A mobile application version of Mercury — a central repository used to coordinate electromagnetic spectrum frequencies during humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HA/DR) operations — is now available for download on both Apple and Android devices. Search for “Mercury Spectrum” in the app store.
Mercury is a spectrum collaboration application that enables the gathering of spectrum requirements and the distribution of spectrum resources. It is designed for multinational HA/DR responses that require electromagnetic spectrum resources, but lack formally trained spectrum managers or access to secure networks.
Mercury provides a reliable, multilingual application on easily accessible unclassified commercial networks. It supports translation between 104 languages, and its intuitive design allows ease of use regardless of the user’s level of spectrum management experience.
The application supports geographic combatant commanders and U.S. allies and partners enabling rapid response to HA/DR missions. The mobile app improves user accessibility, particularly for domestic and international users that favor mobile technologies.
To date, the application has supported four multinational HA/DR missions: Typhoon Koppu in October 2015, the Nepal Earthquake in April 2015, Typhoon Hagupit in August 2014, and Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013.
The web-based Mercury application has been available since 2014, and can be found at .
Mercury web-based and mobile applications are managed by the Joint Spectrum Center (JSC) and were developed under contract for DISA in cooperation with the U.S. Pacific Command’s Joint Frequency Management Office and several international users.
The Mercury mobile app is being vetted by the DOD Mobility Program for use on DOD Mobility Unclassified Capability (DMUC) devices. The results of the review are expected in December. In the meantime, DMUC users can use the .
For more information on the Mercury spectrum collaboration application or other JSC products or services, visit the JSC online portal, email , or call 410-293-4357, DSN 312-281-4357.
Source: Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)
By
Robert Williams
Editor in Chief