Date of Award

3-10-2006

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Science

Department

Department of Systems Engineering and Management

First Advisor

Charles A. Bleckmann, PhD

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to compare two different biosurveillance methodologies: BioWatch and "A Hot Idea". BioWatch is fielded and operating in major US cities today. Air samples are collected on filter paper and analyzed for the presence of harmful biological agents. "A Hot Idea" is an evolving methodology using the human body's immune response to identify the onset of infection from a harmful pathogen. Detecting a temperature increase, using infrared thermographers, in a statistically significant portion of population would allow earlier identification of a biological release, accelerating initiation of response actions. A selected population including policemen, firemen, and postal carriers, will be monitored for elevations in temperature above previously developed individual temperature profiles. The benefit of surveillance can be quantified economically by determining the costs averted by having surveillance in place minus the costs incurred to provide surveillance. Using a model to determine the relationship between initiation of response actions and magnitude of mortality, each surveillance methodology's benefit was quantified based on expected detection time.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GES-ENV-06M-04

DTIC Accession Number

ADA449638

Download

Share

COinS