Public Safety nfocus. Public Safety and Technology Today

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1 Public Safety nfocus The evolution of technology in the public sector Public Safety and Technology Today From challenges to solutions Safe and Secure in the Valley of the Sun Phoenix, Ariz. officers use new technology to stay vigilant Urban Search and Rescue Goes High-Tech Elite task force is on the cutting edge of saving lives

2 The State of Public Safety How technology is confronting challenges and providing solutions Technology is rapidly forcing us to change the way we communicate from the way we keep in touch with co-workers, family and friends to the way we do business. Public safety professionals now find themselves in a fascinating time when it comes to new capabilities for public safety, law enforcement and disaster response. That same technology that is keeping us in the loop with status updates and retweets is now helping make the business of keeping citizens safe and secure more efficient. From mobile apps to geolocation we are now able to save precious time, collaborate, report and learn. Time to Evolve For decades, the primary means of communication between responders has been the two-way radio. Radio calls are also the main source of communication between the public safety answering point (PSAP), dispatcher, responders, and, on occasion, responders from different agencies within the region. When it comes to capturing information, traditionally everything has been done with pen and paper. Even in this digital age when we are surrounded by cell phones, tablets, ipads and laptop computers, the vast majority of responders today are taking field notes on index cards writing tickets and facts on paper forms. 01 October 2014 Cross-agency collaboration is key to eliminating data fog that exists in the field today.

3 A critical need for disaster response teams is to see what s happening in the field to make more informed decisions. Public safety professionals now find themselves in a fascinating time when it comes to new capabilities for public safety, law enforcement and disaster response. That same technology that is keeping us in the loop with status updates and retweets is now helping make the business of keeping citizens safe and secure more efficient. Unfortunately, this tried and true method driver s licenses and license plates. Today information available over the network with has led to inefficiency, delays in relaying we see the push to connect more endpoints their mind alone. vital information, confusion from a lack of voice-over or handwriting clarity and and sensors to this broadband network, including video cameras, field biometrics, Creating a New Network ultimately time away from saving lives. flood measurement gauges, vehicle Fortunately, both of these issues are Technology abounds, so why not utilize the location and mobile personnel location. being tackled today, with new solutions on new tools of today? the horizon. FirstNet, a new government Technology s Growing Pains As broadband communication has found its way into the mainstream, some public safety and first responder agencies have begun to use the current public cellular infrastructure. At the forefront of this movement was connectivity between dispatch and patrol to provide computer-aided dispatch calls on a mobile data terminal, as well as the ability to run field queries on record databases for 03 October 2014 There are two fundamental challenges presented with this increase in adoption of broadband capabilities. First, the public broadband infrastructure is reliable during daily use, but in the event of a crisis or disaster the network is easily saturated and can become unavailable to public safety personnel and first responders. Second, there are concerns about data fog, a natural occurrence when a person cannot process and manage vast amounts of organization created under the Department of Commerce, is working toward establishing a nationwide public safety broadband network. With nationwide access to the 700 MHz spectrum, FirstNet plans to create a private LTE network that mirrors current cellular capabilities while running as a separate, secure public safety grade network. This network will not be susceptible to public saturation during a crisis, ensuring a reliable resource will be available for public safety when it s most needed. Simplifying Complex Data Data fog is another challenge that today s solutions are evolving to address. At nfocus Solutions, our subject matter experts have been at the forefront of managing the complexity of data between field- and command-level users. Initially focused on addressing these needs and challenges for the military, we are now committed to assisting the public safety and first responder community through their similar growth. Part of this commitment is in the development of nfocus GeoSuite, which enables personnel to aggregate multiple data feeds from existing systems into a single map-based view. This eliminates the need to toggle between applications and integrate the data mentality, helping lower the potential effects of data fog. GeoSuite was originally developed, fielded and utilized by more than 75,000 soldiers across the United States Army. Today, we are honored to bring these powerful capabilities to public safety so that responders and law enforcement can have leading technological resources that will help them conduct more successful operations, reduce costs and ultimately save more lives. October

