History of AristaTek – Part II
This month we’ll continue to
describe the background of AristaTek from where we left off last month (January
2006) when we described a portion of the research background the founders
experienced while employees of the University of Wyoming Research Corporation
(UWRC). This month we’ll provide some insight into how the original PEAC
software application was developed and some of the events that have directed
the product to its current capabilities.
The Original Concept
In early 1996, management at
UWRC was seeking ideas the company could invest resources into that could be
developed into commercial products or services. The Hazardous Chemicals Research Group, that David
Sheesley headed, proposed developing a software application that was composed
of a database of chemical information plus an integrated dispersion model that
would be packaged on a handheld computer. Thayne Routh, who was responsible
for software support and computer analysis in the group, was the primary driving
force behind this idea.
At this point in time,
handheld computers or personal digital assistants (PDAs) were just being
introduced into the market place. Thayne felt that we could assemble a
database with the required chemical information a responder would need plus an
integrated vapor dispersion model (plume model) into one of these new PDAs
being introduced.
The Hazardous Chemicals
Research Group felt that this was a natural trend in light of the SARA language
that originally got UWRC started in the this research area. Specifically, the
SARA §118(n) language emphasized the establishment of a “technology transfer”
program and what better way to do technology transfer than to create a product
a responder could actually use to make decisions at the scene. This concept
was reinforced by one of the identified observations made by John Nordin in his
1989 chemical release study that found very few of the responders in these
accidents had access to plume modeling when deciding how to protect themselves
or the public. The general consensus was that if an easy to use software
application with a database and plume model could be packaged into a portable
handheld device, it would be widely used by First Responders. This was the
basis for the proposal to management that was to become the
Palmtop
Emergency Action for Chemicals or PEAC
® software.
The initial goal was to
develop a prototype of the software with a sufficient number of chemicals to
demonstrate the concept of selecting a chemical by name or UN#. Once the
chemical was selected, there needed to be an ability to display the various
types of information from the integrated database. For those chemicals that
produced a toxic vapor cloud, there was the need for additional user provided
information so the different sub-modules could be executed to compute a
protective action distance or toxic exclusion zone.
The first prototype of the
software application and database was written in Microsoft Visual Basic and ran
on Casio Z-7000 PDAs. The prototype’s database included only about 20
chemicals and the PAD calculations were based solely on the IDLH of the
selected chemical. The interface was designed to follow the methodology used
in the 1993 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) developed by the U.S. Department
of Transportation. This allowed information to be searched by either chemical
name, UN Number or Guide Number. The databases were limited to chemical
properties and response procedures found in the “orange pages” of the US DOT
ERG. The product was to deal only with toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) and
toxic industrial materials (TIMs) that a responder would encounter in
accidental releases associated with transportation accidents or at fixed
facilities.
These prototypes, at that
time called the Palmtop Emergency Response System (PERS), were submitted along
with a beta version of a User’s/Operator’s Manual to a number of fire service
and Hazmat professional experts across the country for their critical review.
After several months, a body of comments had been gathered and reviewed. Based
upon the feedback from these professionals, the hardware platform and software
product design was finalized. This was all completed by the late summer of
1996. Two common comments from the reviewers were the lack of backlight for
use at night, since the selected unit had no backlight, and the slowness of the
computations, because this PDA had a very slow processor. The decision was to
migrate the software application to the Apple Newton MessagePad 130 PDA which
had ~1.5 MB of RAM, an integrated backlight and a faster processor to improve
performance.
In August 1996, a patent
application was filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office to protect the
technical aspects of the technology and methodology of how it was implemented.
At the same time, UWRC began market tests process by attending some HAZMAT
conferences and demonstrating the prototype and discussing the COTS version
that was coming soon. One of the first conferences was the Continuing
Challenge in Sacramento in September 1996. This first marketing experience at
Sacramento proved to be rewarding with a receptive audience. The organizers
understand the objectives of the attendees and the exhibitors and treated both
with equal respect. The hazardous materials focus of the Continuing Challenge
conference continues and AristaTek still attends and participates as an
exhibitor, with this year’s to be our 11
th straight conference.
