Speed Up Response Times and Cut Costs by Planning your Emergency Communication Network in Advance

Planning ahead for disasters is inherent to humanitarian organisations. However, the impact of advanced emergency preparedness in terms of time and cost had not been fully realised, until a recent study which was commissioned by UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP)

Focusing on Chad, Pakistan and Madagascar, the study found that investments in early preparedness could speed response times by up to 50 days and deliver a return on investment as high as 2:1. The ability to improve response times – particularly in high-risk areas – presents significant potential for saving more lives during a crisis, while the impressive cost savings could help tight budgets to stretch even further.

The study examined four core humanitarian operational areas – including logistics and procurement – and highlighted the benefits of pre-positioning emergency supplies such as telecommunications.

Ensuring You’re Connected in the Moments that Matter

A co-ordinated, cohesive response to a crisis situation is impossible without communication.  And preparing an emergency response communication network in advance can make it much quicker and more cost-effective to deploy.

Communication is not only essential to emergency response, however: it can also help to predict and prevent disasters. For example, sensors and alarms can provide early warnings before an incident occurs and help to expedite evacuations, while the remote management and control of infrastructure such as power supplies and water flow can limit the extent of damage.

Partnering for Preparedness

Motorola Solutions’ specialisation in critical communication networks, combined with our extensive experience working with disaster response organisations around the world, enables us to share our knowledge to address the potential hazards and desired outcomes of a crisis situation.

We are able to work closely with humanitarians on the ground, harnessing their awareness of the local environment, communities and infrastructure to plan an advance emergency communication network that meets their particular requirements, is robust and resilient and can be set up in the shortest time possible.  

This includes identifying the most suitable locations for rapid deployment, overcoming topographical challenges, locating storage facilities, providing 24-hour technical support and delivering on-demand training so that users get the most out of their equipment.

Where to start?

When preparing an emergency response network, a good starting point is to identify which communication networks are already in place and to establish how resilient they are: can these networks be relied upon to keep humanitarian teams connected, whenever and wherever they need to?

Once these factors have been taken into account, we can consider how to complement or strengthen the existing network. This could be through the addition of a robust, digital two-way radio network that enables voice and data communication to be prioritised. It ensures that critical transmissions get through, even in harsh conditions. The immediacy and cost-effective nature of two-way radio, as well as its ability to cover vast distances, makes it a viable solution for advanced emergency preparedness, especially in cases where the communication infrastructure has been destroyed.

MOTOTRBO DMR digital two-way radios offer a vast range of advanced features to maximise operational efficiency and safety. In addition to high-performance voice and data functionality and enhanced range for more reliable communications, their integrated GPS can help to improve response times by identifying the location of personnel and vehicles. DMR radios also offer an emergency mode option which a user in distress can activate, to send an emergency alarm message to the control room, as well as the ability to interrupt transmissions for emergency broadcasts.

With over 3000 trunked MOTOTRBO radio systems deployed worldwide, a complete ecosystem of services and expertise is in place to ensure the long-term feasibility and resilience of your network. A wide choice of applications makes it possible to customise communications according to the specific needs of different humanitarian work teams, with additional features such as automated alarm management, job ticketing and dispatch.

In situations where a communication infrastructure does exist, LTE can deliver on-demand broadband, which can be intelligently prioritised. Multimedia information can be shared in real time across networks and devices using WAVE On Cloud. Users can receive an SMS containing a network set-up file and Application download link, together with a user account and password. This allows Push-to-Talk communication to be extended quickly and easily to smartphones and tablets, storing data securely in the cloud for centralised access.

Once a kit list has been drawn up, a strategically-placed warehouse needs to be located for storage and deployment. This provides ready access to the right technology in-country, which enables communication to be set up much more rapidly and seamlessly.  There is also the option to access kit stored by an in-country Motorola Solutions Distributor, who can offer 48-hour readiness.

The establishment of an advance emergency response network can be done in a flexible manner – either via a once-off capital investment, or as a service model investment which can then be managed and maintained for a fixed annual fee.

Keeping Everything Working as it Should

Having all your equipment stored and ready to set up is all well and good, but when disaster strikes, you also need reassurance that everything will be in perfect working order and that batteries are fully charged.

Motorola Solutions offers a range of Managed Services to keep humanitarians connected and reduce the total cost of ownership. Covering onsite and technical support, repair, preventative maintenance, network event monitoring and upgrades, Managed Services allows humanitarian organisations to avoid the distraction of trying to keeping pace with technology and the cost of having to retain the requisite skills in-house. The ability to offload these operational risk, cost and management responsibilities also results in a sharper focus on the moments that matter.

Better planning means better outcomes

The evidence presented in the UNICEF/WFP study provides a strong argument for investing in emergency preparedness. Such measures ensure that humanitarians are well prepared to respond to crises backed by a resilient, critical communications network. This approach can also improve the outcome of humanitarian operations and realise substantial cost savings.

