—Matthew Tisdale, Booz Allen Hamilton/DHS
The Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data Working Group (HIFLD) is comprised of four official members (DHS, DoD, NGA, USGS) and several thousand contributing partners who promote the collection, processing, and sharing of infrastructure geospatial information. HIFLD includes Federal, State and local governments, federally-funded research and development centers, and private industry partners focused on strengthening information exchanges; partnerships; as well as coordinating preparedness, response and recovery efforts in the event of natural or man-made disasters. The HIFLD members are capitalizing on the success of the HIFLD and exporting the capability to the eight DHS Protective Security Advisor Areas. HIFLD to the Regions (HTTR) is designed to directly support regional, state, and local infrastructure protection field operations and activities by providing geospatial capabilities and focused HIFLD support. HTTR will also assist in bringing the geospatial stakeholder community together to increase and enhance regional activities and to strengthen Federal, State, and Private Sector Partnerships.