Four components of HLDC2IMS

1. The backbone of the Homeland Defense Command and Control Information Management System is based on the Information Dissemination Management Tactical system, a Web-based technology run by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) used for sharing information on battlefields. HLDC2IMS includes access policies so that only authorized users can send and receive information, and bandwidth throttling, which can assign bandwidth based on priorities.

2. ESRI's ArcIMS provides distributed mapping services on the Web and captures not only geographical map features, but also incidents and events against the map pertaining to ongoing terrorism. The layers of the map enable incidents to be presented geographically for analysis; for example, a biological attack involving poison gas on a layered map can tell what the affected geographical region is.

3. ENSCO Inc.'s Sentry is Web-based software that interprets multisensor data and enables users to protect facilities and borders from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) attacks. Sentry can also monitor internal heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, including the flow of air through ducts. If the sensors detect a chemical or biological agent, the tool can tell exactly where the agent is going and who needs to get out, and can also shut down the HVAC system.

Sensors can also be set up in strategic locations to take meteorological and CBRN readings nationwide. If anything is detected, the data can be placed on a map, along with the direction the dangerous element is heading, indicating both potential and actual affected areas. The system's cost is based on the number of sensors and the size of the area being protected, but can range from $50,000 to millions of dollars, officials said.

4. CallingPost Communications Inc.'s Message911 uses the same map as Sentry and provides names and phone numbers that are automatically called in the affected areas. Managers can type a message into a text box with directions about what happened and how to leave the affected area safely, and then choose emergency response groups to send it to.