Global Relief Technologies' provides an end-to-end solution combining handheld PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) survey applications for field workers, GIS mapping imagery and near real-time GPS tracking with a web-based information management center, or VNOC (Virtual Network Operations Center) for data hosting, analysis and reporting.

The data are transmitted to and from the PDA via mobile satellite terminals using Telenor services.

IMC, a global humanitarian relief agency headquartered in Los Angeles, has deployed a team of health care workers to Aceh, Indonesia, to respond to the tsunami disaster.

The team is equipped with mobile satellite terminals from Telenor and PDA's with the necessary communications software package from GRT in order to quickly coordinate relief and recovery operations. In coordination with local partners and agencies, the IMC is:

- Conducting mobile clinics with outreach to affected populations

- Securing supplies of clean drinking water

- Distributing hygiene and sanitation kits

- Distributing food

- Providing psychosocial counseling and support to individuals and families

- Providing generators for temporary shelters and health posts/facilities

- Providing body bags to search and rescue teams

Workers both in the field and at headquarters can access, edit and monitor - in near real time - detailed maps, tables, pictures and graphics via a password-protected page on the Internet.

Additional features include GPS tracking, that allow field users to assign longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates to all locations from which they report; GIS spatial imagery, which provides a mapping "overlay" of all data collected onto updated maps of a particular locale down to street level detail; and the ability to indicate a need for Evacuation, with precise coordinates, if a compromised security situation should arise.

"The GRT solution was developed and is currently being employed to support emergency relief workers in the field that are reporting critical information on conditions," said Michael Gray, CEO of Global Relief Technologies.

"This technology enables field teams to submit and update information on vitals situations such as water/sanitation, shelter, health and food requirements, logistics and registering displaced persons."

IMC selected GRT technology in 2004 as it introduced a pilot health education program in Afghanistan to improve health and reduce the risk of disease among rural Afghans.

The centerpiece of this program is a potentially breakthrough tool called the Afghan Family Health Book (AFHB), which will enable individuals with no formal education to receive health education through interactive, electronic picture books in local languages.

To measure the effectiveness of the program, IMC will conduct a study using GRT's technology. Health information will be collected remotely and disseminated via GRT's electronic data collection system and VNOC. This program is a private-public sector initiative with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Leapfrog Enterprises, IMC and GRT.

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Global Relief Technologies
Telenor Satellite Services
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