The TSWG Project (PEAC-CW) and AristaTek
formation
In 1997 the University of
Wyoming Milward Simpson Distinguished
Lecture Series in UW's Department of Political Science had a presentation by Ambassador Philip C. Wilcox, Jr., then the U.S. State Department
Coordinator for Counterterrorism, on the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction. After his lecture, David Sheesley approached Ambassador Wilcox to
demonstrate the PEAC tool and discuss how it could be adapted to deal with
chemical warfare agents in addition to the TICs/TIMs already included.
Ambassador Wilcox suggested that UWRC make contact with another federal agency
that was tasked with developing counterterrorism technologies for military and
civilian responders; the agency is called the Technical Support Working Group
(TSWG).
In 1997, UWRC submitted a
proposal to TSWG to develop a version of the PEAC software that would provide
information and plume modeling for chemical warfare agents. In the spring of
1999 TSWG signed a contract with UWRC to develop the PEAC-CW (chemical warfare
agents) product. AristaTek, then a new spin out from UWRC, was the
subcontractor to develop the enhanced capability.
To satisfy all parties that
the database information on the chemical warfare agents and their precursors
was correct, the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) that is part of
SBCCOM located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD provided the database information
for the PEAC-CW project. Once the product was completed in June 2000, it was
submitted to TSWG for review and evaluation before it could be released as a
COTS product. This evaluation was performed by ECBC for TSWG. The evaluation
focused on two primary areas:
- The accuracy of the
database information that was displayed to the user. This was the
information provided in the Chemical Information, Chemical Protective
Clothing selections, and recommended respirators.
- The plume modeling results
when compared to the EPA’s ALOHA and the US Army’s D2PC dispersion model
results. The plume modeling comparison was a complicated task. It
assessed the performance for all three models by comparing the results of
selected multiple chemicals for different sized releases and under
different conditions. The results showed that all three models gave
almost the same results for neutral conditions, i.e., daytime conditions,
but showed some differences for nighttime conditions, i.e., stable or
“worst case” conditions as were described in last month’s article. For
the nighttime conditions the PEAC plume model typically predicted downwind
exclusion distances that were between those predicted by the ALOHA and
D2PC models. The results were acceptable to TSWG and its review panel and
the product (the PEAC-CW system with the chemical warfare agents and
precursors) was then available as a COTS product.
This COTS PEAC-CW product
was then released in late 2000 and was immediately recognized as a unique
product that met multiple requirements for both the military and the civilian
responder community. One of the significant aspects of the software was the
proprietary intuitive interface that provided quick and easy access to
information, which made training and maintaining proficiency an easier process
when compared to the EPA CAMEO product.
The PEAC-WMD Product
During early 2001, it became
obvious that additional information related to explosives, bio-agents and
radioactive isotopes would be useful for the PEAC customer base. Therefore, in
the late spring of 2001 work began on developing additional databases that
related to these areas. This process was accelerated when the tragic events of
the September 11, 2001 heightened the push to incorporate the additional
information into the PEAC application that related to weapons of mass
destruction (WMD).
AristaTek also incorporated
the use of non-volatile memory cards (Compact Flash and Secure Digital cards)
with the ability to load the PEAC application into main memory from the memory
card when necessary. The resulting release was referred to as PEAC-WMD 2002.
When this product was released AristaTek started using a new logo, Figure 1. It
helped to convey the message to the reader that the application dealt with more
than just chemicals; it now addressed all aspects of the WMD or CBRNE matrix.
Even though the PEAC
application had expanded beyond the TICs/TIMs chemicals, the founders have
always felt that the primary mission is to provide the information and guidance
the responder needs to protect themselves and the public. In addition, it was
recognized the best way to ensure that responders are proficient in using a
product is to design the product such that it will be used frequently, i.e.,
for a large assortment of events. This includes accidental or intentional
releases, e.g., terrorist events. This is therefore a never-ending process to
include not only data on new chemicals, but also the features to provide the
user with additional capabilities when dealing with chemicals released from
their containers.
The next release focused on
several new features plus the continuing work to add new chemicals to the
database. The new features included:
1.
