Misplaced Pages

Virtual USA (vUSA), is a joint federal and state collaboration on a project that would allow state and local on-line tools and technologies, such as caches of geospatial data, to be interoperable and more useful with the goal of creating a "Virtual USA" for emergency response purposes. The initiative was developed by the DHS Directorate for Science and Technology (S&T), and currently operates as a pilot in eight states — Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Virginia and Tennessee — with plans to incorporate additional states.

Virtual USA is part of the DHS' Open Government plan, which is part of the Obama administration's goal to promote a greater amount of transparency and openness between the government and citizens.

Purpose and overview

The stated goal of Virtual USA is to aggregate existing data, from federal, state, local, tribal, and other information into a common operating picture to assist first responders during emergencies.

Virtual USA:

• Virtual USA utilizes current information-sharing platforms to permit new and existing technologies to exchange information with one another.
• Virtual USA is based on the needs of local and state first responders to manage data access within their own jurisdictions and to share information with relevant jurisdictions across the United States.
• Virtual USA is not limited to information exchanges between two agencies; instead, the initiative fosters information sharing among all federal, state, local and tribal authorities.
• Virtual USA uses open data standards and open-source software, more states and localities are able to join this information exchange project.
• Virtual USA allows Americans in their own communities to contribute information—in real-time to support the efforts of police, fire and emergency management officials during disasters and recovery efforts.

Statistics

• In the state of Virginia, Virtual USA has reduced response times to incidents involving hazardous materials by 70 percent.

Similar systems

• Virtual Alabama

See also

• Joint Regional Information Exchange System
• Multistate Anti-Terrorism Information Exchange
• Regional Information Sharing Systems

References

1. Bain, Ben (February 25, 2009). "Officials eye a geospatial 'Virtual USA'". Federal Computer Week. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
2. "Homeland Security Information Network". Department of Homeland Security (official site). Retrieved 18 April 2010.
3. "DHS announces 'Open Government' plan". SecurityInfoWatch.com. April 8, 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
4. "Homeland Security Information Network". Department of Homeland Security (official site). Retrieved 18 April 2010.

External links

• "Mapping an Emergency," S&T Snapshots, Department of Homeland Security (January 12, 2010)

v t e United States Department of Homeland Security
Headquarters: St. Elizabeths West Campus Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Canegallo, Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
Deputy Secretary	United States Coast Guard (Commandant) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Director) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Customs and Border Protection Federal Emergency Management Agency Center for Domestic Preparedness National Flood Insurance Program United States Fire Administration Federal Law Enforcement Training Center United States Secret Service Office of Operations Coordination Transportation Security Administration Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (Director) Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans Office of Immigration Statistics Homeland Security Advisory Council
Science and Technology	Science and Technology Directorate Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency Explosives Division Chemical and Biological Defense Division Border and Maritime Security Division Human Factors and Behavioral Sciences Division Infrastructure Protection and Disaster Management Division Cyber Security Division (National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center) Command, Control and Interoperability Division
Intelligence and Analysis	Office of Intelligence and Analysis
Management	Management Directorate Federal Protective Service Office of Biometric Identity Management
Law enforcement in the United States Terrorism in the United States

• United States Department of Homeland Security
• Information systems
• Government services web portals in the United States
• Open data
• Open government in the United States
• Emergency simulation