Standards and Guidelines Development
Detailed technical information on equipment, standards, guidelines, training, and testing and evaluation that relate to biological, chemical, and radiological threats can be accessed through the Technical Information Gateway. The Gateway provides user interactive tools to compare equipment, access standards and guidelines, and review field tests and evaluations.
DHS components and the state and local counterparts will be beset with many private,
commercial, and government organizations proposing to develop or deploy existing or new
types of radiation sensors or data analysis techniques. At the present time, no
consensus standards exist for detection systems that are aimed specifically at homeland
security applications. It will be critical to establish minimum performance standards and
comparability across a wide spectrum of hardware, software and operational approaches.
Without such standards, inconsistencies will lead to ambiguous, misleading or erroneous
data that will compromise interdiction programs to prevent a Radiological/Nuclear (R/N) event, jeopardize the
health and safety of first responders and the general public, and cause economic loss.
An integrated measurement infrastructure, supported by standards and protocols, for
threat countermeasures is urgently needed by all users of DHS Science and Technology (S&T;) products, especially
local, state, and federal first responders. The standards and protocols will address
basic functionality, appropriateness and adequacy for the task, interoperability,
efficiency, and sustainability. Standards will cover all elements of the S&T; mission
including equipment, information, analyses, personnel, and systems. The integrated S&T;
Standards Programs will include standards development, performance standards, testing
protocols, certification, reassessment, training and acquisition guidelines.
|
EML’s primary DHS mission element will be to develop and implement standards for homeland
security technologies. EML will apply its expertise in instrument design and performance
testing in building a strong program committed to development and implementation of
standards for technologies. EML will use its expertise in radiation and radioactivity
measurements to improve the science and technology available to prevent, respond to, and
recover from catastrophic events that impact homeland security.
EML will provide leadership in the development of S&T; standards for technologies. The
program will include standards development, performance standards, testing protocols,
certification, reassessment, training and acquisition guidelines driven by the roadmaps
for countermeasure development. Information related to device specification and
assessments will be provided through the Standards Information Portal on the EML Web Site.
|
Contact: webmaster@eml.doe.gov
URL: www.eml.doe.gov/standards/index.cfm .
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Environmental Measurements Laboratory - http://www.eml.doe.gov