{"73200":{"#nid":"73200","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Launches New Communication System","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen a crisis occurs, it\u0027s critical for public safety officials to coordinate their efforts. Yet in Georgia, law enforcement agencies and first responders use radio systems that operate on different frequencies and technologies, making it difficult for various agencies to communicate quickly and effectively. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn response, the Georgia Office of Homeland Security\/Georgia Emergency Management Agency (OHS\/GEMA) asked the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) to help implement a statewide communications system that enables interoperability among public-safety agencies. The $8 million project is funded through the federal Department of Homeland Security\u0027s Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022One of the advantages of this system is that it allows agencies to use their existing equipment,\u0022 explained Douglas Cobb, a principal research engineer at GTRI\u0027s Information Technology and Telecommunications Lab (ITTL) and the project\u0027s technical lead. Instead of replacing legacy radio equipment - which would carry a stiffer price tag of $200-300 million - interoperability will be achieved through a \u0027gateway approach.\u0027  \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow it works\u003C\/strong\u003E: Internet networking components and a type of voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) software will be installed in selected 911 dispatch centers throughout the state. This will allow radio calls from law officials and first responders to be routed over the state\u0027s private Internet Protocol (IP) network, which uses multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) technology designed to carry voice, data and video traffic.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ECobb points out that the new system won\u0027t increase radio frequency coverage or channel capacity. \u0022It\u0027s not like adding more towers or more channels to a radio system,\u0022 he said. \u0022Instead, the system is IP-based with level-4 radio interoperability. Through the use of the state MPLS and network components, it provides dynamic statewide and regional radio interconnections (trunked and conventional) for public-safety first responders and allows agency dispatchers to access and control multiple legacy radio systems. With this system in place, an authorized police officer in Rome, Ga., could talk to a police officer in Savannah - something that isn\u0027t currently possible.\u0022\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe new interoperable communications system is significant on a number of levels, says Dan Brown, special projects manager for OHS\/GEMA, which is administering the project.  \u0022Not only does this help facilitate the National Response Plan,\u0022 Brown explained, \u0022but this begins to accomplish a goal that Georgia has had for more than 30 years.\u0022 \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe new system could be used in a variety of scenarios, such as:\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E* Transporting prisoners from one jurisdiction to another. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E* Manhunts like the one for Brian Nichols, Atlanta\u0027s alleged \u0027courthouse shooter,\u0027 where lookouts were posted in different counties.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E* Chemical spills or other accidents that might require re-routing of traffic.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E* Hurricane or other disaster evacuations. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERadio communication systems for police, fire and emergency medical have existed for decades, but these systems were primarily developed to serve local communities, points out Jay Sexton, a research engineer in GTRI\u0027s ITTL. \u0022As we enter a new era of homeland security and mutual aid, there\u0027s a greater need for interoperable systems,\u0022 Sexton said. Interoperability not only enables officials to respond faster to a crisis, he explains, but also prevents information from being misconstrued. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs the project\u0027s technical adviser, GTRI has been involved in a variety of ways, from conducting feasibility studies to helping the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) identify potential technology vendors. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn September, Motorola was selected to provide networking equipment and service. Installation of the system has begun at four 911 centers in Cobb, Floyd, Glynn and Muscogee counties, along with one mobile communications unit. After these pilot sites are up and running, the system will be rolled out to the rest of the state. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBy the end of 2006, more than 80 percent of Georgia\u0027s population should have access to the system through fixed assets in 911 centers with remaining areas of the state served by mobile communications units. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EInstalling the equipment, however, is just one aspect of the project. Developing proper operating procedures -- such as what constitutes an emergency and who will turn the system on -- will also be critical to the system\u0027s success. \u0022You can have the greatest technology in the world, but unless you have the right procedures in place, you\u0027re toast,\u0022 said Doug Cohen, another GTRI engineer at ITTL involved in the project.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to its other responsibilities, OHS\/GEMA will take the lead in developing those operating procedures as well as marketing the system to end users. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Although the project is a relatively low-cost statewide system, it\u0027s very complex - both from a technological and implementation perspective,\u0022 observed Cobb. In addition to the project\u0027s principal partners - OHS\/GEMA, GTRI and GTA - representatives from the Georgia State Patrol, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the state\u0027s sheriffs, police, fire and emergency response associations have participated. \u0022It\u0027s unusual to have so many partners involved in a single project,\u0022 Cobb said.  \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EResearch News \u0026amp; Publications Office\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n75 Fifth Street, N.W., Suite 100\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAtlanta, Georgia 30308 USA\u003C\/strong\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMedia Relations Contacts\u003C\/strong\u003E:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n- Georgia Tech: John Toon (404-894-6986); E-mail: (\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jtoon@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ejtoon@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E) or Kirk Englehardt (404-385-0280); E-mail: (\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:kirk.englehardt@gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ekirk.englehardt@gtri.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n- GEMA: Donna Burns (404-635-7061); E-mail: (\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:dburns@gema.state.ga.us\u0022\u003Edburns@gema.state.ga.us\u003C\/a\u003E).\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter\u003C\/strong\u003E: T.J. Becker\n\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Georgia Tech helps implement new statewide interoperable public safety system"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers are assisting in the development of a new statewide interoperable communications sytem that will help the state\u0027s public safety agencies communicate better during crisis situations.","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"New communications system meets statewide need"}],"uid":"27303","created_gmt":"2006-02-28 01:00:00","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:03:34","author":"John Toon","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2006-02-28T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2006-02-28T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"73201":{"id":"73201","type":"image","title":"Cobb County 911 Center","body":null,"created":"1449177990","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 21:26:30","changed":"1475894673","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:44:33"},"73202":{"id":"73202","type":"image","title":"Equipment area","body":null,"created":"1449177990","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 21:26:30","changed":"1475894673","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:44:33"}},"media_ids":["73201","73202"],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/","title":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cstrong\u003EJohn Toon\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EResearch News \u0026amp; Publications Office\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/contact\/index.html?id=jt7\u0022\u003EContact John Toon\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E404-894-6986\u003C\/strong\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jtoon@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}