Homeland Security Project Information
Southern Tier West Digital Data Cooperative Initiative
In Support of Homeland Security and Disaster Mitigation

The digital data cooperative initiative was born in late 2005. The project will culminate with a comprehensive digital data cooperative that includes utilities, governments, universities, and other sources of data. The cooperative will allow access to all relevant data for emergency response personnel.

There are two distinct parts of the cooperative. First are the agreements to allow for release and sharing of the data between cooperative members in response to an emergency situation. The second is the physical housing of the data in a central repository for instant access by emergency personnel.

Data sharing agreements will be negotiated individually and will be in consideration of legal and competitive concerns. The agreements will constitute the foundation for the project. Regular review of agreements will be imperative, and the agreements will be designed to protect the data owner and remove liability concerns.

A framework will be established which will identify individuals and organizations that will have access to the data. This will be coupled with a definition of what emergency situations result in the release of specific data. A protocol for determining the severity and geographical extent of an emergency will be established to act as the official determination of data release. The release will then be conducted specific to what level of data support is necessary and to whom it is necessary.

The creation of a central repository ensures the immediate access to data covered in the cooperative. Data not included in a central server would rely upon manual distribution methods that could slow the process of data distribution immensely. Emergency situations typically require fast, accurate, responses.

While the data may be stored and distributed from a central location, it is important to remember that all data sets remain the property of the original owners. The cooperative only provides an agreement for the access and use of the data. The agreements will further stipulate the update requirements placed upon the data owner. The system will allow for upload of updated data sets directly from the cooperative members.

The Southern Tier West Digital Data Cooperative is a project designed to enhance emergency response in the region, by supporting the digital data needs of that response. Training and education become an important component once the system is operational. Maintenance of data, as well as the hardware and software operating the system will be continual. Cooperative members will play a very active role in the program, continually refining data sharing agreements, updating data, identifying data gaps, and working toward additional participation by all organizations that have useful data.

For more information on the project, please contact Donald Rychnowski at Southern Tier West offices.