Emergency Management

During complex emergencies, such as natural disasters, civil unrest, or mass migration, radio communication is often a critical tool for coordinating response efforts, providing information to affected populations, and maintaining public safety. During large or complex incidents, radio traffic can become congested due to high demand, making it difficult for incident command to transmit and receive messages effectively. As well, given the crush of responding...

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The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized, on-scene, all-hazards incident management concept. It was developed in the 1970s by firefighting agencies in the United States as a means of effectively managing incidents involving multiple agencies and organizations. The ICS provides a common structure and terminology for incident management and is designed to be scalable, so that it can be used for incidents ranging from...

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Incidents and the subsequent emergency responses can be chaotic, especially when they involve multiple agencies and organizations that need to work together to respond to the crisis. In such situations, there may be confusion about roles and responsibilities, communication breakdowns, and a lack of coordination. Shortly after 9/11, the U.S. government commissioned programs that ultimately led to the National Incident Management (NIMS) framework which defines...

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The Internet of Things (IoT), by definition, is a wide array of “things” that can connect and exchange data over a network. This “network” can take many forms to include the “big” internet, an enterprise network, and in most places where we work, a closed network “bubble”. The reality is that once many organizations begin to leverage “sensing”, it becomes clear very quickly that exchanging...

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The Internet of Things (IoT), by definition, is a wide array of "things" that can connect and exchange data over a network. This "network" can take many forms to include the "big" internet, an enterprise network, and in most places where we work, a closed network "bubble". The reality is that once many organizations begin to leverage "sensing", it becomes clear very quickly that exchanging...

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The internet of things (IoT) is revolutionizing the way we live and work. By connecting devices and sensors to the internet (and/or our private networks), we are able to collect and analyze incident and environmental data like never before. This data can be used to cue and orchestrate various actions and processes, which in turn enhances operational efficiency while positively impacting life safety. IoT V1 was...

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Firefighting and emergency response are dangerous professions, and a growing body of research and data shows the contributions that job-related exposures have in chronic illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease, and an array of neurological disorders. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently undertook two large studies focused on firefighter cancer and concluded that firefighters face a 9 percent increase in cancer...

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Multi-variant sensing and cueing largely speaks to physical sensors interacting with each other (even sensors from disparate manufacturers) at high speeds to derive meaning and minimize “false positives”.  Adding privacy-assured artificial intelligence, in the form of cognitive services, provides additional precision for threat detection and mitigation. Recognitional support and stream analytics is an essential component of a multi-tiered approach to identify a security and/or safety...

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Digital Workflows triggering Emergency Instructions via Samsung MagicINFO-enabled Displays and Axis Public Address Speakers Every day, our physical and digital worlds become increasingly intertwined, presenting opportunity for investments in a future of continuous and lasting change. This is true of Smart Cities, but also Safe Schools and Smart Campuses. This digitalization of the cyber-physical world is especially promising for schools to realize opportunities and overcome challenges...

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Since the founding of public education, schools have been charged with the safety of children in their care – a duty to protect. Recent events have shaken the sense of serenity and security that has characterized most school campuses. While the risk of serious violence on school campuses is remarkably low, particularly in its most extreme forms, the potential consequences can be devastating and long-lasting...

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