Long-Awaited Solution for First Responders 

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First responders often work indoors, underground, and in other areas where communications are not reliable, so constant situational awareness is difficult to maintain. A new solution will fill this gap in first responder technology.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has awarded a research contract to TRX Systems to deliver an In-building Coverage and Analysis System (ICAS) using a first responder’s radio and smartphone. 

The NEON Indoor Location Solutions will quickly inform public safety users about wireless service availability within a building and in other GPS-denied areas and enable the easy identification of communication coverage gaps within specific buildings and across a total service area.

The proposed ICAS solution enables simultaneous LMR and LTE coverage characterization that works with existing end-user LMR and FirstNet LTE devices, enables data gathering by minimally trained personnel and provides an easy-to-use interface with a 3D signal map visualization. 

TRX will receive funding during Phase 1 of the DHS SBIR program to develop, demonstrate, and report results for a prototype ICAS solution. The potential subsequent phases will add the required functionality, hardening, and scalability to make the ICAS solution operational across the public safety community.