The objective: The BioNet Program was formed to coordinate military and civilian capabilities to detect, characterize and manage the consequences of a biological attack. DTRA's Biological Defense Directorate (jointly sponsored by the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense) turned to The Tauri Group to develop the architecture for and implement this groundbreaking program.

The method: The Tauri Group led all systems engineering and integration, concepts of operation (ConOps), and public health monitoring activities for BioNet's San Diego pilot location.

This began with outlining requirements specifications and a phased systems integration approach. Through integrated ConOps, the team addressed data collection, analysis, communications, and decision making related to detecting, characterizing, and visualizing bio-events.

The critical systems engineering task for BioNet integrated and enhanced disparate military and civilian detection, characterization, and visualization capabilities to support the decision-making process of civilian and military consequence management authorities. The Tauri Group led the systems engineering effort ensuring applied technology solutions appropriately matched procedures and decision processes. The combining of systems engineering and operational procedures delivered important capabilities for all stakeholders in BioNet. Civilian and military users possess the capability to view an operational picture of their respective sectors, share data as needed, and apply analytical tools to support decision making.

The Tauri Group also chaired a steering committee for Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratory personnel, which provided technical guidance and direction to the program.

The results: BioNet's San Diego implementation, executed on an aggressive 14-month schedule, more effectively coordinated military and civilian consequence management for the city. Military and civilian public health personnel now can view an operational picture of their respective sectors, characterize the extent of a suspected biological event, and track population health effects as the event unfolds. BioNet serves as a nationwide model for future bio-defense systems where military and civilian populations live in close proximity.

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