SPARCCS – Smartphone-assisted readiness, command and control system

Maintaining an accurate common operating picture (COP) is a strategic requirement for efficient and successful missions in both disaster response and battlefield scenarios. Past practices include utilizing cellular, radio, and computer based communication methods and updating individual maps. A drawback of these practices has been interoperabiliity of these devices as well as inaccurate reporting and documentation among different entities of the effort. Recent advances in technology have led to the utiization of collaborative maps for maintaining a COP amongst command centers. Despite the advantages this technique offers, it does not address the difficulties surrounding receiving reports from field entities as well as ensuring these entities also have good situational awareness. We are developing smartphones in conjunction with cloud computing to extend the benefits of collaborative maps to mobile users while simulatneously ensuring that the command centers receive accurate, up-to-date reports from the field