Solution:
Version 1 pioneered a preliminary solution to help MDTF1 create charts for deployment. In order to meet the new requirements put forth by Lieutenant Lofland (the team member managing IT for MDTF1), Version 2 had to introduce/improve upon two main components:
- An online system from which all team members can individually and securely access and record information such as availability dates and personal info
- An enhanced version of the chart-making tool ("NEDS Client") that operates with this website
Semester two has successfully engineered both of these components. We've also included facilities for expediting chart creation and printing in the NEDS client, as well as provided administrative capabilities to the web site, so that privileged users can use this system to edit the deployment status of team members and to see which members will be available over a given range of dates.
The third semester focused on improving the availability website and adding support for barcode scanners to speed up the checkin process. The barcode scanners eliminate the need for runners to relay status information to the team organizers. In addition to updating the status of the members faster, it enables the Task Force to easily track the members' location within the academy and when a member has been deployed on-site.