THE PROBLEM: Whether intentional, like poisonous attacks, or accidental, like that from a derailed train, chemical releases pose deadly hazards to humans and the environment. In the wake of a hazardous chemical spill, radiological release or biological contamination, sampling is crucial. Sampling is the process of systematically collecting and analyzing air, water, soil and other environmental substances potentially impacted by the contamination. Environmental and national security agencies use sampling data when making time-sensitive decisions that protect lives and the environment, so the sampling must be performed efficiently and effectively to provide necessary information and avoid wasting valuable time and money. 

THE SOLUTION: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s (PNNL’s) Visual Sample Plan (VSP) makes it easy to create a systematic plan for sampling. VSP helps users determine where sampling should be conducted and how many samples are needed based on details about the location and the type, quality, and quantity of data needed. With PNNL’s enhanced 3-D and other visualization capabilities, the technology lets users map out the sampling plan within and outside buildings, on furniture, laboratory equipment or vehicles. The tool helps technical and non-technical users develop statistically backed sampling strategies, regardless of the contaminant or location. VSP is an adaptable tool that is easily tailored for defense, anti-terrorism, environmental restoration and many other applications. The technology’s informed, automatic reporting and documentation tools streamline sample planning and make it easy to demonstrate compliance for environmental regulators, which is typically a time-consuming, labor-intensive effort. The software is free to download, and feedback from VSP’s users worldwide drives the technology’s improvements. 

THE TECH TRANSFER MECHANISM: VSP’s technology transfer is one of reciprocity. Recognizing the domestic and global need for rigorous, statistically sound environmental sampling, VSP creators chose technology transfer founded in accessibility, affordability and collaboration. By teaming with clients to build domain-specific statistical sampling designs, PNNL maximizes sponsor investments and continuously deploys software with maximum impact. The no-cost download approach has made this innovation available to users worldwide, including federal and international partners. VSP has become a model by which PNNL makes other software available at no cost and generates user communities, whose feedback drives continual improvements that keeps the software relevant to current industry needs and standards. VSP’s lead developer created the software’s architecture to allow the platform to continually expand and remain operational, accommodating new operating systems and computing updates.  

THE IMPACT: As of 2023, VSP has more than 5,000 active users across multiple U.S. federal, state and local agencies and in over 70 countries around the world. The software has been downloaded over 8,000 times since 2018. As the number of users has more than doubled since 2018, its impact on national and global security has grown immensely. Additionally, offering such software at no cost to users and with open lines of communication for sharing use cases and best practices has generated communities of practitioners and enhanced long-term maintenance and stewardship of VSP and other mission-critical software tools.