Get in touch to find out more about how we can partner with you to tailor your emergency response network so that you have the resilience and support, when and where you need it.

During April, the World Bank hosted a panel discussion which highlighted the symbiotic relationship between security and development operations. It was noted that, if countries affected by conflict are to have a chance at recovery, they need a sustainable sense of security and lasting peace. This creates the platform for development, whereby economies can start to be rebuilt, international investors can find the reassurance they seek and local job opportunities can be created. The discussion also considered that fragile societies need a long-term perspective - which hinges on ongoing stability - in order to avoid the impoverishment and hopelessness that makes them susceptible to radicalisation and corruption.

The regional spread of conflict has made it far more complex to address, requiring closer collaboration between governments and the organisations helping them to create an environment for growth. Rules and regulations need to be simplified, so that a common strategy can be rolled out more quickly and effectively and access to basic services such as utilities, education and healthcare can be re-established.

Compounding this challenge is the spread of technology, which has raised aspirations, potentially fuelling tensions. In addition, developing nations are faced with increasing debt and the need to fund more advanced and protracted security operations.

The Need for Private Investment

According to a report by the World Economic Forum, Africa will need around $100 billion each year, in order to address the gaps in infrastructure and less than half of that is currently financed. Therefore, it is evident that unemployment, mass migration and instability can only be addressed with the help of private investment.

Considering the continent’s potential for commercial opportunities, it raises the question as to what is impeding private investment. The G-20 Compact with Africa (CWA) initiative is working to bring G-20 members, partner countries and international organisations together to develop a blueprint for economic development. Responsible leadership and investment in infrastructure will be key to enabling what is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world to realise its productive potential and create opportunities for growth.

A joint report by the African Development Bank, IMF and World Bank on the G-20 CWA notes that: “Priority should be given to investment in infrastructure, which is critical to attract private investment, connect Africa’s regional markets and better integrate them into global value chains.”

So, how does a two-way radio network form part of this solution?

A Secure, Digital Two-Way Radio Network Underpins Ongoing Security

Communication is a crucial part of any country’s infrastructure. And a secure, digital two-way radio network is vital for the establishment of a secure and safe community. The cost-effective nature of two-way radio has resulted in widespread adoption in African countries, as it presents a viable solution in the midst of rising debt and decreased stability. However, Africa is lagging behind the rest of the world in deploying nationwide public safety networks and this is largely due to a lack of funding.

With the blurring of boundaries between security and development, funding can now be made available to build a critical communications infrastructure for ongoing stability. A secure public safety network supports police and emergency response operations in addressing a lack of resources, by increasing efficiency in providing services to the public and helping them to move from a reactive to a preventative approach.

It achieves this by:

• providing reliable, cost-effective coverage across long distances and harsh terrains
• offering secure, instant, group and one-to-one communication that enhances collaboration and can improve response times
• enabling personnel and vehicles to be tracked in real time for greater safety
• mapping incident scenes for increased situational awareness and more informed decision-making
• promoting greater accountability by recording activities for review after an event has occurred

Over time, other critical data services – including the remote monitoring and control of water, electricity, oil and gas supplies, digital identification, emergency response and crime watch – can be added to the network.

Motorola Solutions has substantial experience in providing mission-critical communications infrastructure that is designed to meet the particular needs of countries – be it based on LTE, TETRA or Astro.

Here are just a few examples:

• Africa’s first TETRA public safety and services network was deployed by Motorola Solutions in the City of Cape Town, supporting some 15 000 subscribers across 32 sites. A 68-site network was also installed in the Gauteng province, which is used by 35 000 subscribers from the South African Police Service.
• Network planning, maintenance and training has been provided to Somalia’s Police Force, who are using a solar-powered MOTOTRBO digital radio network for secure voice communication and GPS tracking of officers across Mogadishu. The DMR network has resulted in a more responsive police force and greater personnel security.
• The Bangladesh Police have migrated to a MOTOTRBO digital radio system, benefiting from improved workforce efficiency and increased capacity of their communications network.
• In the United Kingdom, Motorola Solutions is providing user services for the UK Emergency Services Network (ESN), which forms part of Britain’s critical national infrastructure. Integrating 4G, voice and broadband data services, the network will improve situational awareness for the country’s police, fire and emergency services, enabling more informed decision-making.

From design, planning and implementation to systems integration, network management, maintenance and cloud hosting, Motorola Solutions has the field-proven expertise and solutions portfolio to help close the infrastructure gap, support sustainable security and promote economic development.