4 Safe and Secure in the Valley of the Sun Phoenix, Ariz. officers use new technology to stay vigilant Every day, in every city across the country, people and their families gather together in public spaces whether to attend a large-scale event, enjoy a concert or just to go to the grocery store. While most people think about conversation topics, spending money or getting to their next destination, a city s law enforcement is focused on ensuring that everyone remains safe. In order to protect everyone from a large variety of threats, ranging from disorderly conduct to gun violence and even up to a terrorist attack, public safety personnel must effectively communicate and collaborate together. Navigating Fragmented Information Phoenix, Ariz., is the sixth most populous city in the country with more than 1.5 million citizens. In the past, just like in any large city, Phoenix law enforcement faced several challenges in obtaining the level of situational awareness they needed to effectively track and mitigate threats. We used maps, printouts, Google Earth or whatever the city had available, says a spokesperson from the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC), which is a joint effort between law enforcement agencies aimed at providing support for the country s homeland security efforts. It was very old school, he continues. In many cases, these maps quickly became out of date as Phoenix expanded and changed. Seeing isn t the only challenge it s also hearing: if an incident occurred, Phoenix officials only had a radio to rely on for communication. The radio s audio quality varies, so it s sometimes hard to hear, the spokesperson says. Low quality radio transmissions frequently led to miscommunication and delays. Finally, the radio system limited the ability for officials to get a complete picture of what was going on, as they had to rely on what they could see in front of them and any subsequently relayed information. The city hosts more than a dozen major events a year. In these situations, the challenges faced on a daily basis grew to include new considerations. If we knew of the event ahead of time, we would rely on event pamphlets when planning security measures, explains the spokesperson. Events can move and if you don t know the critical infrastructure of the businesses around, you don t have real- time information. With this lack of geo-spatial understanding, the spokesperson says there was a challenge adapting to any sudden changes. A New Way to Put the Pieces Together In early 2013, Arizona launched a new emergency operations center (EOC) and began implementation of GeoSuite, a new tool that provides advanced situational awareness. It quickly became apparent to law enforcement that GeoSuite, originally imagined as an asset for the EOC, would be useful for additional public safety efforts. We learned more and realized it was a valid tool for investigating dynamic incidents and intelligence. It changed from a tool for the EOC to something for every patrol officer, especially because they can access all data on one screen, says the spokesperson. 05 October 2014 Crowds gather to watch the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Ariz.

5 Actionsports Dreamstime.com - NASCAR: November 15 Checker O\ Reilly Auto 500 Photo NASCAR fans cheer on their favorite driver at Phoenix International Raceway. From Planning to Action solve crimes by the end of the day and investigate in the car, says Prior to a major event or during an incident, public safety officers the spokesperson. The report won t have to go back to someone s need to clearly mark important areas of interest; for an event, this desk and sit there for a couple of days. The event can be recorded, can include parking, staging, medical evacuation routes and more. investigated and solved in the field, he further explains. All related digital artifacts, including standard operating procedures, incident command system plans and area maps are attached in They also intend to use the historical incident data found within GeoSuite so that users can view them at any time. the application to get a better picture of crime trends across a location, which will help in planning and allocating resources. With these and other collaboration capabilities in GeoSuite, GeoSuite helps in planning for the next day and the next year, dispatchers, as well as intelligence analysts, as well as multiple explains the spokesperson, because it helps answer the questions participating agencies are able to work are able to work in unison of do we have adequate resources? and can we see trends?, he to better ensure public safety. Since its adoption, Phoenix law elaborates. enforcement has been able to successfully use GeoSuite to plan and execute a variety of events, including the Waste Management One place the technology will prove extremely beneficial is at Phoenix Open, the NASCAR AdvoCare 500 and the Phoenix the 2015 Super Bowl, which will give key agencies increased Marathon. situational awareness across Phoenix and surrounding cities, More than 10,000 runners begin the 2013 Phoenix Marathon. 8 Preparing for the Future Our goal now is for officers to be able to use the tool so they can further improving safety both during the game and during pre- and post-game celebrations. October

