Technology Transfer: Integration of Research Results into USFA’s Training and Education Programs

This USFA/National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) partnership supports the rapid transfer of research results and new technology to the fire service community. Because implementation of technology can have a significant impact on fire safety, NIST and USFA work together to examine existing USFA training and education programs and identify areas that could benefit from inclusion of current technology, recent research results, or new work. Where appropriate, NIST develops the material, i.e., videos, computer simulations, training packages, public demonstrations, etc., to support the presentation and understanding of the new technology.

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2008, the following were successfully completed or initiated:

Continued a process for National Fire Academy (NFA) Training Specialists to request NIST CDs and DVDs for NFA On-Campus Courses, Two-Day Off-Campus Courses, and Degrees at a Distance Program Courses. In addition, NIST CDs and DVDs were listed on the USFA Web site for distribution to the Fire Service Community. In FY08, more than 27,000 CDs and DVDs were distributed for technology transfer purposes.
More than 17,000 copies of a DVD set on positive pressure ventilation that was developed in conjunction with the USFA’s Media Production Center were made and distributed since it was released in April 2008. Requests for copies of the DVD have come in from all 50 states and 11 other countries. A brief Webcast discussing the DVD appeared on the Fire Engineering Web site. In addition, an article about the DVD was featured in the NFPA Journal and Fire Engineering Magazine.
Presented segments of the National Fire Academy’s Managing Fire Prevention Programs and the Fire Dynamics and Fire Modeling courses during three different offerings.
Continued the production of Fire.gov.
Continued to work with USFA staff to identify new technology transfer opportunities that can be accomplished within the current structure of the program.

Further information about these resources can be found on the NIST Web site.