A systems engineering process to evaluate and enhance the disaster communication capabilities of the American Red Cross

This project developed a process for developing and evaluating enhancements to the American Red Cross’ disaster communication system. The stimulus for this project was a statement from the American Red Cross Disaster Service staff that the present communication system was unable to meet their needs. Some proposals for altering the present system were available, but there was no established means to identify the merits and drawbacks of these proposals.

A principal feature of the proposed development process is a methodology to evaluate the impact, benefit, and cost of proposed enhancements. This methodology can be used to evaluate any proposed change to the disaster communication system.

The process and methodology which have been developed are adaptations of accepted systems engineering tools such as the Life Cycle, mission scenarios, and models.