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The Emergency Management Take: Fall 2020
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The Emergency Management Take with Charles Murph
The future of data in emergency management
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With advances in broadband technologies, emergency managers have access to more information than ever before. FirstNet, the nationwide public safety broadband network, enables access to these new data sources and helps users analyze and send actionable information to the right person at the right time and place.
New data sources
Emergency managers are receiving an increased volume of information. New sources of data include accurate location software, a greater use of video and drones, and an ecosystem of connected vehicles, sensors, and devices. Further, as more municipalities adopt smart city solutions, this is creating opportunities to collect additional data from smart buildings and the internet of things (IoT).
If analyzed and shared in the right manner, these data sources can provide critical information to both incident command staff and boots-on-the ground responders. When a person fell overboard at the 2018 Volvo Ocean Race in Newport, Rhode Island, incident commanders used a push-to-talk app to contact on-site medics and used location-based technology to dispatch the closest EMS team. In situations like these, FirstNet provides the coverage, capacity, and security for accessing and distributing data to the people who need it.
Expanding the app ecosystem
New data is also coming from a growing catalog of apps designed for public safety use. The FirstNet Apps Catalog has over 100 apps for emergency management, and new apps are continually being developed and tested. My colleagues at the FirstNet Authority are working to expand the app ecosystem through innovation contests and challenges. These innovative apps bring a new level of situational awareness to emergency management.
“The mobile application is going to give us a single picture that's worth a thousand words that's updated in more real-time,” said Rodney Reed, Assistant Chief, Fire Marshal’s Office in Harris County, Texas, who used FirstNet apps to respond to hurricanes and manage the Super Bowl.
The future of emergency management
The next generation in wireless technology is 5G, which will provide peak data speeds, higher throughput capability, and improved latency. That’s why the FirstNet Authority is making network investments to help set FirstNet on the path to 5G.
These advancements will help usher in more precise data gathering. Drone video will evolve from a 24/7 data deluge to targeted footage of necessary information. Mapping technologies will include the Z-axis to give more accurate locations, including pinpointing the exact floor inside tall buildings.
I envision the emergency operations center of the future—powered by FirstNet—where artificial intelligence combs through terabytes of data in a matter of seconds to formulate actionable and reliable intelligence that helps save lives and protect communities.
Your experience
I'd love to hear from you about your experience with data. Send me an email to let me know how FirstNet can best support your operations.
Also, my FirstNet Authority colleagues and I are participating in the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Reimagined Virtual Conference 2020 on November 16-18. I hope you'll check it out.
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Tech, Innovations, and Hot Topics in Emergency Management
Read what we’ve been hearing from public safety in the field about trends and drivers for emergency management and emergency communications.*
Data mapping can be used to help emergency managers identify different areas of risk. In the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s recent PrepTalk, Dr. Robert Chen outlines how mapping tools can detect vulnerable populations, at-risk infrastructure, density in a warning area, historical hazard paths, changes in the electrical grid based on nighttime lights, and utility fleet movements. Dr. Chen and his team make these mapping tools free and available to the public.
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After a hurricane, first responders assess the damage to determine where resources are needed. Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue uses FirstNet to relay this info back to the emergency operations center, so city leaders can efficiently deploy resources.
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Charles Murph is the First Responder Network Authority Emergency Management Subject Matter Expert. Learn more about Charles or email him with your questions. |
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*FirstNet Authority may provide hyperlinks for third-party, non-governmental websites in order to offer additional context and added value for our users. FirstNet Authority does not endorse any product or service and is not responsible, nor can it guarantee the validity or timeliness of the content on hyperlinks outside of the federal government. In addition, users may wish to review privacy notices on non-government sites since their information collection practices may differ from ours.
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