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About NIMSAT

A Homeland Security and Emergency Management Institute


The NIMSAT Institute was conceived based on the experiences of researchers at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, under the leadership of Ramesh Kolluru, Ph.D., during the devastation of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.

The Institute focuses on the development of public-private partnerships and the application of advanced information technologies to enhance the resiliency of the US to all-hazards and to the mission of saving human lives. NIMSAT seeks to enhance national resiliency to a full range of potential disasters by conducting research leading to innovative tools and applications that empower the homeland security and emergency management community through education, training, outreach, and operational support.

Center Highlights

  • Founded the Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center (2010) in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Louisiana Economic Development, and LSU’s Stephenson Disaster Management Center.
  • LABEOC recognized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency as a national best practices public-private partnership model.
  • The BEOC is now physically located in Abdalla Hall at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
  • Awarded the prestigious Acadiana Innovation for the not-for-profit sector by the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce (2011)
  • Released a federal study assessing the national consequences of disruptions to Louisiana Highway 1 to Port Fourchon (2011) in collaboration with the National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center (NISAC) and the US Department of Homeland Security
  • Completed the “Compendium of Public-Private Partnerships in Emergency Management,” a collaborative initiative of the International Association of Emergency Management (IAEM) and the NIMSAT Institute
  • Launched a pilot program of the Big Business-Small Business Emergency Management Mentorship Program that motivates and encourages large businesses to provide mutually beneficial emergency preparedness, response, and recovery expertise to small businesses

Contact Us

The National Incident Management Systems and Advanced Technologies (NIMSAT) Institute offices are housed within Abdalla Hall at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Research Park.

Abdalla Hall
635 Cajundome Boulevard
Lafayette, LA 70506
337.482.0600   

Email us

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Thursday:  7:30 am to 5:00 pm (with 45 minute lunch period)
Friday:  7:30 am to 12:30 pm

Learn More About Our Research Centers

Accessible Healthcare through AI-Augmented Decisions

The National Science Foundation approved the Accessible Healthcare for AI-Augmented Decisions (AHeAD) Center to move forward with planning in July 2025. Its mission brings university researchers and healthcare industry stakeholders together to conduct foundational research needed to create usable AI-augmented decision support tools that enhance healthcare delivery, improve patient outcomes, and reduce costs.AHeAD is a multi-university research partnership between UL Lafayette (lead), Tulane University, the University of Florida, and Georgia Tech. Tampere University in Finland has expressed interest in becoming a university partner.

Meet AHeAD Director, Dr. Raju Gottumukkala

 

 

 

 

 

 

Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence

The Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence (CAAI) is dedicated to pursuing use-driven AI research, training an AI-ready workforce, and creating a platform to accelerate innovation to support the local economy. The center serves as a hub where AI researchers, domain experts from diverse disciplines, industry specialists, and community stakeholders come together to address real-world challenges.

Meet CAAI Director, Raju Gottumukkala, PhD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Center for Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity (CCIC)

The Center for Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity (CCIC) brings together multiple and diverse experts from across the University to help our nation prepare for cyberattacks that may impact the country's critical infrastructure.CCIC was founded to examine cybersecurity from the perspective of the cascading impact of a significant cyber incident on the nation’s critical infrastructure, such as that experienced by the 2015 cyberattack on the Ukrainian Power Grid. The Center for the Study of Existential Risk at Cambridge University, UK, now places cyberattacks as a “blue sky hazard” that can take an entire power grid down for a prolonged period. A consequence of such an attack would extend beyond the loss of data; it could completely disrupt the functioning of society, much like a large-scale natural disaster.

 Meet CCIC Director Arun Lakhotia, PhD

Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center

The NIMSAT Institute manages the daily operations of the Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center (LABEOC). The center assists Louisiana businesses and non-profit organizations in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts to ensure community stability, resilience, and economic revitalization.

Louisiana Center for Health Innovation

The Louisiana Center for Health Innovation (LCHI) is dedicated to advancing healthcare innovation by developing research, education, and engagement activities that foster collaboration among academia, industry, and the community. This commitment aims to improve healthcare outcomes, promote health equity, and develop a skilled workforce that meets the needs of Louisiana and beyond.


Learn more about LCHI and meet the Director, Gabriela Wilson, PhD, MSc, FHIMSS, FIAHSI, SNAI.

 

 

National Incident Management Systems and Advanced Technologies

The National Incident Management Systems and Advanced Technologies (NIMSAT) Institute focuses on enriching public-private partnerships and advanced information technologies to enhance the national resiliency for a full range of potential disasters. Our mission is to save human lives. Our experienced emergency management team joins university researchers and technology experts to build a more resilient America through education, training, outreach, and operational support, empowering the homeland security and emergency management community.