Logistics Information Systems

From shipments to socks and ants, RFID is tagging everything

Modern RFID tags are only a few millimeters in size and comprise a chip, antenna and in some cases a battery (active). Some forms of RFID tags (passive) have no battery, but actually take power from the electromagnetic beams of a reader, and then send data back to the source. These tags can theoretically last forever, since they only send data or require power when actually being pinged by a reader device. Almost all RFID tags can be inserted into almost anything and do not require line of sight back to a reader. Some tags are so tiny that they have been glued to the backs of ants to track their behavior.

  • By John Breeden II

10 agency IT projects take 2012 GCN Awards

The winning project teams found creative solutions to challenges in information sharing, end user services, military communications and other areas.

  • By Paul McCloskey

Army readies major overhaul of logistics support

The new enterprise logistics system, one of DOD's largest ERP deployments, would allow soldiers to track deliveries of vital supplies to the battlefield.

  • By Henry Kenyon

FBI spyware documents show depth of surveillance

Electronic Frontier Foundation finds that the FBI uses computer spyware to track suspects.

  • By GCN Staff

Franken sets hearing on iPhone tracking

In the thick of privacy questions resulting from the discovery that Apple monitors consumers' GPS locations in an unprotected way, Sen. Al Franken announces a hearing on the subject.

  • By Alysha Sideman

Mitre calls all innovators for ID contest

Mitre Corp. has launched of an identity recognition competition open to techies, amateurs and professionals, individuals, and teams alike who think they have an idea to improve identity recognition technologies.

  • By David Hubler

DOD creates fun and games for acquisition education

A new casual gaming site launched this week by the Defense Acquisition University lets users learn about logistics in a fun way.

  • By Henry Kenyon

Logistics gets a new worldview

A new Army logistics program uses Google Earth technology to create an interactive system to plan supply routes and track cargo.

  • By Henry Kenyon

NIPRnet Globe Services at a glance

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  • By Henry Kenyon

FEMA needs to bridge logistics software gaps: IG

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has made progress in logistics, but its Total Asset Visibility logistics information system isn't finished, a new report says.

  • By Alice Lipowicz

Army aims for better e-mail, ERP services by upgrading infrastructure

Gary Winkler, the Army program executive officer for enterprise information systems, discusses plans for the area processing centers and lessons learned in recent implementations of enterprise resource planning systems.

  • By Barry Rosenberg

Army awards logistics modernization contract

The Army plans to use software from IFS North America for the Logistics Modernization Program underway at all Army arsenals, depots and ammunition plants.

  • By Doug Beizer

Project at a glance: Defense Health Patient Movement Items Tracking System

The Patient Movements Item Tracking System records the location of medical equipment through bar-code scanning at each stop. The data is stored in a central database that is available to logisticians via a Web interface.

DOD bar code/database system proved inexpensive to develop and easy to use

The Patient Movement Items Tracking System ensures that the necessary medical equipment travels with wounded soldiers as they are moved from the battlefield to a hospital.

  • By Patrick Marshall
Featured eBooks

DOD asset-tracking tool wins Kantara award for innovative ID management

The Defense Department's Synchronized Pre-Deployment and Operational Tracker earns the Kantara Initiative's Identity Deployment of the Year award for its innovative use of Web-based technology to track contractor assets in the field.

  • By William Jackson

Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration tests command and control on the go

This year's Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration focused on mobility, field-testing a new set of prototype command and control technologies by running them in a simulated operational environment.

  • By Joab Jackson

New York City goes wireless

A high-speed, mobile data network that spans more than 300 square miles wirelessly links first responders on scene with incident managers at remote sites through real-time data and video feeds.

  • By Kathleen Hickey

DLA moves EMall to DISA servers

Application provider Partnet helped with transition to .mil address.

  • By Joab Jackson

Transportation aggregates hazmat reporting

The Transportation Department unveiled a Web portal for pinpointing the locations of hazardous materials around the country.

  • By Joab Jackson