Sandia National Labs: Homeland Security

Biological Warning and Incident Characterization (BWIC)

In the aftermath of a biological warfare attack, the authorities guiding the response to the attack must understand the full scope of the event: the origin and extent of the attack, the contamination area, and the people who were exposed to the threat. Only then can authorities determine how to defuse the biological threat and phase in critical resources.

To assist decision makers in such an event, Sandia in partnership with other laboratories under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security is developing a prototype biological warning and incident characterization (BWIC) system that will provide timely warning and guide effective response to a biological attack. The system will integrate information from many sources:

Environmental monitoring systems, such as BioWatch, that seek to detect threat agents directly.
Biosurveillance, which looks for early signs of the effects of bioagents on people and animals.
Incident characterization tools, including plume, epidemiological, and other models, for estimating the extent of contamination and/or exposures resulting from a biological attack.
Tools that aid in allocating critical treatment or response resources, such as personnel, equipment, and therapeutics.

These information tools will be supported by secure communications between local, regional, and national decision makers.

Chem/Bio National Security

Defense Against Chemical and Biological Threats

Biological Warning and Incident Characterization (BWIC)