Manitoba’s Urban Search and Rescue team has joined the list of emergency response organizations turning to satellite communications technology. Such systems ensure that response teams can maintain communications with officials back at headquarters as well as with other local and national agencies while performing operations where terrestrial options are limited or simply do not exist.

“As a provincial agency, we respond to assist our counties and municipalities about 35 times per year,” Manitoba Fire Commissioner Doug Popowich told Satellite News. “Because of the areas we respond to, quite often communication is a problem. Typically, in 50 percent of those cases, we have a problem with being able to communicate. We don’t have great cell coverage in a lot of areas in our province. Sometimes it is difficult to get landline phone access and we needed the abilities to do data, voice and video transmission.”

About two months ago, the Urban Search and Rescue team adopted the system, which was developed by Salt Lake City-based Motosat. The system consists of a satellite receiver that uses GPS signals to determine its location and then aligns the antenna with the target satellite. The receiver is connected to laptops on the scene via wireless interconnection to provide emergency responders with a variety of communications options, including voice over Internet protocol, fax and the ability to transmit video data.

The system “allows us to link back to provincial emergency operations center or regional operation centers,” Popowich said. The system also will be utilized in coordinated efforts with other agencies, he said.

“Our fire marshal’s office works closely with provincial and federal police agencies,” Popowich noted. “This technology also will be available with them. We have done some exercises with them and we are looking at using it for all different types of operations. It is going to improve our ability to communicate and send data.”

While the system has yet to be deployed in an emergency situation by the Urban Search and Rescue team, Popowich expects it will see action during ground search operations to locate missing people in wilderness regions.

“One of our roles is to provide logistical support to the policing authority and that is where we are going to really see it work,” Popowich said.

–Gregory Twachtman (Justin Panagapko, Manitoba Office of the Fire Marshal, 204/726-6855)