Pilot information system for cross-border hazmat transportation.
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2009-10-01
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Abstract:Under NAFTA requirements, all hazardous materials that are shipped into Mexico or generated during the
manufacturing process must be shipped back to its point of origin, typically the United States. Thus, the delivery
and return of hazardous materials have created a hazmat transportation corridor. At present, there is no
automated, real-time method to track hazardous materials shipments crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. As a
result, border agencies (specially the first responders) do not have advanced information about the hazardous
materials being transported through border crossings and other locations within their communities. This lack of
information hinders first responder’s ability to respond to hazardous materials incidences.
The objective of the study was to propose a prototype of an information system by which hazardous materials
movement will be relayed and/or shared with local and regional agencies (mainly the first responders) which will
assist these agencies to respond to major hazardous materials incidents more efficiently. This prototype
information system was designed for first responders as a model for what could be developed for the wide range
of stakeholders from all U.S. and Mexican border states. A large part of the initial research was spent in
identifying the agencies that played minor and major roles in transportation of hazardous materials across the
border. The researchers found that a large number of agencies played various roles in what turned out to be
extremely complicated process of hazardous materials transportation and incident response. Finally, based on
stakeholder needs, the research proposed logical and physical architecture of a prototype system to monitor
movement of hazardous materials in the border area and to provide advanced warning of hazardous materials
related incidents to the first responders.
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