Helping the Helping Hands

Wireless networks aid in first response emergency situations

• By Karina Sanchez
• Apr 27, 2007

It’s no surprise IT is moving into the physical security space. Even at ISC West in March, attendees welcomed Guido Jouret, Cisco CTO, as a keynote speaker. Being the IT powerhouse that it is, Cisco made quite a presence this year at the show, and rumor has it next year it’ll be even more of a key player in the security industry.

Though the industry has seen a slow but certain migration to IP platforms, it has never been so prevalent in the security space until now. And rest assured that it will change the functionality of your own systems in the future.

The First Signs
Technology not only affects the security industry, but all industries in one way or another. Having recently attended MuniWireless in Dallas, it was evident municipal wireless is already making a mark in security. Public broadband networks are changing the way we live, work and play. Municipal Wi-Fi networks allow cities to enhance economic development, improve public safety and eliminate the digital divide. Though the show welcomed primarily CIOs and those interested in public broadband, it also welcomed first responders using the network for emergency services. First responders and police departments are today deploying integrated security and life safety systems. And those that aren’t soon will be.

Eddie Burns, fire chief of the city of Dallas, attended the conference and informed attendees how Dallas’ firefighters are using Wi-Fi networks for communication and IP-based video. The department’s main problem was an inability to communicate effectively during natural disasters. Fire departments from different counties all tend to be on different frequencies, and when posed with situations like Hurricane Katrina, an inability to communicate can have damaging effects.

“And that’s a very helpless feeling,” Burns said. “Having that ability to communicate in these types of situations is crucial.”

With its new communications system on a Wi-Fi network, the fire department is able to interoperate with other frequencies and fire departments. Moreover, the department’s IP-based cameras allow for better video streams and help aid in urban search and rescue missions.

“Voice over Wi-Fi is an application we’re going to see a lot more of being deployed now and in the near future, and that’s very important for public safety,” said Ksenia Coffman, Firetide marketing manager. “They not only have video, but are actually able to communicate in real time in emergency situations.”

As things stand now, the network is used for communication and video, but Burns said the department is interested in adopting RFID as a means for tracking firefighters in the near future.

And wireless network capability is being adopted by not only more and more municipalities, but more importantly the supporting public safety organizations.

Wi-Fi Goes Big
Somewhat similar to Dallas, the Phoenix Police Department’s Drug Enforcement Bureau is using mesh networking for covert criminal investigations. During a wave of crime in 2006, Phoenix police received an urgent mandate to actually deploy a network right then and there. And after researching different video surveillance technologies used to augment investigations, the department had to quickly deploy the technology. The project was established in the summer of 2006.

“The department had to go from research mode to actual deployment. Going through systems integrator Avrio Group and receiving the equipment in a box, only two weeks elapsed before a live, operating network was up and running,” Coffman said. “They were able to quickly deploy the network and get valuable evidence.”

The department wanted a system that’s rapidly deployable, flexible, mobile and secure. It decided on a Firetide mesh network.

“The data on Firetide mesh is fully encrypted from source to destination,” Coffman said. “The network itself operates on a 4.9 public safety licensed band to avoid interference or tapping.”

The public safety licensed band is an important component when considering wireless networking. Without it, data transferred between first responders becomes exposed and vulnerable to tapping.

Weather also was a concern for the department. In Phoenix, summer temperatures can go well beyond the 100 degrees Fahrenheit mark. And that doesn’t bode well for cameras that typically need to be stored in cool and dry places.

“[Weather] was the biggest concern going in, but the equipment did incredibly well in the conditions,” Coffman said.

The Phoenix Police Department now uses the system for different applications. The network is deployable when and where needed. Coffman said that at one point, the department had as many as 30 cameras and 45 mesh nodes covering about 40 square miles.

“And that shows how easily you can scale the network up and down depending on what your need is,” Coffman said.

Beyond Public Safety
Coffman said public safety is currently the driving application of mesh networking. Once a wireless network is deployed for public safety purposes, it allows municipalities to start thinking of other uses for it such as free wireless Internet access for all.

When cost becomes a consideration, wireless networking tends to be more cost effective from the back end.

“With wireless networking, you can afford more cameras and greater coverage. You’re reducing the cost of the network backbone component, and you’re able to afford more cameras,” Coffman said. “You’re also able to move to IP technology, which allows remote control and features that you’re unable to achieve with analog.”

Public safety officials are embracing the trend, achieving ROI through less manpower and greater system functionality. Integration is now helping first responders and public safety officials in helping others. So, integration is here and in use among the people who protect us. It might not hurt to lend a hand to facilitate the union of the two.

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