Building the Internet of Humanitarian Things (IoHT)

The Internet of Things (IoT) represents our ability to connect devices, machines and infrastructure across wireless networks and enable them to send and receive data. IoT has allowed us to automate processes and connect our world in ways we never thought possible, transforming productivity and creating immense potential for applications across every industry. In the humanitarian world, this potential could help to save more lives and reduce the impact of disasters.

Technological advancements are already greatly enhancing humanitarian operations – as we are seeing in the use of electronic ID cards to manage claims for food assistance in the Philippines’ Food for Assets Programme and the deployment of  iris scan technology for the purchasing of food in refugee camps in Syria, for example.

So when I consider how Motorola Solutions’ Industrial Internet of Things is proving life-saving by ensuring that critical infrastructure – such as power stations and water utilities – is kept up and running, then I cannot help but postulate what opportunities these solutions present for aid organisations.

Connecting People, Equipment and Infrastructure

The remote monitoring and control of infrastructure across resilient, secure wireless networks gives intelligence to critical assets, enabling them to detect malfunctions, fluctuations in temperature or leaks and raise alarms automatically to avert disaster.  The application of such solutions abounds - from early warning systems that trigger alarms or broadcast pre-recorded messages across multiple control centres, to automatically adjusting well pumping, controlling water quality or regulating system pressure to maximise efficiency. Municipal infrastructure - such as motorways and street lights - is already being managed and controlled remotely, while real-time weather and soil data is being incorporated into the remote management and control of crop irrigation, to reduce waste and boost yields.

Our ability to attach sensors to virtually anything – people, machines, vehicles and infrastructure – enables us to improve the flow of real-time information and optimise efficiency way beyond critical infrastructure. Motorola Solutions has introduced sensors in innovative ways which have had a significant impact on public safety, enabling the command centre to receive notification when a police office pulls a gun from a holster, for example. Information is also relayed regarding the officer’s heart rate, registering increasingly intense activity which can save time and potentially lives. Our Augmented Reality (AR) headsets make it possible to provide a bird’s-eye, 3D view of an incident, combining holographic and virtual images that allow tactical response to be determined miles away from an incident.

We have the potential to share this technological expertise to help humanitarians benefit from a similar transformation in operational efficiency and the way in which data is used and managed.

Taking Wearable Technology, AR and iOT to Aid Workers

Motorola Solutions has invested in a number of organisations and start-ups to promote technological innovation that enables a smarter, more connected response. Here are just a few examples of the possibilities these partnerships present:

• Collaborating with Edgybees to leverage its AR technology in the fields of public safety and search and rescue. The company’s AR drone search and rescue solution provides orientation for pilots through maps, distress signals and GPS locations, helping them to find victims more quickly. It is already being deployed by police and fire departments as well as Homeland Security in the USA.
• Working with RapidSOS to deliver end-to-end data connectivity by sharing precise location information for emergency calls made from smartphones. This allows information to be shared between citizens and first responders in the field. Furthermore, third-party data collected by smartphones, connected cars, wearables and other devices can flow through Command/Operations Centre software to dispatchers, police officers and emergency medical personnel in the field.
• Partnering with TRX Systems to locate and map personnel in areas where GPS is not available or is unreliable – such as underground or in dense urban areas. 3D models of buildings can display personnel data including posture, the battery level of their two-way radio and communication status.
• Leveraging SST’s expanded flash memory capability to provide wide-area acoustic surveillance, action alert and analysis. This is proving crucial in helping police and law enforcement to be more proactive in addressing US incidents of gunfire violence, for example.
• Investing in Orion who have developed a wearable push-to-talk device which incorporates two-way radio and group messaging for seamless voice communication.

We’re constantly facing new challenges and imagining new ways to improve the safety and operational impact of first responders.  If your organisation is looking to collaborate or pursue “IoHT” opportunities to make humanitarian operations smarter and more connected, please drop me a line.

In a recent report on commitments made at the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit, stakeholders identified “the lack of reliable, accurate and transparent data as a consistent and cross-cutting obstacle.”

The ability to capture, share and access data - whether you’re in a refugee camp, conflict zone or disaster area - is crucial in helping the right decisions to be made as quickly as possible. It requires a range of technologies that can adapt to the demands of different users and harsh environments, without detracting from the task at hand.

Motorola Solutions has worked closely with end users and developers to create a portfolio of applications that deliver real-time intelligence and automate processes so that humanitarians can spend more time on the job at hand.

Improve situational awareness with mission-critical intelligence 

As events start unravelling, situations can change rapidly. Information often comes streaming in from numerous sources and this can cause confusion, if it is not properly managed. The CommandCentral Intelligence Platform centralises and simplifies data management to facilitate planning and provide operational support. 

Built on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) GovCloud, CommandCentral protects your data across all servers and software applications, ensuring you can correlate and analyse information from diverse devices. Locate and track personnel or vehicles and stream video from the command centre to mobile devices in real time to increase situational awareness, enhance staff safety and make more intelligent decisions.

