{"277361":{"#nid":"277361","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Chemical Companion Evolves from Information Resource to Sophisticated Decision-Support System","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EResearchers have released a new version of the Chemical Companion Decision Support System (CCDSS), a software system that provides first responders with detailed and easy-to-access information about chemicals that may be associated with hazmat incidents. The update enhances the software, which now features more than a dozen tools and information about more than 550 chemicals and 3,838 chemical synonyms.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat\u2019s more, the new version will enable Apple iOS and Google Android mobile devices to run the software. Previously, the software worked only on Windows-based desktop and laptop computers. The Chemical Companion Decision Support System can be downloaded at (\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.chemicalcompanion.org\u0022\u003Ewww.chemicalcompanion.org\u003C\/a\u003E).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough Chemical Companion originally targeted first responders in fire and rescue departments, today forensic teams and bomb squads also use it. Funded by the U.S. federal government\u2019s Technical Support Working Group, U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command and Australia\u2019s Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (now managed by the country\u2019s Defence Science and Technology Organisation), the software is free to the military, law enforcement and fire departments. More than 1,200 active accounts are registered at ChemicalCompanion.org, with users in the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Israel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhether the hazmat scene is due to a gas explosion, chemical spill, terrorist incident or bomb threat, the Chemical Companion helps mitigate risk. For example, a bomb squad can use it to determine potential scene blast, fragmentation and personnel standoff distances. It helps first responders decide how to decontaminate the scene and provide medical aid to victims. It also helps them determine what kind of protective equipment they need to wear and how long they can stay in a hot zone.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrom E-reader to Integrated Toolkit\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen we first introduced the Chemical Companion, it functioned as an information portal with basic e-reader functionality that enabled first responders to access information without lugging a dozen or more books around with them,\u201d said Gisele Bennett, director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute\u2019s\u003C\/a\u003E (GTRI) Electro-Optical Systems Lab and Chemical Companion\u2019s principal investigator.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy entering details about a substance\u2019s physical appearance or victims\u2019 medical symptoms, the software allowed users to identify unknown chemicals at a hazmat scene and obtain information about their effects. \u201cToday, however, Chemical Companion is more than just an information resource,\u201d she said. \u201cIt has become a sophisticated decision-support system.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIndeed, in the last two years, GTRI researchers have been developing a series of unique tools to enhance the Chemical Companion\u2019s capabilities. These include, for example:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe respiratory protection tool\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 Released in August 2012, the respiratory protection tool takes users through a series of questions about environmental conditions and hazardous materials that may be present at a hazmat scene. The final screen delivers a recommendation on what type of respiratory protection is required. Respiratory protection comes in many forms, ranging from a half-face mask to a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSelection of the right equipment for a given environment can be confusing, so most first responders default to an SCBA which is heavy and restrictive,\u201d explained Heyward Adams, a GTRI research scientist who serves as technical lead on the project. \u201cThe Chemical Companion\u2019s respiratory protection tool allows users to determine the appropriate equipment to wear \u2013 providing full protection from the airborne threats with the minimum amount of equipment.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe detection tool\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 First responders carry a variety of detector devices to help determine what chemical, biological and radiological threats may be present at a hazmat scene. The Chemical Companion\u2019s detection tool augments the performance of these detectors by:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDetermining which detectors to use \u2013 and in what order.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAggregating the results of multiple detectors and performing checks for cross-sensitivities.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EProviding an easy-to-read output of what threats are present. (It also establishes what isn\u2019t present, and what first responders may not be able to detect but shouldn\u2019t rule out.)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGiving recommendations on how to react, such as what kind of standoff zones to establish or what kind of protective equipment to wear \u2013 critical to getting on the scene faster and being able to remain longer.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETaking measurements at a hazmat scene is no easy task, Adams said, noting that different detectors deliver readouts in different formats, such as a series of bars, parts per million or a color. \u201cUnless you\u2019re an expert in chemistry, these readouts are not easy to decipher,\u201d he observed. \u201cThe Chemical Companion\u2019s detection tool helps you know how to interpret the results and what to do with that information.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECurrently the Chemical Companion has more than 19 tools that have either launched or are being tested. Many of these tools complement each other, prompting researchers to investigate their integration. \u201cThe output of one tool could be the input for another,\u201d Adams said. \u201cYet users might not realize that, so we\u2019re creating links to make overlaps more intuitive.