A study conducted over 10 years ago found that transport was “the second-biggest overhead cost to the humanitarian system after personnel… it estimated that a fleet of four-wheel-drive vehicles operated by international humanitarian organisations numbered over 100 000, with running costs nearing $1 billion per year. [The United Nations Environment Programme] estimates this fleet size will triple by 2050”[1].

Today, there are still large gaps in data for the efficient management of humanitarian fleets and this could be contributing to rising operating costs and increased safety risks.

Long-distance travel is unavoidable as humanitarian organisations have to transport staff, equipment and life-saving supplies to dislocated communities – most of which are in remote locations. So, it may seem almost impossible to reduce some of the costs inherent in the delivery of humanitarian aid. However, the implementation of tools to measure, monitor and manage transportation can result in significant savings, particularly within the humanitarian sector, and this has been supported by more recent studies.

Given the fleet management solutions now available to proactively monitor energy consumption, it has been estimated that humanitarian organisations could benefit from:

• “at least 10 per cent reduction of fuel costs on ground transport
• 37 per cent reduction through behaviour change and more efficient technologies
• 60 per cent savings on generation

 – all using currently available, affordable and proven practice and technology changes. At current prices, this could mean operational savings of over $517 million a year”[2].

A Solution that’s Simple, Compatible, Scalable and Affordable

Motorola Solutions’ approach to fleet management ensures compatibility with all UN vehicles, avoiding duplicating hardware equipment in the vehicle and allowing you to keep running costs low, while providing the flexibility to add capacity and features as required.

Here’s how it works:

• Deploy a telematics hardware box with embedded GSM modem
• Where relevant, add a VSAT modem, and/or integrate your existing two-way radio hardware (TETRA, DMR or HF) for tracking vehicles
• Choose the best available technology to transmit data, depending on your location
• Use GPS for always-transmit positioning
• Consider buffering vehicle reports and transmit only when needed and affordable

We offer another solution with our Application Partner GINA to transmit additional data related to security, logistics and project management, using TETRA and MOTORBO, as well as GSM and Satellite networks. This enables you to gain a real-time view of operations across a unified platform, all on a single dashboard.

Advancing the Future of Fleet Management

Continuing Motorola Solutions’ history of innovation in fleet management, we recently expanded our portfolio with the acquisition of VaaS, to include data and image analytics for vehicle location.  This makes it possible for fixed and mobile licence plates to be captured and analysed automatically, helping to tighten security and shorten response times when an incident occurs.

Humanitarian organisations can now choose from a range of unique Fleet Management Solutions that empower your workforce to:

• Share data intelligently  –  collect information and photographs from the field, produce incident reports and track the progress of projects
• Improve  security – a panic button triggers an immediate email and SMS notification to pre-defined contacts; early warning messages alert convoys entering high-risk areas; evacuation routes are planned and mapped in advance; border crossings and unplanned journeys can be detected, offering greater protection of personnel
• Enhance situational awareness – statistical data and real-time mapping locates personnel and vehicles and sends reports from the field

Whether you need to manage a small or large fleet, we can customise a cost-effective, scalable solution that will help you to:

• Improve overall efficiency
• Lower fuel costs
• Minimise accidents and speeding
• Reduce vehicle maintenance, service costs and down-time
• Promote greater accountability
• Cut carbon emissions
• Enhance personnel safety

To find out more about how your organisation can enhance operations with Motorola Solutions’ innovative fleet management technologies:

Contact me, Travis Heneveld, to talk about your particular needs

Learn more about Motorola Solutions’ TETRA and MOTOTRBO data infrastructure

Download our Application Partner GINA’s brochure

Surveillance cameras and video analytics may not be technologies which one would traditionally associate with humanitarian operations. However, breakthrough innovations in video surveillance are working with Motorola Solutions’ two-way radios and CommandCentral Aware platform to deliver a layered approach to security that is powerful, pre-emptive and preventative.

Real-time alerts and actionable information from an integrated source can offer humanitarians a detailed overview that enables more proactive monitoring, more effective communication and quicker response to incidents, reducing threats to personnel safety and providing greater protection of communities at risk, as well as securing valuable assets.

How it works

1 - Monitor - with smart surveillance

You may be aware that Motorola Solutions recently acquired Avigilon, an organisation that designs, develops, and manufactures video analytics, network video management software and hardware, surveillance cameras, and access control solutions. This has enabled us to develop end-to-end security solutions, incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and video analytics to search for suspicious activity based on specific criteria.

So, whether you’re needing to protect staff residences, storage facilities, high-value assets such as vehicles, medical equipment and cash or safeguard sensitive information, video surveillance provides real-time awareness to reduce theft and prevent damage. It can also empower guards by providing greater situational awareness to warn of fighting in the vicinity, alert them to suspicious vehicles or people and control access by screening visitors before they enter a site.

Avigilon’s Appearance Search  and Unusual Motion Detection (UMD) Technology makes it possible to search through hours of video easily and quickly, using face analytics and physical descriptions to identify and track the movement of people, vehicles or assets.

UMD technology learns how to detect and flag unusual motion, to automatically guide your attention to what’s important, pre-empting situations before they escalate, saving time and freeing up resources.