Find the right people, communicate and co-ordinate actions with the PSX Messaging and Mapping application. Text, photos and video can be shared with your talk group or select personnel instantly and securely, whether they’re using smartphones or two-way radios.

And when outdoor GPS is unavailable, the TRX NEON Indoor Location System tracks personnel in real time, with the ability to model buildings in 3D and review activities after an event has been completed. This application can be used to support enhanced search and rescue and deliver improved situational awareness for operations underground. 

Capture and validate data more accurately

Accounting for victims in a disaster situation and tracking groups on the move can be less of a challenge with eTWIST. The application allows you to include high-resolution photography with integrated GPS geo-locating and grid mapping. Data accuracy is dramatically enhanced through on-site data collection and automatic validation via Wi-Fi, cellular and Bluetooth communications.

You can also use eTWIST to manage the delivery of goods such as medicines and food supplies, using barcode/RFID scanning to rapidly populate entries. The software further enhances operational efficiency by allowing users to employ bio-scanning and voice commands for data capture.

Enhance security with end-to-end data encryption and identity management

Aid agencies are at significant risk from hackers, as has been evidenced by a recent security alert related to the storage of data of vulnerable people. When critical information is exchanged via wireless communications, humanitarians must have reliable end-to-end data encryption.  

Motorola Solutions’ Mobile VPN has been specifically designed to keep information secure while managing data across multiple mobile applications and wireless networks. Workers can stay securely connected while they move in and out of coverage or switch between 4G/LTE, 3G or WiFi networks.

We also offer a range of identity management services, including single sign-on authentication for password management and authentication. 

Keep mobile teams communicating across devices

Different tasks require different devices, so it is not always possible to standardise across work groups. The WAVE Mobile Communicator extends workforce communication to anywhere that has a network connection, turning your Android or iOS smart device into a multi-channel push-to-talk (PTT) handset. This allows workers using smartphones and other devices to communicate with two-way radio users securely over broadband networks, providing unified voice and text messaging.

Boost workforce efficiency with greater collaboration

Information can be captured in many ways and the last thing humanitarians need is to be juggling numerous devices to get their job done. The mobile application SceneDoc provides a consistent means of documenting events. Capture images, video and audio files, sketch and take notes in a digital notepad, complete agency forms and generate reports quickly and accurately, while having a near real-time view into the scene. SceneFiles are synched with a hosted or on-premise administrative back-end for access and collaboration from any connected device. 

With multiple agencies and work teams involved in peacekeeping, disaster response and development, collaboration is essential for a positive outcome. DForce is a mobile collaboration application that allows teams to create and share information rapidly. Track your co-workers on a map using GPS and share whiteboards, messages, files and images when you’re in the field.

Another application which has proven useful for asset management, process management and data collection is Touch Mobile. The app allows you to look up assets geospatially by barcode, direct part mark or GPS location. Collect data offline and upload it once you have a connection, query and filter data, get customised reports delivered directly to your device and generate work orders.

Co-developed solutions based on proven technologies

These are just some examples of how technology can support humanitarians to meet the tough demands they face in preventing and reducing human suffering. They have already been tried and tested in the field and can be adapted if required to vastly improve the capacity to collect, monitor and analyse data and to help data-driven humanitarian decision-making to become the norm.

With the right technology, information can flow where and when it’s needed, improving collaboration and sharing, thereby boosting efficiency. Data is critical to the success of humanitarian organisations in helping to anticipate and respond to needs, especially in rapidly-changing situations. The ability to automate actions and analyse trends and patterns can also have a significant impact on response times.

Predict Events and Respond Proactively
Artificial intelligence (AI) enables agencies to watch hours of video footage in seconds. This can include visuals from satellites, drones, CCTV, vehicle-mounted cameras and mobile phones. By transferring this information into real-time intelligence, AI can help to predict incidents before they occur. 

At the Motorola Solutions Innovation Centre, you can see the application of AI working with natural language processing software to help responders to interact with backend systems and retrieve critical intelligence.

Also on show is our Command Central solution, which brings together big data analytics, cybersecurity, the Internet of Things and incident management systems to turn data into actionable intelligence that can enable a more proactive response. 

Greater Situational Awareness and Improved Personnel Safety
We are all aware of the growing adoption of wearable tech and its potential for humanitarian operations is also vast. Come and experience this for yourself with Motorola’s Augmented Reality Fire Incident Command concept. Sensors and devices worn by firefighters automatically record and share data including air supply, biometrics (heart rate, breathing) and environmental temperature, while “point-of-view” body-worn cameras capture the firefighter’s surroundings.

