BCNETwork News

October 2006

Simulation Technology and Advanced Networks: Canada’s Answer to Emergency Preparedness

by Nicole MacLellan

Emergency management is an increasing concern for the world. With war and terror affecting civilians across the globe, and threats of environmental disasters on the rise, emergency management leaders are turning to high-performance networking and simulation technology to prepare police officers, paramedics, firefighters and the military for potential disasters. In Canada, a project known as Federation Grid (FedGrid) will employ existing military standards to develop a scalable simulated platform for a collaborative computing grid. The grid will enable a wide range of emergency simulations which will improve the efficiency and cooperation of public servants, ensuring the appropriate response to complex, high-risk situations.

A Collaborative Project Between Government, Industry and Research

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA), an information solutions firm in Richmond, BC, is working with Vancouver-based Magnetar Games Corp to develop the infrastructure and simulation technology for the emergency trainer. In addition, the FedGrid project has partnered with the research division of Canada’s National Defence and three prominent universities – the University of British Columbia, Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. Just as its name suggests, the Federated Grid will combine the power and knowledge of these vital players over a collaborative grid to create a simulated system for emergency training.

Simulating Emergency Scenarios

Currently, complicated procedural manuals are used to instruct respondents on the protocols for dealing with dangerous affairs. These manuals can be difficult to manage and procedures often vary across jurisdictions. Simulation technology, which allows emergency personnel to observe real world events before they occur, will create a common ground for emergency management training.

Unlike any other training program, FedGrid will create a learning environment where trainees can test the results of countless scenarios, increasing the preparedness of civilians and emergency respondents alike. Once developed, FedGrid will allow users to increase the complexity of each emergency simulation, such as adding a fire or bomb squad, without having to reconfigure the software.

FedGrid also has the potential to connect emergency management leaders as easily as an interactive computer game, adding a crucial shared dimension to the development of common response practices. The simulation trainer will rely on high-speed advanced research networks to connect software designers and domain experts from across the country.

Dedicated Lightpaths Light-up FedGrid

Assisting with the development of the new technology, BCNET has provided FedGrid with lightpaths, dedicated point-to-point wave signals, to dramatically increase data transport speeds at very low costs. These dedicated connections will enable FedGrid users to share massive quantities of data across the network for instantaneous collaboration.

Uniting Researchers with Canadian Emergency Management

The benefits that will result from the development of FedGrid are limitless. Dr. Harold Zwick, MDA’s Engineering Manager of Research and Development, is excited to promote a training system that unites researchers and expands the capacity and efficiency of Canadian emergency management. He also points out its cost-saving benefits. “The skills and software infrastructure being created will help engineer better solutions for decision-makers grappling with complex and expensive problems,” says Zwick. “FedGrid enables experts from many locations to network, build and test simulated solutions prior to the expenditure of huge amounts of money.”

Coast-to-Coast Demonstration

MDA and Magnetar Games have scheduled a demonstration of FedGrid’s emergency simulation system for December 2006, which will run coast-to-coast using CANARIE’s CA*net 4 and the Internet. With its university partners providing the facilities, the demonstration will allow public servants and researchers to evaluate this innovative next step in national emergency management.