6 Urban Search & Rescue Goes High-Tech Elite task force is on the cutting edge of saving lives October

7 Over the past decade, FEMA has declared more than 65 major disasters a year, including severe flooding, massive wildfires, destructive tornadoes and intense winter storms. For the people impacted by each disaster, fast action by first responders is necessary to get vital assistance and even survive. With years of training, preparation and experience, the top urban search and rescue (US&R) teams in the country rise to this challenge to quickly and efficiently assist affected communities within hours of the disaster. Getting the Message Across Texas Task Force 1 (TX-TF1) is one of those top US&R teams tasked with responding to disasters, both within Texas and across the country. This team is a coordinated effort comprised of about 70 individuals that are on the ground providing assistance while 50 remain at the home station. Despite its strong foundation, years of experience and specialized training, TX- TF1 faces the same challenge affecting most search and rescue teams: clear and efficient communication. Since being deployed to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Susann Brown, TX-TF1 search manager, had been looking for a solution to the time consuming and oftentimes inaccurate reporting process from the field that relies on paper and pen. Brown believed there had to be a faster and more efficient method one that didn t take time away from the search operation to record and call in reports. The paper system is Altogether, the time required to record and report can take precious minutes away from finding and saving victims. fallible, she says. It s not in real time and not visible to everyone. Brown refers to the method of reporting where all statistics and achievements are hand written and later assembled into reports for executives and leaders. In addition, a search and rescue team on the ground must communicate back to the incident command team at a base of operations, as well as report to the state governor and FEMA. For decades this has been done through two-way radio, which lacks clarity and can severely delay updates regarding team location and status. Altogether, the time required to record and report can take precious minutes away from finding and saving victims. It was time to find a better way. [GeoSuite] is a game changer that ensures that critical information collected in the field is immediately in front of the eyes of those who need to see it. Susann Brown, TX-TF1 search manager An Innovative Solution for Mission Critical Data During training exercises in Disaster City, a 52-acre training facility located in College Station, Texas, TX-TF1 first encountered a new solution for improving response efficiency. That solution is GeoSuite a web-based system by nfocus Solutions that provides advanced operation planning, tracking and reporting. This is a game changer that ensures that critical information collected in the field is immediately in front of the eyes of those who need to see it, says Brown. With easy access to the GeoSuite app through US&R team members phones, the team can quickly collect and report observations, 11 October 2014

8 Members of TX-TF1 work with local responders to support their efforts in Moore, Okla. [GeoSuite] was hugely valuable in Moore. For the first time, we could say with certainty that we know we searched 624 homes and the level of search conducted for each one. Susann Brown, TX-TF1 search manager The field servers synchronize with each other, as well as an online state core server findings, images and voice annotations from the scene. Once submitted through the app, this information, including the team in the field. In addition, accurate and valuable reports can be run in GeoSuite and sent directly to FEMA and other officials. Setting the Foundation In 2013, TX-TF1 purchased two GeoSuite hosted in the cloud. This configuration ensures that the task force can operate on scene and share their findings and location in real time with the EOC and assisting agencies. Team members with access to the GeoSuite app are also able to log into the core server, allowing them to see search [GeoSuite] saved a tremendous amount of time. And when we talk about saving time, what we re really talking about is saving lives. Susann Brown, TX-TF1 search manager location of the responders, is immediately field servers that are capable of supporting segments and findings from colleagues as visible to the incident commander and other responders giving real-time updates and developments and ensuring safety. It s easy to use, and color coding makes it easy to analyze outcomes in a rapidly evolving event, Brown reports. Color coding shows the various levels of destruction and colors change when a building has been searched or a victim has been rescued. It is easy to see any additional tasks that need to be completed and then send a message to the search 13 October 2014 operations with limited communication abilities. Information is stored in the cloud, accessed on a website and available in real time. You can see the data, if you have log in authority, from anywhere you have web access, Brown explains. It can also tie into the Web EOC program and can be linked with multiple response agencies across the state. Reports summarizing the collected information can be created quickly. well as contribute their own observations. Rapid Response and Saving Lives TX-TF1 used GeoSuite in the field for the first time when the team was activated for the Moore, Okla. F-5 tornado, which killed 24 people, injured 377, and destroyed 1,150 homes. Deployed search and rescue teams initially estimated that it would take three days to find and recover victims in the disaster area. With the ability to instantly track the searched areas and communicate the results to other team members through GeoSuite, the task force was able to complete their mission in a single day. It was hugely valuable in Moore, Brown says. For the first time, we could say with certainty that we know we searched 624 homes and the level of search conducted for each one. The team entered the data continually, so they never had to stop searching to record data on paper and call it in. That level of efficiency allowed us to move through the search area in Moore much faster. We were so efficient that we completed our assigned search area in one day instead of two. Transforming for the Future TX-TF1 is looking forward to being able to better collaborate with other US&R teams and FEMA groups during future disasters. The team is anticipating communication network improvements that allow US&R teams to saturate a disaster area with secure, private broadband networks ensuring connectivity. As capabilities continue to be added, the team works toward realizing how GeoSuite s many features can benefit them. For the team s leaders, GeoSuite will ensure they are at their most efficient and will, eventually, completely change the way operations are executed. October

9 By nfocus.com