Try out a pair of “smart glasses” with a self-contained holographic computer that allows you to engage with digital information and interact with holograms superimposed onto the world around you.  The Mixed Reality technology featured at our Innovation Centre can truly transform situational awareness and personnel safety.

Enhanced Workgroup Communications
Earlier this year, we talked about how our WAVE push-to-talk (PTT) platform can enhance work group communications. Having access to the right tools is crucial for humanitarians, but it can also result in a broad array of devices and disparate networks, making collaboration tricky.

At the Innovation Centre you can learn more about how WAVE can connect digital radio, cellular, Wi-Fi and telephony networks, allowing team members to stay in touch, regardless of which device or network they are using.

Continuous Operations with Secure LTE
One of our recent blog posts highlighted how a secure LTE portable infrastructure can offer humanitarians reliable voice, data and video communication through portable, semi-permanent and fixed on-demand broadband coverage. The Innovation Centre combines the LXN500 portable LTE solution with mapping, messaging and video streaming that allows you to pinpoint aid vehicles and personnel in the field and enable seamless collaboration.

The Future is Already Here
It may sound futuristic, but all this technology is available and ready for use today. Having the technology and tools to meet evolving needs is important if humanitarian organisations are to rise to the challenge of escalating costs and expanding populations. However, it is equally important to have a technology partner with the specialised knowledge and experience to understand these challenges and find new ways to get the job done. 

Contact Travis to book your visit and explore how technological innovation can benefit your humanitarian organisation. 

Whether you want to add an existing application or build your own customised data capabilities, Motorola’s Application Developer Programme makes it easy to expand the functionality of your MOTOTRBO radios to increase personnel safety and bolster efficiency according to your unique requirements. It also allows you to do this seamlessly across networks and devices.

The Application Developer toolkit enables you to write your application once and deploy it across MOTOTRBO and broadband networks, effortlessly.

What benefits could apps have for humanitarian operations?

The capabilities which applications bring to MOTOTRBO users are endless. Here are just some examples of how they could benefit humanitarian operations.

1. Situational Awareness:
   
   Safety: For personnel guarding conflict-stricken or sensitive areas, the centralised lone worker application provides reassurance and enhanced protection by requiring radio users to check in at pre-determined intervals. If an individual fails to respond to a request, an emergency alarm can be raised and sent to response teams, automatically.
   
   Humanitarians in unrest zones or hazardous areas could also benefit from the Man Down sensor, which is able to recognise changes in state and motion. So, if an individual is in trouble or falls unconscious, an emergency call is automatically released to summon help.
   
   Tracking: Check on the progress of food distribution convoys and monitor personnel entering potentially dangerous locations with real-time GPS and indoor tracking that pinpoints their position on mapping platforms such as Google Earth.
   
   These apps can also help you to identify the person or vehicle closest to a site if a breakdown occurs and summon medical assistance when needed, speeding up response times.
    
2. Control Room:
   
   The complexity of humanitarian operations requires the co-ordination of numerous activities across multiple sites. Control room applications make it easier to control and manage resources and assign tasks to the most relevant people, while at the same time improving safety and response times.
   
   Emergency calls can be broadcast to multiple groups simultaneously and direct communication can be achieved between dispatchers and remote radios for private one-to-one calls.
    
3. Telemetry:
   
   Monitor or control access to refugee camps and safeguard high-security perimeters remotely, via your two-way radio. Telemetry allows you to check on the status of machinery, power supplies, sensors and alarms, making it easier and quicker to respond to alerts.
   
   This type of application could also be useful in controlling refrigerated medical supplies or food storage, raising an alarm in the event of fluctuations in temperature. Alerts can be sent via email as well as text and audio, directly to your two-way radio.

Getting started

Our on-line Application Catalogue allows you to search by region, technology, language and industry for the application you need. There are applications developed by Motorola Solutions, our channel partners as well as third parties. All applications have proven customer deployments or have been tested in a Motorola Solutions lab.

If you have an existing application which you’d like to deploy across your MOTOTRBO network, our Application Developer Kit will guide you through the process.

We can also offer advice and help you to find the solution that best fits your needs.

Get in touch with me if you need assistance or have any questions.

Travis Heneveld

Director United Nations and International Accounts

In our experience, one of the most effective ways for technology innovators to achieve impact is to collaborate with affected communities. After all, who is better placed to understand the daily challenges and how lack of access to basic public services such as healthcare, education and security impedes a population’s stability and development?

By understanding individual and group needs at grass-roots level, nurturing ideas and working with affected communities to identify technological solutions, technology vendors can contribute to entrepreneurial ecosystems that give citizens the access and opportunities they need to enable progress. 

This process requires engagement in a number of different networks, from advising regulatory bodies and supporting educational institutions to participating in forums and hosting workshops. Together, these networks underpin the drive towards growth and stability.