This sophisticated, self-learning AI solution alleviates the need to watch video cameras constantly and overcomes the limitations of the human attention span, bringing a new level of automation to surveillance.  It can also be added to any connected video stream or IP camera, to protect existing investments in non-analytic cameras.

2 - Communicate with greater awareness

When suspicious activity is detected, two-way radio empowers humanitarians to contact the right people instantly, share important information and make informed decisions about how to respond.

Information gathering can be further enhanced with Motorola Solutions’ Si500 Video Speaker Microphone (VSM) body-worn camera, which combines voice communication with video and still image capture to record events the moment they happen. With five integrated microphones, the Si500 can be combined with a Motorola Solutions digital two-way radio to enhance situational awareness in the field and make it easier to gather and review evidence.

This compact, rugged device could prove useful in the monitoring of aid programmes, refugee registrations or events such as elections, as well as to promote greater accountability.

3 - Respond according to actionable information

Motorola Solutions has integrated Avigilon’s video analytics technology into our CommandCentral Aware platform, to create a powerful, unified source of actionable information. Humanitarian organisations can harness this platform to access incident details, computer-aided despatch and records intelligence, geospacial data and real-time alerts from multiple sources.

The result is a more detailed and informed picture of what is happening that enables decisive action to be taken. Video analytics can also automatically alert humanitarians to critical events that may require further investigation, helping to proactively keep people safe and assets protected.

A unique system for safety

The combination of Motorola Solutions with Avigilon closes the circle in communication, saving time, money and resources, enhancing processes and procedures for a more proactive approach to safety. This layered approach gives humanitarians in the field reassurance that they are protected and promotes safer cities where citizens feel secure and communities can thrive.

For more information about how Motorola Solutions and Avigilon can work together to secure your operations, watch this video, or get in touch with me.

What is the one thing you depend on so you’re primed and ready, both in your everyday work and when disaster strikes? A lifeline can represent many things: food and water, shelter, medical supplies, air lifts, funding… and communication.

Without communication, operations would grind to a halt. And we’re not just talking about voice communication. Technological innovation has revolutionised the way we interact and we’ve become increasingly dependent on staying connected. It’s opened up opportunities for sending, receiving and processing information in ways we never thought possible.

For example, just imagine if your communication solution could enable you to predict disasters before they occur and be more prepared in order to improve outcomes.  What difference would it make if your teams could have the intelligence they need, where and when they need it?

These are the questions Motorola Solutions has been thinking about as we’ve considered how to advance the communications lifeline. During the past 90 years, we’ve partnered with thousands of customers in over 100 countries, working in the field to understand how organisations use technologies and determine how we can help you to communicate effortlessly and reliably, without interruption.

We’ve advanced the communications lifeline way beyond voice to become the leading provider of mission-critical communications and video technology, so it’s now even easier for you to co-ordinate disaster response and improve security  – even when there is no existing infrastructure.

From Walkie Talkie to Next-Generation Digital Radio

Advancements in our Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) portfolio have expanded the capabilities of two-way radio to deliver rich data functionality that enables you to track personnel and enhance their safety in hazardous situations. The ability to issue job tickets, co-ordinate despatch and monitor vehicles delivering aid in real time can transform logistics and optimise the time taken to get vital food and medical supplies where they’re needed.

Our two-way radios can also help to streamline operations at refugee shelters, making it easier and more efficient for you to scan, capture and process vital information. This can facilitate registration, as well as the identification of refugees for voucher exchange programmes or when distributing medicines.

Who would have thought that all this could be achieved with what started out as a walkie talkie?

Today, Motorola Solutions invests over half a billion dollars a year on research and development to build new intuitive, resilient solutions that advance your operations into the future. Our ongoing innovation has consistently challenged technological boundaries to help humanitarians be more prepared, more confident and more connected.

Working Better Together

While two-way radio is the ideal tool for many humanitarians – especially those working on the front line – we realise that it’s not the only communications tool you need. Aid workers using smartphones and tablets must be able to connect with their colleagues to prevent information bottlenecks and silos.

 Motorola Solutions’ WAVE Broadband Push-to-Talk platform removes communication barriers to enable work groups to share critical information via images, location, status and text messages.  WAVE thus extends the communication lifeline by offering a unified network across multiple devices, so that teams can collaborate more effectively at the push of a button.  

Making Data Actionable

As part of our commitment to continued innovation, Motorola Solutions has embarked on joint ventures and acquired a number of companies whose solutions complement our portfolio. The recent acquisition of Avigilon has resulted in the integration of advanced video analytics into our Command Central Aware software solution. Dispatchers and analysts can now access a single source for real-time intelligence that combines video feeds, incident details, alerts, data mapping and responder location.

Avigilon’s Control Centre video management software will allow automatic alerts to be activated in real time when unusual activities are detected in people, vehicles or objects of interest. It transforms video surveillance from reactive to proactive monitoring, requiring less time to be spent watching video feeds. This enables responders to gain a more detailed picture of what is happening at the scene of an incident and take decisive action. It is another example of how we’re working to enable the seamless handling of emergency situations.

Setting Tomorrow’s Standards

Motorola Solutions is extremely proud to be celebrating our 90th anniversary. This is a milestone few companies reach and it’s down to the trust our customers place in us and the innovation that is part of our DNA. We remain committed to partnering with you as we continue to break boundaries in delivering the communications lifeline that ensures you are primed and prepared in the moments that matter.

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.