How to Integrate Technology in Emergency Services

With the current impact of cell network outages across almost all carriers in the US, it's a good time to talk about the future; actually, it's not even about the future, it's the present. Several years ago I started talking about having mobile robotics (air, ground and maritime robotics, like drones, rovers and submergible devices) be part of a mobile adhoc network or MANET. One example is a private mesh network, like Silvus Technologies provides. These communications solutions for high bandwidth video, C2, health and telemetry data are absolutely needed in today's environment and allow for a very flexible set-up and coverage; from a local incident scene, to a much larger area coverage, to entire cities or counties being covered. Why the need? While we in the drone industry originally focused on getting drones connected to a cell network, we quickly realized the single point of failure; the cell network infrastructure. Natural disasters, as well as manmade disasters, can impact these networks dramatically. An earthquake, hurricane, a solar storm, or a cyberattack, can take down these public networks for hours to days. And that includes public safety dedicated solutions like FirstNet or Frontline, during times when coms and data push is absolutely needed. Over the past couple of years we have seen the rise of mobile robotics deployments within private networks. While the defense side has done this approach for years, the public safety sector is still new to this concept. Some solutions integrate with a variety of antennas, amplifiers and ground stations, offer low latency, high data rates (up to 100+Mpbs), 256-bit AES encryptions and allow for a very flexible and scalable mobile ad-hoc mesh network solution. And most importantly - independence from a public network system. And now imagine you have multiple devices operating; a helicopter, a drone, a ground robotic, together with individuals on the ground, all connected and all tied into a geospatial information platform, like ATAK/TAK. Each connected device can become a node and extend the range. This is what I am calling building the Tech/Tac Bubble. This is not just the future, this is already happening with a handful of agencies across the US It's time to start thinking about alternative communication solutions and mobile robotics are an important part of leading the way. #UAV #UAS #UGV #Drones #network #MANET #Meshnetwork #publicsafety

Integrating Amateur Radio into the Emergency Operations Center or EOC Amateur Radio (ham radio) operators are a vital part of the EOC communications team, not a separate group on the sidelines. To get the most out of them: 1. Embed them into the EOC Communications Unit Treat Amateur Radio as a backup communications asset — just like satellite phones or emergency radio networks. Assign ham radio operators to the EOC's Communications Unit under the Operations Section or Logistics Section (depending on your EOC structure). Include Amateur Radio operators in all communications planning, briefings, and exercises. 2. Use them to extend field communications Position hams where communications are critical but fragile: shelters, staging areas, hospitals, critical infrastructure sites. Equip them with basic message forms and protocols to relay critical information (requests for supplies, status updates, situation reports) back to the EOC. 3. Use Amateur Radio capabilities for long-range communications High Frequency (HF) Radio: Hams can operate HF radios to reach across the state or even nationwide, without relying on cell towers or internet infrastructure. Winlink Global Messaging: Hams can send and receive email messages over radio using Winlink, even when normal internet services are down. This allows direct messaging to other EOCs, State Emergency Operations Centers, or regional partners. Critical resource requests, situation reports, and shelter updates can be sent securely and reliably over Winlink. When local and regional communications fail, Amateur Radio can still connect your EOC to the State EOC and critical partners. 4. Plan for loss of infrastructure Assume that internet, cell service, and even some public safety radio systems could go down. Hams can operate independently on battery or generator power and maintain communications without needing the grid. 5. Include Amateur Radio in training and exercises Regularly exercise your communications failures and Amateur Radio backups during drills. Train EOC staff on how to request and use ham radio resources — don’t wait until the disaster to figure it out. 6. Set expectations early Make sure operators understand what messages are critical (life safety, urgent logistics) and what are not. Use pre-written message templates to streamline traffic and reduce confusion. Bottom line: When commercial communications fail, Amateur Radio can still move information across town, across the state, or across the country. A properly integrated ham radio team in your EOC isn't a "nice to have" — it's a critical lifeline when everything else goes down. For more on amateur radio emergency services https://www.arrl.org/ares

