IT Solutions for WMD Defense
Noblis has a strategic focus on the development of information technology solutions for WMD defense. We have the capability of forming project teams that combine our expertise in state-of-the-art information technology systems with our domain expertise in chemical, biological, and nuclear science. These teams have been able to develop innovative solutions because they understand the requirements that are unique to WMD-related problems and they are working with the latest information technology tools.
Knowledge Management System for the Chemical Security Analysis Center
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established the Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC) to provide a scientific basis for the awareness of chemical threats and the attribution of their use against the American public. CSAC is a resource that will provide a centralized compilation of chemical hazard data and an organized effort to use that data for threat analytical purposes. At the onset of Noblis support in 2006, CSAC accessed threat assessment data through a variety of sources including an internal database, non-electronic data stored in safes and paper files, and access to a wide variety of external data sources including free on-line sources, subscription on-line sources, restricted data sources, and downloadable sources. The external data sources each use their own protocol for access and return results in a variety of formats. Noblis was then tasked by CSAC to develop a comprehensive knowledge management (KM) tool that could allow CSAC to offer its customers more comprehensive chemical threat information and do so in significantly less time than the existing process.
Noblis began by working with the CSAC client to establish a set of functional goals and requirements that would improve the efficiency of CSAC analytical operations. The tool would have to have the capability to query all of the structured and unstructured data sources that were then available on the CSAC file servers, and to return data from all sources within CSAC's control. The tool would also need the capability of searching for information stored on pages in specified domains on the World Wide Web and providing results integrated with the results of the internal searches. The tool would need the provision to view, capture, store and efficiently retrieve CSAC Reports, including reports already developed by CSAC. The tool would also need the capability of storing and retrieving chemical structures and spectra in all databases in standard image formats, and to retrieve and store new structures in the Joint Committee on Atomic and Molecular Physical Data (JCAMP) format. Finally, the tool should provide an integrated interface designed to facilitate data transfer from unstructured documents and external sources into structured internal sources and subsequently into CSAC Reports.
With the functional requirements and goals in place, Noblis conducted an evaluation of a number of technologies to determine the best components for use in the CSAC-KM tool. Upon evaluating the detailed specifications for a variety of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software, it was determined that no single product would fully meet the CSAC functional requirements and goals. Therefore, the solution would have to incorporate a combination of tools to adequately address all of the needs. Noblis also evaluated potential search engines and data server software in terms of stability, efficiency and cost to provide a best value solution.
Based on the evaluation of potential search engines, COTS software and data server software, Noblis proposed three options for implementing the CSAC system architecture: 1) using a full featured chemical informatics high-end out-of-the-box product that supports any type of chemical research and meets a majority of CSAC functional requirements; 2) using a general search engine with specialized "plug-in" applications; or 3) developing a fully customized product. The recommended solution was for using general IT products with specialized plug-ins because it provided the best combination of flexibility and performance, and it would meet all system requirements and goals. It also allowed for a phased roll-out of the CSAC system as various components were brought on-line. In implementing this approach, Noblis performed the front-end development of the system to integrate the various components.
The resultant CSAC-KM tool allows CSAC to efficiently search across a broad spectrum of internal and external sources for the physical and toxicological characteristics of a chemical of interest. The tool can search on a chemical name or identifier, or by a drawing of the chemical structure of the compound. The Noblis team included chemists with years of experience in searching the literature using chemical names, structures, and other identifiers; that experience translated into a tool that met the needs of the chemists at CSAC both in the way that searches are conducted and in the way that the results are presented to the user.
Integrated Knowledge Mangement System (IKMS) Poster
View IKMS poster in a larger format.
Integrated Informatics for Pathogen and Medical Countermeasures for Transformational Medical Technologies Initiative
The Transformational Medical Technologies Initiative (TMTI) seeks to protect our warfighters from emerging and genetically engineered biological threats through focused, integrated and transformational medical and scientific techniques that will provide a real-time medical countermeasure response to novel biological threat agents. This cornerstone capability for rapid identification of pathogens and development of appropriate countermeasures is known as the Transformational Rapid Drug Discovery and Development Capability (TRD3C). Development of the TRD3C is complex in the breadth of its scientific coverage-from high throughput whole genome analysis of unknown pathogens to discovery of effective molecular targets for existing and novel drugs to drug efficacy, toxicity testing, and rapid manufacturing. Underlying these discovery processes are tera- to petabytes of structured reference data from worldwide genetic and protein research, hundreds of bioinformatics tools that allow searching, matching and extraction of data from disparate public and private data repositories, computational models that require supercomputers for productive use, and discipline-specific ontologies that need to be integrated for cross-discipline use. Noblis identified which discipline-specific informatic requirements, overarching informatic requirements to for data integration and drug discovery and, and data repository requirements would be necessary to support the development of the TRD3C. We then provided a feasibility study for the development of this integrated informatic platform. Our feasibility study is focused on reviewing the life science informatic requirements and the TMTI context for the informatics, and on developing the information technology (IT) requirements necessary to develop this complex integrated chem-bioinformatics platform.