Providing access or ability to
search independent reference sources besides the PEAC‑WMD database
integrated into the application. This involved incorporating the NIOSH Pocket
Guide and the US Coast Guard CHRIS Manual as separately searchable database
within the PEAC-WMD application.
2.
Inclusion of the Glossary terms
and the interactive Glossary built into the application display screens.
3.
Logging of all activities
performed by the application.
4.
Implementing the Threat Matrix
display to provide a quick thumbnail assessment of multiple chemicals and the
relative threats they presented. This was integrated with the Working List
feature to create and even save for later recall a specific list of chemicals.
5.
Implementing the EPA’s Chemical
Reactivity Worksheet to provide assistance assessing the results of multiple
chemicals coming into contact.
6.
Implementing an Explosion
Calculator to compute standoff distances for improvised explosive devices
(IEDs).
7.
Including the ATF Vehicle Bomb
Tables for appropriate standoff distances from different sized vehicle bombs.
8.
Implementation of DOD’s NBC
Indicator Matrix to assist with identifying WMD class of agent that may have
created mass casualties.
9.
Use of html data display screens
to increase the graphical and text display readability.
10.
Implementation of a search
feature to assist in finding database entries with certain terms.
11.
Implementation of the user
specified data files to allow the user to customize the additional information
to meet their needs.
12.
Modification of the plume
modeling to allow the user to specify a continuous mass release rate or an
instantaneous released mass.
These new features were
accompanied with new database entries for military chemical exposure
guidelines, ATSDR medical management guidelines, and the option of including
the French and Spanish versions of the DOT Emergency Response Guidebook. To
assist all of our customers and particularly our customers located outside the
continental United States, the accessibility of new updates was made available
through our web site so downloads could be accomplished at the customer’s
convenience and not just through receipt of a CD via snail mail.
The Current Market Place
One of the common questions
we are asked is what is the difference between the PEAC-WMD application and
other products on the market, or tell me why your product is better than
product ABC or XYZ?
Obviously AristaTek’s
perspective is different than other vendors and therefore the application will
reflect that difference. This description of the AristaTek experience and how
the PEAC technology came to its current status was to emphasize how these
factors have differentiated the creation of a slightly, or perhaps
significantly, different product.
Vendor or manufacturers will
have similar objectives but because of their different backgrounds and
objectives there will be differences. AristaTek focused on some issues that
cannot be ignored when developing an informational and decision support tool
that is composed of a database integrated with computational tools. For
instance, the creation of the database and expanding it to include a greater
number of chemicals, primarily TICs/TIMs since most COTS products and their
databases have all the CBRNE agents or those that are legitimate threats.
The founders take pride in
the fact that a considerable amount of time and resources have been invested in
qualifying the chemical entries that are added to the PEAC‑WMD database.
It takes time to qualify data and that’s why the PEAC-WMD software may not
compare head to head with some other vendors’ claims for number of chemicals
available. Competitors have identified the PEAC-WMD system as not including a
greater number of chemicals with their synonyms and trade names. The truth is,
adding new chemicals from a public domain database is not a simple process
because the key is to ensure that the new material is accurate. Dr. John
Nordin, who writes the monthly technical article included in AristaTek
First
Responder newsletter is the individual that oversees the methodology
used for addition of new entries into the database. To qualify an entry
requires time and correlation with other databases or reference sources to
ensure the information is correct. In many cases, what may appear as a
reliable reference resource will have errors or invalid information. In those
cases where there is doubt or conflicting information on a certain value, we
will select the most conservative value, to error on the side of safety when
entering values into the database.
AristaTek encourages readers
to do some research and understand what technical basis decision support
systems come from and the developer’s experience before making their decision
to purchase. Get a demo copy of the software and evaluate it objectively. Compare
the PEAC‑WMD application with other products in the marketplace. Ask
questions, think about technical support, training materials, and future
upgrades. Don’t be sold a “bill of goods” by
Sept 12thers, which
are those that have recently entered the market to capture what they think will
be some very quick profits from the nation’s First Responder community as they endeavor
to protect themselves and the public.
