TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Successful Response Starts with a Map: Improving Geospatial Support for Disaster Management SN - DO - 10.17226/11793 PY - 2007 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11793/successful-response-starts-with-a-map-improving-geospatial-support-for PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Earth Sciences AB - In the past few years the United States has experienced a series of disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which have severely taxed and in many cases overwhelmed responding agencies. In all aspects of emergency management, geospatial data and tools have the potential to help save lives, limit damage, and reduce the costs of dealing with emergencies. Great strides have been made in the past four decades in the development of geospatial data and tools that describe locations of objects on the Earth's surface and make it possible for anyone with access to the Internet to witness the magnitude of a disaster. However, the effectiveness of any technology is as much about the human systems in which it is embedded as about the technology itself. Successful Response Starts with a Map assesses the status of the use of geospatial data, tools, and infrastructure in disaster management, and recommends ways to increase and improve their use. This book explores emergency planning and response; how geospatial data and tools are currently being used in this field; the current policies that govern their use; various issues related to data accessibility and security; training; and funding. Successful Response Starts with a Map recommends significant investments be made in training of personnel, coordination among agencies, sharing of data and tools, planning and preparedness, and the tools themselves. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council AU - Institute of Medicine TI - Mining Safety and Health Research at NIOSH: Reviews of Research Programs of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health SN - DO - 10.17226/11850 PY - 2007 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11850/mining-safety-and-health-research-at-niosh-reviews-of-research PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Industry and Labor KW - Earth Sciences AB - The U.S. mining sector has the highest fatality rate of any industry in the country. Fortunately, advances made over the past three decades in mining technology, equipment, processes, procedures, and workforce education and training have significantly improved safety and health. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Mining Safety and Health Research Program (Mining Program) has played a large role in these improvements. An assessment of the relevance and impact of NIOSH Mining Program research by a National Research Council committee reveals that the program makes essential contributions to the enhancement of health and safety in the mining industry. To further increase its effectiveness, the Mining Program should proactively identify workplace hazards and establish more challenging and innovative goals toward hazard reduction. The ability of the program to successfully expand its activities, however, depends on available funding. ER -