10 real-world lessons on public safety drones and tech from Sergeant Zach Finfrock on the Smart FireFighting Podcast 🚔 If the rig isn’t practical, the drone won’t fly Zach didn’t build a tech museum. He built a patrol-ready drone vehicle that works on every shift. It handles traffic stops, call responses, and drone launches without missing a beat. That’s how it should be. 🚁 Not replacing helicopters, just reducing wait times Before drones, air support meant maybe getting a chopper if one was free. Now Zach can launch in under a minute and get eyes on a scene before backup even arrives. 🔫 It’s not a toy. It’s another tool on the belt Most tools don’t get used every day. Doesn’t mean they’re optional. The same goes for drones. When you need it, you need it. Period. 📐 Flying a drone means juggling three rulebooks FAA regulations, state laws, and department policy…all at once. On top of the actual emergency unfolding in front of you. It’s not just flying. It’s operating with full accountability. 🗺️ Shared maps > shared radio chatter Drone Flight Hub lets departments drop pins, draw search zones, and stream live feeds. Everyone sees what’s happening without stepping on each other. It makes coordination feel like second nature. 👮♀️ Start with one drone and two solid pilots You don’t need a fleet. You need people who know how to fly and remain calm under pressure. Once the program proves itself, scaling is easy. Starting sloppily is how it dies. 🤔 Drones don’t solve calls. They make them safer Overwatch, recon, real-time support. That’s where drones shine. Not replacing responders, just giving them better tools to make better decisions. 🚨 Real-time crime isn’t a theory. It’s already happening Live drone feeds. Shared platforms. LPRs. Zach and his neighbors are already linking up and supporting each other in real time. It’s not hype. It’s just smart operations. 🔭 AI has potential. But trust comes first Zach isn’t against AI. He’s for smart use. The community has to know that tech helps them, not watches them. Use it well or don’t use it at all. 🙃 If it ain’t broke, cool. But don’t ignore what’s better Zach used to stick with what worked. Now he pushes to try what might work better. That mindset shift matters. Comfort doesn’t move the mission forward. What hit hardest for you? Full podcast episode here: Apple: https://lnkd.in/gKGXkwSh Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gRaSkYia #SmartFirstResponder #SmartFirefighting #DroneOps #PublicSafetyTech #LawEnforcementTools #DFR #RealTimeCrime #FirstResponderTech

Embedded World Recap: Empowering First Responders with Off-Grid Emergency Mesh Networks As someone who's passionate about innovative technologies and their potential to make a real impact, I'm excited to share my interest in a critical topic: ensuring reliable communication for first responders during emergencies. When traditional infrastructure fails, first responders need alternative solutions to stay connected and keep communities safe. That's why I've been exploring the potential of Meshtastic's innovative mesh networking technology, combined with IoT sensors, to create resilient communication networks for law enforcement and emergency services. To better understand this concept, I've been conducting experiments using Meshtastic devices from Seeed Studio, RAKwireless, Meshtastic Solutions and Atlavox (Matt Donley). These cutting-edge nodes have allowed me to test various scenarios and demonstrate the potential of this hybrid approach with message ingestion into the AWS cloud. I had the chance to change the frequencies of the devices and try them out in Germany and talk with some Meshtastic experts while there. I believe that this technology has the potential to make a real difference in emergency situations, and I'm excited to continue exploring its possibilities. If you're interested in learning more, I'd be happy to share my insights and experiences with you. Thank you Eric Pan, Betty Fan, Ken Yu, Carl Erick Rowan, Gavin Brown, Xose Pérez, Jason Opdyke, Matt Donley, and Thomas Göttgens for all your support and insight for me to learn up. #OffGridEmergencyMesh #Meshtastic #IoT #FirstResponders #EmergencyServices #CommunicationNetworks #Resilience #OperationalSecurity

𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 & 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥-𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐏 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 The integration of drones as first responders (#DFR), combined with cutting-edge Internet Protocol (IP) video technology, marks a new era in #publicsafety. This LiveU approach empowers #lawenforcement and #emergencyservices with real-time #situationalawareness, faster response times, and enhanced officer and public safety. - DFR: A Strategic Advantage By deploying Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) ahead of ground teams—especially during large-scale events or active incidents—agencies gain critical visual intelligence before arriving on scene. A key milestone is enabling Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, allowing drones to cover greater distances and deliver what can be called “quantum situational awareness.” LiveU's flagship IP bonded field encoder for Public Safety and #tactical teams is ready to go - simply plug in your video source (drone, security #camera, or crewed/uncrewed vehicle/ HH camera etc), and start transmitting real-time, secure and reliable video into your selected destination - anywhere at anytime Benefits include: - Rapid location of suspects or missing persons - Advanced scene assessment before human arrival - Reduced risk to officers - Smarter allocation of resources Enhancing Surveillance with LiveU IP Video & LiveU Technology is significantly more effective when monitored in real time. According to the UK College of Policing, actively monitored systems are 15% more effective at reducing crime compared to passive systems. By leveraging LiveU's secure IP video transmission platform: - Real-time crime centers and dispatch units gain precise, high-quality video streams - Field personnel receive live intelligence with low-latency and high-reliability, even in challenging environments. Situational awareness becomes immediate and actionable. Key Enablers for Successful Integration To fully realize the benefits of DFR and IP video streaming, agencies must: - Educate the Public: Build trust through transparency and responsible data use - Advocate for Policy Reform: Enable legal pathways for BVLOS and IP-based surveillance - Invest in #Training: Equip personnel to operate and interpret data while respecting privacy The Road Ahead Over the next decade, cities are expected to deploy drone “nests” on rooftops of fire stations and public buildings, creating a responsive, city-wide aerial network. But success will depend on forward-thinking leadership that embraces innovation, invests in emerging technologies like AI and quantum analytics, and fosters a culture of adaptability. - Visionary public safety leaders must stay several steps ahead—not just one—to safeguard communities in a fast-changing world. CBRNE & CT ATLANTIC BRIDGE (CAB) FIFA World Cup 26™ New York New Jersey #uas #drones #firtresponder #cbrn #cbrne