES grew out of EarthData’s experience collecting, processing, and delivering critical geospatial information at “Ground Zero” in the wake of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. By enhancing EarthData’s current suite of airborne sensors and data processing technologies and integrating them with advanced mobile communications and the rapid downlink systems of program partners Solipsys Corporation and Trex Enterprises Corporation, EarthData is developing an innovative and efficient approach to providing a cost-effective, nationwide rapid response mapping capability. ARIES provides an evolving national disaster response model to ensure that first-responders have ready access to the geospatial information they need to accomplish their missions.
Proprietary information 10/11/2018, EarthData.1
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