UROC demonstrates ikeGPS at Makani Pahili 2009

Members of the USACE Reachback Operations Center (UROC) team recently took part in Makani Pahili 2009, a Hawaiian-based, interagency exercise that prepares officials and services for a hurricane landfall. During Makani Pahili 2009, UROC presented a number of technologies including Surveylab’s ikeGPS Geospatial Assessment Tool for Engineering Reachback (GATER).

The UROC team were praised for their efforts. “The equipment and training the UROC staff provided us is, and will be, invaluable to our team,” said Maj. Evan Ting, commander of the 565th Engineer Detachment Forward Engineer Support Team (FEST). “The consensus is that the professionalism and expertise provided has made this training event truly worthwhile.”

During the event, UROC members worked closely with the Honolulu District-based 565th FEST to train them to use various tools in the aftermath of a storm or natural disaster, including ikeGPS. The team also provided coordination and logistics for area reconnaissance assets, conducted site assessments on the city and county of Honolulu Board of Water Supply critical infrastructure and assisted with the coordination of products for successful briefing to senior leadership.

“Under the Corps Readiness XXI initiative, it is likely the FEST teams will contribute to disaster response efforts,” said UROC Research Engineer Dr. Jeff Jorgeson. “Emergency planners saw Makani Pahili 2009 as a great opportunity to bring Field Force Engineering technologies to the exercise.”

“The recent training went extremely well and all members of the FEST who were involved received positive feedback after presenting their new capabilities,” Jorgeson said. “We were impressed with the enthusiasm and interest in the UROC capabilities that the FEST members exhibited during the training. They had a great attitude, participated fully in every aspect of the training and took very seriously their role as potential responders.”

UROC (previously known as USACE Engineering Infrastructure and Intelligence Reachback Center or EI2RC) uses ikeGPS in collecting assessment data for various branches of the military worldwide and in hurricane relief efforts in the United States. The Corps has found the device's "standoff" capability, or the ability to collect geographic coordinates at a distance, a key feature while collecting data in potentially hazardous areas and areas ravaged by hurricanes.

Makani Pahili, which means “strong wind” in Hawaiian, simulates a Category 4 hurricane and the damage it would produce, covering both pre- and post landfall activities. Agencies state-wide participate yearly in the scenario that includes 155 mph winds, the death of more than 1,700 people and $160 million in damages and tests disaster plans, communication systems, shelters and response and recovery operations.

Source: US Army Engineer Research and Development Centre, www.erdc.usace.army.mil