Maintain interoperable communications with responders in any environmental conditions

Endorsed by
Motivation

The ability to maintain interoperable communications with responders in any environmental conditions

Potential Solutions
Following solutions could be addressing this gap.

The ability to communicate with responders in any environmental condition is crucial because communications enable safe and effective incident . Coordinating the efforts of responders, commanders, managers, civic leaders, and the public depends on timely, reliable and effective modes of communication. During incident operations, communications may involve a significant number of responders, jurisdictions and systems across a vast geographic area. Deficiencies in communications capacity, or infrastructure can strain or overwhelm steady-state capabilities; all of these deficiencies can be exacerbated during larger incidents. Responders’ ability to communicate with each other has a significant impact on operational efficiency and safety. Message transmission or clarity can be substantially reduced when operating in certain environments, particularly inside buildings, tunnels, underground spaces or over long distances.

Despite a high level of public and private funding to advance technology for interoperable communications, the lack there of continues to remain a significant factor hindering response operations across IFAFRI member nations. Elements such as country size and degree of centralization of response functions impacton this . However, a comprehensive, affordable is not yet available.

Many responders currently use push-to-talk land mobile radio (LMR) devices, many whichare only capable of transmitting and receiving voice communicationson specific frequencies. Commercially available smart phones provide additional access to video and data. However, most are not ruggedized to withstand austere environments on the incident scene. In addition, existing networks are often overwhelmed by the volume of message traffic and incident operations often hamper the ability to communicate intelligibly. Responders report the for devices that allow clear, successful, and secure bi-directional communications, and that provide data needed for situational awareness and the conduct of incident operations.

Addressing this may involve a system of devices, network software, and infrastructure equipment that can provide interoperable communications during incident response operations.

Rationale & related CM function(s)

eu Portfolio of Solutions web site has been initially developed in the scope of DRIVER+ project. Today, the service is managed by AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH., for the benefit of the European Management. PoS is endorsed and supported by the Disaster Competence Network Austria (DCNA) as well as by the STAMINA and TeamAware H2020 projects.