Oregon Public Safety Exercise Shows Value of Interoperable Communications in a Disaster
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March 4, 2008
Annapolis, Maryland, USA, March 4, 2008-The January rain was heavy. A mudslide threatened the elementary school. Broken power lines crackled on the ground. Oregon's Lincoln County Emergency Director was out of town. And when the police, fire, rescue, and utility crews arrived, they were all carrying different types of radios.
It sounded like a perfect recipe for a communications disaster. But this "disaster" was a carefully planned emergency drill, sponsored by Lincoln County, Oregon for the benefit of half a dozen local public safety agencies and two neighboring counties.
It was also supported by communications vendors Cisco and ARINC Incorporated. The emergency exercise showcased the Cisco Internet Protocol Interoperability and Collaboration System (IPICS), which is part of a versatile ARINC AWINS(TM) communications system recently purchased by Central Lincoln People's Utility District (PUD).
Observers at the exercise quickly rated it a success. Among lessons learned was the critical importance of real-time communications between agencies. "Direct communication is perfect communication," said one participant. He also noted a direct radio link can eliminate the verbal relaying of messages and human errors.
"When I needed to talk to someone else in another agency, with Cisco IPICS the LinComm dispatcher could directly connect me up to that other party. I didn't have to tell so-and-so to contact so-and-so, and to tell so-and-so to do something."
During the exercise, Cisco IPICS and ARINC technology integrated many different types of communication networks and devices, including push-to-talk radios, cell phones, satellite phones, and laptops. They were linked into an IP-based network of talk groups that could directly communicate with each other.
Among enthusiastic observers at the exercise was Onno Husing, Director of the Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association. "Many of us felt we were witnessing the future in wireless interoperable public safety communication systems," he stated in a broadcast memo the next day. "The technology worked beautifully."
Other observers included town mayors from Newport, Toledo, and Waldport, two Lincoln County Commissioners, visiting IT personnel from neighboring counties, and staff members from Oregon state and congressional offices.
ARINC is a pioneer in the field of interoperable communications. Its AWINS(TM) architecture helps enable standards-based platforms like Cisco IPICS to interoperate with other technologies such as video and mobile data systems. Cisco IPICS is an emerging technology aimed at providing interoperable communications for PTT (push-to-talk) radio systems, LMR (Land Mobile Radio) systems, and other forms of communications. ARINC is part of the Cisco Technology Development Program, for Cisco IPICS.
ARINC Incorporated, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, provides communications, engineering and integration solutions for commercial, defense and government customers worldwide. Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland with regional offices in London and Singapore, ARINC is ISO 9001:2000 certified. For more information go to www.arinc.com
Contact:
ARINC Incorporated
Brand Management & Communications
corpcomm@arinc.com
+1 410 266 4652
