Emergency Notification

During complex emergencies or events, first responders often face several map-related challenges. Some of these challenges include having to utilize offline maps, data layers, and other geospatial data that contains important details and/or real-time data. During these events, first responders from different agencies, departments, towns, and even states may be called in, which means some responders and agencies will be responding to completely unfamiliar territory...

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Radio frequency management and shared awareness play a major role in the management of any mass casualty and/or special event. Given the inter-agency mashup that these events create, shared awareness of the radio frequencies used by the variety of responder organizations is important so that the Incident Commander and team are not overwhelmed by a constant stream of requests for frequencies used by a specific...

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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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After Action Reports (AAR) may be one of the most important tools in emergency management and counter-terrorism operations. When used as a critical component of an agency's tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP), AAR's can be an important litmus test which questions our assumptions about threats, which ultimately impacts training, mitigation, and response. Blueforce was used extensively over the entire Macys Thanksgiving Day parade route and...

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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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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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