Satellites Contribute To Improved Readiness Overall

 

Need Ka-Band On Demand

Despite the progress made in bringing satellite communications gear in particular into the first wave of any large scale response effort, more needs to be done. “There is no doubt that satellites have an important role to play in emergency response and are a critical part of the interoperability solution,” says Steven Jones, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based First Responder Coalition.

 “Truly effective emergency response planning will, before a disaster occurs, incorporate the use of satellite technology. Any plan that does not take into account the critical backup role of satellite communications during a disaster is a plan that puts the lives of first responders at risk.”

According to Larry Flournoy, associate director at Texas A&M University’s Academy for Advanced Telecommunications and Distance Learning, the only truly long term solution in emergency medicine is Ka-band satellite bandwidth on demand. “We feel this way because we have been focusing on collecting trauma data with our field ambulances and designing helicopter-based (satellite-enable communications) equipment,” says Flournoy. “When we will actually get electronically steerable antennae and low earth Orbit satellites is a different question. [Ka-band satellite bandwidth on demand] is the only solution that can be scaled and is economical for the mom-and-pop ambulance services as well as the city and county-based services. I cannot imagine that this would be any different for other first responders and emergency service personnel. While there are Ku-band services or buying clubs which help mitigate the economic and sustainability issues with Ku-band, satellite communications is still the most difficult of the communications solutions to sell to boards and cost-conscious administrators,” Flournoy and the team at Texas A&M which has been developing Disaster Relief and Emergency Medical Services see ordinary ambulance runs every day in rural Texas which would immediately benefit from a satellite connection for medical data and emergency personnel support from the trauma center.

Flournoy reports a growing interest in the emergency medical and mass trauma support dimension of satellite technology spanning organizations of all sizes, ranging from local and county emergency service groups in Texas to Army Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center at Fort Gordon.

States Better Prepared

What stands out is the fact that the states like Texas are better prepared for man-made and natural disasters. Many have invested lots of time and money in upgrading their emergency communications networks and more often than not, satellite is present.
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) is under a legislative mandate to provide an integrated communications capability designed to provide statewide warning and weather advisories, river forecasts, and direction and control of all emergency preparedness functions within the commonwealth. “Satellite-based systems are the ideal solution to fill our legislative requirement. We are progressive and moving ahead with the latest technology to protect and provide the best solution possible in our efforts to protect the citizens of the Commonwealth,” says a PEMA spokeswoman.

The agency is in the process of replacing its existing Ku-band terminals with Hughes model DW-7700 Ku-band systems. Hughes Network Systems Ku-band systems. The DW-7700 platforms will be used for voice and data communications in all 67 counties and at the state’s emergency operations center, three satellite uplink trucks, and PEMA Area Offices — a total of 108 sites statewide. All county emergency operations centers and 911 centers have the systems well. This satellite network forms the backbone for Pennsylvania’s Integrated Flood Observing and Warning System which is comprised of about 240 rain and stream gauges in 38 counties. PEMA’s satellite uplink trucks which respond to disasters with onboard Internet protocol (IP)-based phone services, networking, and Internet are also an integral part of PEMA continuity of government and continuity of operations planning.

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