FEMA ROVER Version 2 and ROVER ATC-20, Mobile Earthquake Safety Software

The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the ROVER Development Consortium (RDC) have released a new version of software for communities to manage earthquake risk. FEMA’s Rapid Observation of Vulnerability and Estimation of Risk (ROVER) Version 2 is free mobile software for pre-and post-earthquake building screening that automates the de facto paper-and-clipboard standards FEMA 154 2nd Edition and ATC-20. FEMA ROVER works through a smart device’s browser via cellular data service. RDC has released the complementary ROVER ATC-20 app that implements ATC-20 for offline tagging, when Internet service is congested or unavailable. Local governments can benefit from ROVER and ROVER ATC-20 because: (1) they produce 25% more building safety inspections per day; (2) they reduce the effort to coordinate evaluations; (3) they provide faster situational awareness; (4) tenants and owners return to safe buildings sooner; (5) FEMA ROVER is free; and (6) ROVER training can be free. The nonprofit ROVER Development Consortium offers additional optional support such as data hosting and training.