| Public Safety Networks in Motion |
| Wireless technology will
help police, fire fighters, and healthcare professionals do a better job. |
By Samuel Greengard
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Article Summary:
In the aftermath of September 11,
public safety officials are looking for ways to ensure that they’re
able to provide essential services during a crisis. In addition, these agencies
are exploring new capabilities and technologies that can help them provide
better and more efficient service on a daily basis. Using wireless, standards-based
Internet Protocol (IP) communications with uninterrupted access to data,
European public safety officials and law enforcement are designing the networks
of the future. |
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In recent years, public safety has emerged as a high-level concern. Increasing
crime and national security concerns have forced public safety officials
to seek new tools and technologies that can help deliver results. With its
close borders and high population densities, Europe has additional concerns
and challenges in trying to protect the public. Although police and other
officials are increasingly turning to high-tech tools to aid in their efforts
to fight criminal activity, current systems have numerous limitations.
For
example, when a police officer stops a vehicle, it is nearly impossible to
identify the driver in the field with a high degree of certainty. Lacking
fingerprints, photographs, and instant access to crime databases, officers
sometimes let a suspect go and only later find out that the person is on
a wanted list. “Too often, there is a general lack of visibility,”
notes Sander Bakker, a public sector marketing manager for Cisco Systems®
in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).
This situation is forcing
governments and public agencies to confront the problem with an array of
new technologies. Through the use of “networks in motion,” officials
are able to provide uninterrupted access to information on a real-time basis—bypassing
traditional phone networks, if necessary. By putting databases and various
tools in police cars, fire department vehicles, and other locations, those
on the front lines of public safety can make faster and smarter decisions.
Tools of the
Trade
There is no shortage of opportunities for networks in
motion. Officials are exploring an array of leading-edge tools: fingerprint
scanners in police cars, on-board computers that display mug shots and link
to crime databases, cameras that employ facial recognition features, and
general process improvements. These tools allow officers and others to process
arrests in the field rather than behind a desk at a police station. “The
idea is to reduce administrative tasks so that officers are able to spend
more time in the field and use that time more efficiently. Ultimately, the
goal is to reduce crime,” Bakker says.
Driving this trend is
the emergence of wireless networks, including mobile Internet Protocol (IP),
wireless local area networks (LANs), and personal area networks (PANs). Mobile
IP uses a router in each vehicle to maintain a constant wireless connection
with headquarters and other vehicles. It can seamlessly switch among several
wireless technologies, including Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Global
System for Mobile Communications (GSM), and satellites. That allows it to
maintain a connection in different service areas and under almost any set
of conditions. Combined with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and
specialized software, it’s possible to view the location of backup vehicles
or assess where rescue or firefighting resources are located at any given
moment. It’s also possible to point a digital video camera into a crowd
and have an analyst use facial recognition software remotely to spot criminals,
terrorists, and others.
Net Gains
Such capabilities also benefit medical providers
and victims, Bakker says. An ambulance connected to a mobile IP network can
transmit a patient’s vitals while traveling to a hospital and receive
charts and physician analysis—greatly increasing the odds of survival.
In addition, when the ambulance arrives, doctors can act and treat without
delay. And if the hospital is not equipped to handle a patient, the system
can direct the ambulance to another facility.
At the same time, wireless
LANs as well as PANs are making an impact. By networking devices and groups
of people, police and firefighters can deploy personnel and resources at
maximum efficiency. For instance, the leader of a rescue squad could know
where each team member is inside a building or in a stadium. With cameras,
sensors, and other devices, it is possible to gauge conditions at different
locations and know how events are changing from minute to minute.
Building a Safety Net
In the United States,
some public safety agencies, such as the police departments in Seal Beach, California, and Sacramento,
California, are beginning to use these technologies. In Europe, a few
countries, including the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, are considering
public safety networks in motion more closely and, in a few cases, establishing
pilot programs. While adoption is still in the nascent stages, the technology
is poised to pay dividends in the years ahead. Says Bakker: “At a time
when public safety is at the forefront, mobile IP and other networking tools
are able to deliver results.”
March 6, 2003
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About the Author
Samuel Greengard is a business and
technology writer based in Burbank, California. |
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