NCJ Number
205418
Journal
Homeland Defense Journal Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2004 Pages: 11,13,14
Date Published
March 2004
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes wireless communications systems developed for various metropolitan areas in order to facilitate communication among first responders from a number of agencies in the event of a crisis to which multiple agencies respond.
Abstract
Garland (Texas) turned to Lockheed Martin Corp. to provide a wireless communications solution to link its first responder agencies in the event of a terrorist incident or other emergency. Lockheed Martin selected NexGen City L.P. to implement a communications solution that uses its NexNet system, which employs components from MeshNetworks based in Maitland, FL. MeshNetworks is the sole commercial licensor of mesh technology, which was developed by the U.S. Department of Defense to empower communications under battlefield conditions by using the same principles that empower the Internet. Using components that affix to municipal infrastructure, including buildings and traffic lights, the mesh network allows low-power devices to deliver voice and data at very high bandwidth much faster than a cellular system. Communications can start instantly once users activate mesh-enabled devices. Communications can route around failing, destroyed, or congested network access points. Washington, D.C. uses Motorola's ASTRO Smartzone communications system, a wireless radio and data system that allows two separate spectrum bands to interact with one another, thus enabling emergency agencies that normally use different bandwidths to communicate with one another when involved in a multi-agency emergency response. The emergency agencies of other jurisdictions in the Washington Metropolitan area can also be linked to the wireless system. New York City is using a wireless system developed by LinksPoint Inc. This system enables the attachment of geographic coordinates to all data collected in the field by using Symbol handheld computers. Police officers and firefighters in Aurora, CO, started using a wireless local area network composed of General Pack Radio Service and Wi-Fi networks. This system enables first-response vehicles to receive Internet data and communications. Overall, wireless communication systems enable first responders from multiple agencies to begin communicating with one another rapidly while operating at multiple locations.