[ NetTalon ] :: Responder Knowledge Base

The Responder Knowledge Base is sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security and the Oklahoma City Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (MIPT). Its mission is to provide Emergency Responders, purchasers, and planners with a trusted, integrated, on-line source of information on products, standards, certifications, grants, and other equipment-related information.

NetTalon is pleased to announce that System 3000 Virtual Command Technology product information is now available to the First Responder Community on the Responder Knowledge Base web site.

Responder Knowledge Base Background

Project Responder, sponsored by the Oklahoma City Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (MIPT), includes both a technology road map for research and development, and the development of a trusted knowledge base for emergency responders. The latter effort is called the Responder Knowledge Base (RKB), and its mission statement is:

To provide Emergency Responders, purchasers, and planners with a trusted, integrated, on-line source of information on products, standards, certifications, grants, and other equipment-related information.

The RKB has been designed to provide Emergency Responders with a single source for integrated information on current equipment, including organizing information such as the InterAgency Board's Standardized Equipment List (SEL), the Authorized Equipment List (AEL) from the Office of Grants and Training, and National Terrorism Response Objectives from Project Responder itself. By integrating this information in one location, responders, vendors, standards organizations, training facilities and grant making organizations will have a "one-stop shop" to begin answering questions such as:

What equipment is out there? (including searches using the SEL and AEL)

Has it been certified?

To what standard?

What training is needed to use it?

How do I pay for it?

Whom can I talk to that has used it?

In operation, the Knowledge Base is based upon the concept of direct relationships, or "knowledge links" among various types of content items. These content types include the InterAgency Board Standardized Equipment List, the G&T Authorized Equipment List, Products, Standards, Certifications, Grants, Training, and Project Responder's National Terrorism Response Objectives. Registered professional responders will also have the ability to contact other responders who have had operational experience with listed products, or volunteer to share their own experiences.

Users can start by searching the entire site, or any of the content areas. Upon reaching any specific item (a product, grant, standard, etc.), the user can then "navigate" by following the knowledge links displayed at the right of each item's screen. For example, the knowledge links on a particular mask might include a link to a certification record for that mask, or to an applicable standard.

The RKB began public operation on October 31, 2003, with the initial focus on personal protective equipment. Please visit the site at https://www.rkb.mipt.org. You may register as a public user or, if you are a professional emergency responder, you may request responder privileges.