Automated Logistics Management System (ALMS) for the Project Manager Non-Stockpile Chemical Materiel
The mission of the US Army's Project Manager Non-Stockpile Chemical Materiel (PM NSCM) is to destroy recovered chemical warfare materiel (CWM). The PM NSCM needs an Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) program to ensure the success of their mission. Noblis started its support to PM NSCM since it was formed in the late 1990's, providing objective, forward thinking evaluations, analyses, studies, and reviews that have been instrumental in ensuring the success of the PM NSCM mission. Therefore, the PM NSCM has asked Noblis to assist them in identifying and implementing the appropriate Automated Logistics Management System (ALMS) with associated program-wide business processes to track all logistics activities for the program. The PM NSCM has developed a cadre of systems to support their mission. These systems must be stored and maintained, along with proper stocks of ancillary equipment, spare parts, and consumables in such a fashion that they may be brought to an operational state in a reasonable and responsive time.
The Explosive Destruction System (EDS), one of many PM NSCM systems that will be managed by the ALMS. (Photo courtesy of the US Army)
Initially, Noblis drew from its strong non-stockpile system, acquisition support, and IT knowledge bases to conduct a 6-month independent evaluation to down select the ALMS software. Future modes of operation were defined with respect to the 10 Elements of Logistics, as well as IT and cyber-security considerations. Based on these requirements, 10 major evaluation criteria were developed and then broken down into subcriteria and into specific questions to evaluate each subcriterion; a total of approximately 200 questions were developed. Noblis accessed and used various demos and operational ALMS instances. Users/providers of these systems were also interviewed in order to gain first hand knowledge of the systems and to evaluate their real-world functionality. In addition, Noblis developed 6 scenarios that are representative of future PM NSCM operations and shared these scenarios with users/providers of current systems in order to give them the opportunity to provide any additional input. The software chosen provides a platform for comprehensive management of the business processes associated with all assets of the PM NSCM. The software chosen is a commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) Java Enterprise (JEE) application that is built on a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and is designed for integration with a broad range of external systems.
Noblis is currently developing a System Implementation Plan (SIP) that outlines the design workflow for logistics processes and the planned steps for implementing full operational capability of the ALMS. With the implementation of the ALMS, PMNSCM is establishing program-wide logistics processes. Noblis has met with and has had lengthy discussions with each of the non-stockpile performers/sub-contractors that are responsible for the storage and maintenance of non-stockpile equipment. We have worked with these organizations to analyze and define current business processes and develop an integrated standardized non-stockpile approach to logistics practices by all performers. Several Working Integration Product Team (WIPT) meetings were held to discuss the business processes and development of the ALMS in a group setting. These exhaustive group and one-on-one sessions were to establish business practices that have the buy-in from those responsible for performing the work. Based upon information gathered from these meetings, Noblis developed initial work flows to depict the logistics processes. These initial processes identified in the SIP will be used as the starting point for the process development and integration within the ALMS. The workflows will be applied to ALMS records. The initial ALMS records will be developed based upon existing data files and documentation relating to equipment and materials associated with the EDS.
In support of this effort, Noblis has created an ALMS instance on our corporate network to provide a platform for development and testing. Noblis will configure the ALMS data model by mapping as much as possible existing non-stockpile terminology/data onto existing data structures. Noblis will incorporate the initial business processes into the ALMS and apply them to the records established in the data model. Once implemented in the ALMS, business processes can be tested interactively. We plan to use this approach to solicit feedback with the client. As the software development moves forward, the processes and data model may be modified and additional processes may be added to fit the ALMS framework and the needs of PM NSCM. From the developmental phase through the deployment phase, Noblis will work with the production application host to ensure the successful deployment of a production ALMS that meets the needs of PM NSCM.