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUsers Drive New Features\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWorking closely with users has been critical to the Chemical Companion\u2019s success.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to rigorous testing and user trials before any new release, GTRI researchers host an annual workshop for users. This week-long event is instrumental in collecting feedback about the software\u2019s structure and usability \u2013 whether it\u2019s for developing a brand new tool or improving an existing feature.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe workshops allow us to go through calculations of situations with different user groups,\u201d said Bennett. \u201cA forensics officer will approach a scene very differently than a first-responder or a firefighter.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith that in mind, GTRI researchers have developed user preferences for three different audiences, along with country preferences that automatically populate national standards and units of measurement for the United States and Australia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother recent development sparked by the annual workshops is a tool for generating reports. Introduced in 2012, Chemical Companion\u2019s Report Builder exports a PDF file that includes situational information, calculations and outputs performed by the software \u2013 even custom notes. \u201cIn some cases, this file becomes the actual after-action report that users turn in to their departments,\u201d said Adams.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBeyond the Hazmat Scene\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause the Chemical Companion\u2019s tools comprise multiple screens posing various questions and considerations, it has become an important training tool, points out Michael Logan, chief superintendent and scientific branch director of the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service in Brisbane, Australia. \u201cIt assists exercise writers with both the construction and accuracy of training scenarios,\u201d explained Logan, who provides GTRI with research data and serves as a subject matter expert.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe tool also helps with emergency pre-planning, Logan said, explaining that the Chemical Companion can help estimate resources required or the effects of actions on an incident. \u201cIt enables users to challenge assumptions about incidents and the approaches that might be adopted to manage the emergencies.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe Chemical Companion\u2019s combination of information and tools in one easy-to-use package makes a huge difference to users,\u201d he continued. \u201cIt provides confidence to first responders about their safety and the communities they serve \u2013 as well as their actions. The software delivers consistent results no matter what the experience or expertise of the user during a very stressful time.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EResearch News\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E177 North Avenue\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAtlanta, Georgia 30332-0181 USA\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMedia Relations Contacts\u003C\/strong\u003E: Lance Wallace (404-407-7280) (\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:lance.wallace@gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Elance.wallace@gtri.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E) or John Toon (404-894-6986) (\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jtoon@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ejtoon@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter\u003C\/strong\u003E: T.J. Becker\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EResearchers have released a new version of the Chemical Companion Decision Support System (CCDSS), a software system that provides first responders with detailed and easy-to-access information about chemicals that may be associated with hazmat incidents. The update enhances the software, which now features more than a dozen tools and information about more than 550 chemicals and 3,838 chemical synonyms.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Researchers have released a new version of the Chemical Companion Decision Support System (CCDSS), a software system that assists first responders."}],"uid":"27303","created_gmt":"2014-02-19 11:40:44","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:15:55","author":"John Toon","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2014-02-19T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2014-02-19T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"277341":{"id":"277341","type":"image","title":"Using Chemical Companion","body":null,"created":"1449244151","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 15:49:11","changed":"1475894968","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:49:28","alt":"Using Chemical Companion","file":{"fid":"198815","name":"chemical-companion.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/chemical-companion_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/chemical-companion_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1721305,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/chemical-companion_0.jpg?itok=MmMWIg4q"}}},"media_ids":["277341"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"141","name":"Chemistry and Chemical Engineering"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"147","name":"Military Technology"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"86931","name":"Chemical Companion"},{"id":"8373","name":"first responders"},{"id":"14078","name":"Gisele Bennett"},{"id":"11303","name":"Hazardous Materials"},{"id":"7652","name":"hazmat"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39481","name":"National Security"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJohn Toon\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearch News\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E(404) 894-6986\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jtoon@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ejtoon@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jtoon@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}