Developing Communities
While Motorola Solutions’ pioneering heritage and experience in public safety has enabled us to develop a wide range of mission-critical communication solutions that span infrastructure, devices, software and services, the true potential of all this technology risks remaining untapped without shared knowledge and local resources.

Initiatives such as Mobiles for Human Development - in which Motorola Solutions and the UNDP partnered to explore the use of mobile technologies to foster human development - can help to bring basic services and information to all citizens. The collaborative effort of social innovators, national and local governments, academic and civil society organisations and small enterprises revealed the gap between human and technological development and suggested ways in which mobile technology could tackle the diverse challenges faced by developing countries. 

This research led to the creation of the International Network of Social Innovators for Human Development, which has held gatherings in Kenya, Tunisia, Rwanda, Berlin, Senegal and Ethiopia and is continuing to expand to other countries and regions.

Another example of how networking with local communities can have a significant impact is the MotoSecure Hackathon Day. Hosted in partnership with Impact Hub Bamako in Mali, it provided the opportunity for us to work with young entrepreneurs and application developers, to encourage innovation and explore new economic opportunities to drive digital growth, promote stability and support development. 

During the event, Safi Camara, a member of Women Tech Makers Mali, proposed a solution to improve the country’s healthcare system through the development of a mobile application that would enable doctors and hospitals to manage medical records and patients more easily and efficiently. Another participant, Amadou Yarangore, chose to tackle the rise of insecurity in society by using Motorola Solutions’ application programme interfaces (APIs) to create a direct and secure information linkage between citizens and security agents.

We have also been engaged in Rule of Law infrastructure development projects, including a 2014 project with the Somalia Police Force to provide safe communication solutions to local police. 

Defining Industry Standards
The establishment of regulatory standards is equally important in building entrepreneurial ecosystems.  Standards make innovation happen more quickly and act as a catalyst for growth. 

In creating and promoting regulatory standards such as TETRA and Digital Mobile Radio and by helping to define 4G technology and more specifically the deployment of Long Term Evolution (LTE), Motorola Solutions has supported interoperability at application, device and network level, promoting open standards that give humanitarian organisations and local governments the freedom to choose which vendor to purchase from while also offering them the reassurance of compliance.

In addition, participation in forums such as the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) has promoted the use of shared communication services in humanitarian emergencies. In 2014, The ETC adopted MOTOTRBO DMR as the official digital VHF/UHF radio standard for ETC and humanitarian operations. This technology has given humanitarian organisations and local police forces access to timely and effective communication that can improve response and co-ordination, provide greater operational security for staff and assets and enhance decision-making.

Investing in Capacity Building
Education programmes that advance science, technology, engineering and maths are vital to prepare future generations of innovators. Motorola Solutions’ charitable and philanthropic arm, the Motorola Solutions Foundation (MSF), makes strategic grants to engage students in hands-on technology and engineering activities such as coding, programming and robotics. 

Professional development and training opportunities are also offered to first responders. For example, the MSF is working with the American Red Cross and International Red Cross to improve technologies in Africa that help disaster prevention and relief. Partnerships with fire sensor manufacturers have resulted in low-cost smart fire alarms being installed in thousands of homes across settlements in Nairobi, Kenya and Cape Town, South Africa.

In Washington DC, the MSF has helped to fund training for police officers to handle situations on conflict and violence reduction. Since the training has been implemented in Vermont, New Jersey and Florida, all three areas have seen a reduction in the number of police situations ending in violence, complaints against police and number of police injuries.
 
Sustainable Development Goals
Each of the networks discussed above demonstrate how building entrepreneurial ecosystems can creatively overcome hindrances to development by enhancing basic services such as education, healthcare and security to foster growth.

By aligning technology, knowledge and resources, we can create sustainable goals for social and economic development.
 

Connectivity is just as important in disaster response as it is in helping to re-build affected communities after the event. Having little or no infrastructure with which to establish a broadband network used to be a major challenge for humanitarians. But thanks to technological innovation, this is no longer the case.

In this issue of Think Aid Connect we examine some examples of how Motorola’s ecosystem of mobile LTE broadband solutions can transform humanitarian connectivity and enable agencies to service connected beneficiaries more efficiently.

IMPROVED SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

When an earthquake strikes or war breaks out, humanitarians need to establish the scale and nature of the damage as quickly as possible. Using a drone or tethered balloon, they can rapidly establish a semi-permanent or mobile broadband network that has the range and quality of coverage to stream high-definition video in real time.

Once the affected community has access to a public LTE network, it enables data to be crowd-sourced to determine their needs and information to be relayed to them in fast-changing situations – without impacting on the capacity or availability of the private humanitarian LTE network. Thus, having their own private network can enable humanitarians to gain and share vital intelligence that can have a significant impact on their response.