Future Research
Because there are many
fundamentals of hazardous materials behavior requiring investigations, the
founders have continued to keep abreast of emergency response needs
development. During 1999-2001, the AristaTek founders continued to support the
Department of Energy (DOE) Hazmat Spill Center (HSC) research program as part‑time
employees for UWRC working under the contract between UWRC and DOE. Since UWRC
no longer had full-time staff with a public safety research background,
particularly with hazardous materials, UWRC decided it would relinquish its
support contract for the DOE HSC to a new entity. Albany County Research
Corporation (ACRC) was formed by the principals of AristaTek as a separate
Wyoming not-for-profit corporation in November 2000 and entered into a 5-year
contract to support the DOE HSC research program in April 2001. This entity
continues to seek research funding to conduct new studies in hazardous
materials behavior and transfer the new data and understanding into the public
domain. We are constantly looking for new technology that could eventually
appear in a future PEAC product.
To give the reader a brief
history of some of the research conducted at the HSC, I’ve included a short
description of some of the activities that have been conducted at the HSC. There have been a number of experiments conducted at
the HSC. As discussed in detail in last month’s (January 2006) newsletter
article, the HSC (that was originally named the Liquefied Gaseous Fuels Spill
Test Facility [LGFSTF] under the Fossil Energy program management of DOE) was
the location of the Kit Fox Series of field experiments the former UWRC
employees conducted. Some early experiments dealt with the behavior of
liquefied natural gas (LNG) when it is released from its container. These
experiments were conducted starting in the early 1980’s at the Naval Weapons
Center (NWC), China Lake, California. The major concern was the consequences
of an accident during the off loading of a LNG tanker at one of the port
terminals. LNG was viewed in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s as significant
resource that would be used extensively to supply fuel to the Eastern portions
of the United States during the period when energy prices were escalating
rapidly with oil embargos that occurred during the early and late 1970’s. In
fact, LNG and its presence in port facilities may become an issue again with
the current escalation of energy in today’s marketplace.
After the first two series
of experiments conducted at the China Lake site, the nation decided to have DOE
build a permanent facility and selected the Frenchman Flat dry lakebed at the
Nevada Test Site for the LGFSTF. The facility has been the site of numerous
testing:
·
LNG release experiments (Falcon
Series - June – Aug 1987)
·
Anhydrous Ammonia releases (Desert Tortoise Series - Aug & Sept
1983)
·
Nitrogen Tetroxide releases
(Eagle Series – Sept & Oct 1983)
·
Anhydrous Hydrofluoric Acid
releases (Goldfish Series – Aug 1986)
·
Chlorosulfonic Acid, 65% Oleum,
and Sulfur Trioxide releases (Apr 1990)
·
Trichlorosilane and Silicon
Tetrachloride releases (May 1990)
·
Liquid Chlorine releases (May
1990)
·
Hydrogen Fluoride suit tests (May
– July 1991) in the newly constructed wind tunnel
Additional information,
description, and references to publications that used data collected from these
experiments can be found in contributed chapter in
The Handbook of Hazardous
Materials Spills Technology the AristaTek founders authored in 2001[1].
The photo below was taken
during the Anhydrous Hydrofluoric Acid releases (Goldfish Series) sponsored by Amoco
Corporation and Allied Signal Corporation in August 1986. The cloud seen is
the actual aerosol that was generated and which moved downwind a significant
distance.
Another photo of the some of
the work done is in Figure 3, taken during the Trichlorosilane and Silicon
Tetrachloride releases sponsored by the Silicones Health Council and conducted
in May 1990. A series of experiments were conducted at the HSC to evaluate the
effectiveness of aqueous foams for suppressing vapors and mitigate chlorosilane
fires
As mentioned in last month’s
article, the HSC is now used mostly for classified experiments conducted by
DTRA and other government agencies that require a remote, secure and open area
to test technologies or systems that can’t be tested any other place.
[1] King,
S. Bruce, J. Nordin, D. Sheesley, and T. Routh, “U.S. DOE HAZMAT Spill Center Database,”
The Handbook of Hazardous
Materials Spills Technology, McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing, Editor, Merv Fingas, August 2001.