Local-Rapid Evaluation of Atmospheric Conditions (L-REAC (trademark)) System, Design and Development. Volume 3. (Operational L-REAC (trademark))

Abstract : The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) has been investigating various aspects of the urban environment, including the airflow and stability characterization around a single urban building, and small building clusters. Experience and results from these studies led to the design and development of a decision aid called the Local-Rapid Evaluation of Atmospheric Conditions (L-REAC (trademark)) System. The ultimate goal for L-REAC is to improve soldier/civilian situational awareness of environmental airborne hazards during potentially life-threatening events. This goal is accomplished by mapping a near-real-time wind field and, once defined, an airborne-threat plume footprint over the subject area. Volume 1 presented the L-REAC Proof of Concept System. In Volume 2, we described an improved system, the L-REAC Prototype. In this third volume, we describe the development of an operational system which was evaluated by users and used in a real world event (the 2011 April Abrams Fires). The development efforts included gaining a better understanding of the users requirements and determining methods for getting the results to the user in a quick, automated, secure and reliable manner. This volume concludes with a sample of the evaluation results, which will be published in a separate report.