GREATER PERSONNEL SAFETY

Operating in extremely hazardous situations requires supervisors to be able to locate aid workers and track their status. With Motorola’s Integrated Command and Control application, the movement of personnel can be pinpointed on a map, allowing the nearest person to be dispatched if help is required and providing reassurance in stressful circumstances. It can also help to monitor the progress of food and medical supply convoys.

To get the job done to the best of their ability, each humanitarian worker has to have the tools most suited to their requirements. WAVE Work Group Communications allows them to communicate across two-way radio and broadband networks, regardless of which device they choose to use. So whether they’re in a disaster zone or working at a refugee camp, humanitarians can stay connected and keep up to date at all times.

ALWAYS-ON ACCESS TO AID PROGRAMME APPLICATIONS

The beauty of having your own private LTE network is the ability to distribute capacity as and when it is needed and also to add capacity if required.

Throughout all stages of a humanitarian operation, aid workers need to access, process and share information.  So, the network has to be flexible, reliable and secure.

Motorola’s LTE portable infrastructure offers a broad choice of mobile and fixed connectivity:

- lightweight, portable LTE which can be carried in a backpack

- tactical LTE in a ruggedised case

- in-vehicle options for greater mobility

- aerial platforms for semi-permanent or fixed installations

All these options provide uninterrupted connectivity that is independent of any existing infrastructure. There is the option to connect to the LTE via microwave, satellite or fibre backhaul, to accommodate varied environments, climates and terrains.

KEEPING HUMANITARIANS SAFE

The harsh reality of much humanitarian work is that aid workers are frequently at risk. Without security, they cannot offer the support needed.

Extending our vast experience in public safety, Motorola Solutions has worked closely with emergency responders to help to equip them with devices that can enhance protection. One example of this is body-worn cameras. By combining a video camera, radio speaker and microphone, as well as cloud-based data storage, information about a situation can be captured and stored quickly and easily. So if an incident occurs, the LTE network can be used to relay real-time video, still images and emergency alerts and enable a more intelligent and rapid response. All of this can be achieved without detracting from responding to the crisis at hand.

As has been evidenced with public safety agencies, humanitarians also stand to benefit from improved accountability when wearing a camera. Deployments have shown that when a hostile situation is being recorded, responders tend to behave better and so do the people with whom they are interacting. In fact, citizen complaints regarding interaction with law enforcement officers tend to be reduced by as much as 50 per cent, suggesting that body-worn cameras can help to defuse confrontations.

A DEDICATED, RELIABLE NETWORK THAT YOU CAN TAKE ANYWHERE

From the few examples I’ve discussed, it is evident that connectivity can empower people in myriad ways. It has the potential to truly transform humanitarian services and the affected communities they support.  

Portable Public Safety LTE is the next step in the digital transformation that embraces past challenges and opens a whole new world of possibilities.

For more information:

- Watch this video to see how you can benefit from Motorola Solutions’ portable PS LTE

- Visit our website to learn more about our ecosystem of secure portable LTE infrastructure

- Download the portable LTE Solution Brief

During a meeting of the Security Council which was held on 10 March 2017, the United Nations humanitarian chief warned that twenty million people across Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia and north-eastern Nigeria are at risk of starvation.

With changing weather patterns offering little hope of relief from this drought-stricken region, the situation is expected to worsen. In many areas, hostilities have damaged or destroyed infrastructure and ongoing conflict has displaced around 3.4 million people.

Aid agencies face tremendous challenges in distributing food and medicine across inhospitable terrain and the delivery of supplies has been further hindered by attacks on aid workers.

In disaster response situations such as these, two-way radio can prove to be an indispensable tool, providing instant voice and data communications that is not reliant on existing infrastructure and is also economical:

- Within half an hour, a mobile voice and data communications network can be established, covering approximately 50 kilometres. All that is required is a vehicle with a battery or solar panel, connected to a four-metre antenna.

- The communication network operates independently of any existing infrastructure and provides reliable, robust and secure communication - quickly and easily.

- With no call charges, two-radio offers a highly cost-effective means of keeping remote work teams in contact at the push of a button.

- Multiple communication channels allow different work groups to communicate without interruption or delay, improving co-ordination and collaboration which is imperative in time-critical situations.

And with digital radio, communication is not limited to voice. Numerous applications have been developed to offer aid organisations the choice of feature-rich data services that enhance their capabilities in demanding situations.

With integrated GPS, two-way radios can track vehicles and personnel, helping to improve the safety of workers operating in high-risk areas. The ability to pinpoint aid along the delivery route enables logistics personnel to estimate how long supplies will take to reach a distribution point so that the team on site can be prepared and ready on arrival.

Fleet management solutions can present important data regarding the status of a vehicle in the field, helping to provide advance alerts in the event of a mechanical failure or fault, while despatch consoles make it easier to co-ordinate multiple vehicles and manage users spread over a large area.

