Method and apparatus for global relief management

Abstract

A system and method includes providing a database having a plurality of damage characterization data and a geographical location associated with each. A first and a second portable communication unit are associated, respectively, with a first subscribing party and a second subscribing party. A sharing privilege list identifies, for the first subscribing party, parties authorized to receive damage assessment data. A damage assessment report is transmitted from the first of the portable communication units to the database. The database is updated based on the damage assessment report. Then, depending on whether or not the second subscribing party is on the sharing privilege list, a data is communicated to the second of the portable communication units reflecting, or based on, the damage assessment report.

1 - 6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . A device for capturing and communicating field assessments, the device comprising: 
 a data store that stores information including: 
 a base map corresponding to a geographical area; and  
 user-selectable field assessment forms;  
   a user interface that displays at least a portion of the base map and captures field assessments using a selected one of the user-selectable field assessment forms in the data store, each field assessment associated with a location within the geographical area; and    an electronic communication interface for transmitting captured field assessments to a server.    
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a geolocator interface operable to receive geolocation information for associating field assessments with locations within the geographical area.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the electronic communication interface is operable to transmit and receive communications via a satellite.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the electronic communication interface is operable to receive one or more user-selectable field assessment forms.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the electronic communication interface receives updated situational information, and the user interface is operable to display at least a portion of the updated situational information overlaid on at least a portion of the base map.  
   
   
       12 . A server for use in a global relief management system, the server comprising: 
 a field assessment device communication interface to facilitate receiving field assessments from field assessment devices and to facilitate transmitting update information to field assessment devices;    geographic information system data;    field assessment data, the geographic information system data and the field assessment data updated using received field assessments;    access control information; and    a report generation interface to facilitate access to the geographic information system data and the field assessment data, the report generation interface controlling access to the geographic information system data and the field assessment data using the access control information.    
   
   
       13 . The server of  claim 12 , wherein the field assessment device communication interface uses a satellite-based communication link.  
   
   
       14 . The server of  claim 12 , wherein the report generation interface is web-based.  
   
   
       15 . The server of  claim 12 , wherein the geographic information system data and the field assessment data are stored in a relational database.  
   
   
       16 . The server of  claim 12 , wherein the report generation interface requires authentication.  
   
   
       17 . A data security method in a global relief management system, the data security method comprising: 
 receiving a field assessment submitted using a field assessment device;    maintaining field assessment access control information; and    controlling dissemination of at least a portion of the received field assessment based on the maintained field assessment access control information.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the received field assessment is associated with a first organization, and the maintained field assessment access control information prohibits dissemination of one or more portions of the received field assessment to organizations other than the first organization.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the maintained field assessment access control information implements a privilege hierarchy.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the received field assessment includes an attribute used in controlling dissemination of at least a portion of the received field assessment.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein maintaining field assessment access control information includes maintaining access control information defining information sharing between government organizations and non-government organizations.  
   
   
       22 . A method for generating organization-specific reports in a global relief management system, the method comprising: 
 identifying a geographical area;    identifying a requesting organization;    querying a data store for information in the identified geographical area that is accessible by the identified requesting organization;    retrieving information satisfying the query; and    preparing the retrieved information to generate a report.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein retrieving information satisfying the query includes retrieving geographic information system information, and preparing the retrieved information to generate a report includes creating a map based on the retrieved geographic information system information.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising transmitting the generated report.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the generated report is a representation of one or more field assessment reports.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the generated report includes update information corresponding to the identified geographical area and the identified requesting organization.  
   
   
       27 . A method for updating a field assessment device comprising: 
 determining a geographical location of a field assessment device;    transmitting a message indicating the geographical location of the field assessment device and identifying a user of the field assessment device;    receiving update information in response to the transmitted message, the update information corresponding to the identified user and the indicated geographical location.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the geographical location of the field assessment device is determined using a global positioning system receiver.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the update information includes a map overlay.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the update information includes at least one field assessment form.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the update information further includes at least one field assessment.