The award is one of the largest to USC's College of Liberal Arts.

USC geographer John Jensen will lead the team of USC researchers, who will create the sophisticated computer system, known as the "Hazards Decisions Support System." That system will include the state's most comprehensive database of information and maps on vulnerable areas, as well as a directory of all photographic images available from the hundreds of satellites orbiting Earth. Moreover, the system will be able to help interpret data for specific natural or man-made hazards and recommend the best response for officials.

"Basically, we want emergency professionals to have immediate access to the widest range of information, satellite images, and maps available and then have recommendations to help them make decisions quickly," Jensen said. "In response situations, time is of the essence. The system will be an invaluable tool."

Jensen said the development of the system is a national priority that is especially important to local, regional, and federal disaster-response agencies, such as FEMA, NASA, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

The research team draws on two areas in which USC is a national leader, hazards research and remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS). Remote sensing is the collection of visual images of natural resources and environmental information by aircraft or spacecraft. GIS are organized collections of geographic data that can be used to illustrate spatial patterns and trends that might otherwise be overlooked. These fields are two of the most significant and sophisticated areas of geographic technology.

Jensen said the USC project will vastly increase the type and amount of information and imagery available and help ensure accurate and efficient interpretation by officials.

"Better information leads to better decision-making, which leads to better preparation and better response," Jensen said.

In addition to Jensen, a nationally recognized specialist in remote sensing and GIS, the team comprises Susan Cutter, David Cowen, and Michael Hodgson of the geography department, as well as several doctoral students.

The four-year project, officially named the Remote Sensing-Assisted Natural and Technological Hazards Decision Support System, will focus on South Carolina and include several components.

Cutter will identify areas most susceptible to hazards and then factor in population and demographic statistics to determine their vulnerability. Her work is particularly important because the federal Disaster Management Act of 2000 requires states to have federally approved disaster preparation plans by November 2004 to remain eligible for federal disaster assistance.

Jensen will focus on man-made hazards, such as waste sites, working closely with the Savannah River Site (SRS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Hodgson will develop a remote-sensing hazard guidance system that identifies remote-sensing images available just before and during a disaster. Cowen will target emergency professionals and provide information and training on the system. His efforts will range from organizing conferences and workshops to designing Internet sites and specific publications.

The USC team will work with researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Stennis Space Center, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and SRS.

11/03