In clinics, task management applications can help work flow and improve productivity by flagging up actions and alerting supervisors once a task has been completed.

All these activities can be supported with push-to-talk communication across different networks and devices, making it easier and safer for humanitarians to tackle some of the enormous tasks they face.

For further information about two-way radio communication, contact Travis Heneveld or visit our website.

The importance of communication in disaster response has been widely acknowledged. However, humanitarian organisations face a number of complex communication challenges – both within their own operations and when collaborating with other emergency response, military and public safety agencies. These challenges span all aspects of a relief effort – from planning and early warning systems to response, rescue and recovery.

The unique needs of geographically-dispersed aid workers and office-based teams – all of whom have different responsibilities – have resulted in a wide array of communication devices and disparate networks. Meeting these varied needs and contexts while managing communications across a global operation can seem an impossible task that requires tremendous technical sophistication.

But it’s not as impossible as you may think: aid workers can use their preferred device to communicate securely across any IP network with any other device – and do so in real time, seamlessly.  That’s what Motorola’s WAVE Work Group Communications solution is designed to achieve – easily, flexibly and without distracting users from the task at hand.

Removing the Technical Barriers to Integrated Communication

WAVE Work Group Communications is a software platform and suite of applications that removes the technical barriers to secure, instant communication across any IP network. It supports media and data streams across an IP network, providing users with a consistent experience, regardless of which device they’re using, their operating platform or their location. As such, WAVE provides a reliable and common source of information that has been tested across battlefields and in the aftermath of natural disasters.

By connecting their disparate networks to WAVE’s Push-to-Talk (PTT) platform, humanitarian agencies can communicate seamlessly between smartphones, radios, computers or landlines. WAVE unifies massively complex communication environments to transform co-operation both within the organisation and amongst external agencies.

Let’s consider some examples of how this could benefit humanitarian operations. Field workers could alert trucks transporting aid about roads which have been destroyed, enabling them to adapt their routes and minimise delays. The location of each vehicle can be tracked using GPS, helping logistics managers to determine how long it will take for aid to reach victims and providing greater security for remote aid workers.

Office-based personnel can communicate via their desktop computers with rescue teams who are using two-way radios at the site of a disaster, collecting vital information about the scale and extent of damage while those who are out of the office can stay in touch using their smartphones. And rescue workers can collaborate with local emergency, police and even military personnel securely via pre-configured channels.

In this way, WAVE allows all parties to keep up to date on events spontaneously and in real time, improving the co-ordination of operations for the benefit of all concerned, while respecting organisational autonomy.

Adaptable, Affordable and Easy to Use

Because every team has its own unique needs, WAVE is designed to provide the flexibility to adapt to different requirements without adding complexity.

The Dispatch Communicator provides advanced IP dispatch capabilities at a fraction of the cost of traditional hardware-based systems. It only requires an industry-standard PC to display and process unlimited channels of secure, encrypted media at the click of a mouse.

WAVE’s Desktop Communicator is a customisable, scalable, feature-rich dispatch console that supports multiple extensions, conference calling as well as presence and location mapping capabilities. 

WAVE Mobile Communicator extends PTT to Android and iOS smartphone users, as well as speciality devices like Motorola’s LEX L10 Mission Critical LTE Handheld, so they can communicate with two-way radio users and other users over broadband networks.

Already in widespread use with government, military and commercial organisations, the WAVE Mobile Communicator operates via any 3G, 4G, LTE, public Wi-Fi or private data connection. It offers humanitarian workers instant, always-on, robust push-to-talk capability with integrated mapping, group and private call functionality.

WAVE MOBILE COMMUNICATOR

A fundamental difference between WAVE and other communication systems is its peer-to-peer architecture. The absence of a controller or traffic manager in the middle reduces the likelihood of network latency or single point failures.

Sharing Reliable, Accurate Information Enhances Inter-agency Co-operation

A solution such as WAVE can greatly enhance the efficiency of complex operations such as logistics and supply chain management by improving collaboration and streamlining the capture and sharing of information, providing immediate access to data or media and connecting users at the touch of a button.

It makes integrated communication both within an organisation and between external agencies seamless. The ability for humanitarian agencies and first responders to share reliable and accurate information systems using the devices best suited for the task at hand, regardless of which network they’re operating on can make a major difference to disaster response and to the safety of personnel.

Equally important is the fact that this can be achieved without the technology distracting attention or becoming too cumbersome to manage.

For more information:

• WAVE Work Group Communications Technical Whitepaper
• Watch how Fort Worth, Texas is improving communications during disaster response with WAVE
• Read the case study on Washington State’s Emergency Management Division to learn more about how WAVE enables efficient, seamless communication between over 50 different agencies.