Integrated New Technologies for First Responders Demonstrated

Integrated New Technologies for First Responders Demonstrated

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In order to ensure that future first responder are better protected, connected, and fully aware, there must be more ruggedized protective equipment, reliable and interoperable communication, and the capability to filter vast amounts of data. This is the conclusion of the Next Generation First Responder (NGFR) program of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T). S&T says that first responders who are better protected and have the right information at the right time will be safer while they execute their mission of protecting their community.

According to Homeland Security News Wire, in order to achieve this vision, the program recently held a demonstration highlighting innovative technologies that combined to improve communications and situational awareness of first responders during disasters and critical incidents.

Physiological and environmental sensors, streaming video from body cameras and unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and hybrid communications devices were integrated during the demonstration of a simulated emergency scenario calling for a coordinated response from law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians.

“The proliferation of miniaturized sensors, affordable UAS and Internet of Things (IoT) devices can make a tremendous impact on first responder safety and succes. However, if the technology doesn’t seamlessly share data, it loses its viability within the public safety sector,” said Program Manager John Merrill.

S&T notes that the NGFR program focuses on creating an interoperable environment by outlining the standards required for seamless integration of technology. These standards allow responders to employ off-the-shelf commercial products, adapt ground-breaking technologies that meet responder mission needs, and visualize technologies yet to be invented — all with the assurance they will fit into the predefined NGFR architecture. Further, the modular and extensible design is intended to work for responder organizations in different environments, with different budgets, and contrasting mission requirements.

“To accommodate all responders, we are working to offer organizations a variety of interoperable, plug-and-play technologies that provide the capabilities they need for a price they can afford,” said Merrill.

This demonstration is the first in a series of NGFR integration demos to be held during the life of the program. S&T says that future demonstrations will integrate additional technologies as they mature, define, and test how commercial capabilities can plug-and-play into the NGFR system, and invite the first responder community to test and evaluate the latest NGFRprogram technologies.