THE BEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT
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.
Blog
INNOVATION THAT DRIVES DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Using artificial intelligence and analytics to convert data into actionable knowledge
In our fast-paced, connected world access to real-time data is almost taken for granted. When an incident occurs, data pours in from a multitude of sources. Turning that data into intelligence which can be acted upon requires the ability to qualify, filter and analyse what is received as quickly as possible. So, the quality of data has to keep on evolving, in order to meet constantly changing needs.
It’s hardly surprising, then, that innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) are making it possible for data to become more intuitive and responsive. This has given rise to a range of mobile applications and software solutions which are transforming the way we capture, store, analyse and retrieve information on the go.
Accessing the untapped potential of data
Thus, the improved capabilities such innovations promise could have a tremendous impact on outcomes in crisis situations.
Creating intelligent ecosystems through resilience, security and interconnectivity
Motorola Solutions’ ethos is to empower users and communities by developing technology in a collaborative environment that focuses on the user’s experience. The solutions we design are purpose-built to encourage intelligent ecosystems to evolve. Our portfolio enables humanitarians to predict and prevent - as well as react and respond to - disaster situations.
Let’s examine how such innovations can bring about digital transformation in the lives of humanitarians and the communities they serve.
Centralised data gathering for mobile intelligence
In a crisis situation, data can be captured and collected in real time from a broad variety of sources – such as social media, text messages, sensors and CCTV cameras. As this data streams into the Command Centre, intelligence analysists can harness the power of technology to collate information regarding an incident in a cohesive, centralised manner. From a single console, they are able to map details and locate responders, as well as remotely control access to sensitive areas. This can include shutting down utilities which are at risk and redirecting traffic and people away from hazardous zones. Suspicious vehicles or persons can be detected and tracked, using geo-fencing to alert responders when boundaries are crossed.
Data from multiple sources is thus transferred into mobile intelligence which allows humanitarians to act based on more advanced situational awareness. Using a combination of two-way radios, body-worn cameras and cameras mounted on drones, responders can stay in touch and up to date as events unfold, gathering, accessing and sharing information on the ground and from the air in real time.
This is already happening in New Orleans, where security cameras are placed in hotspots, businesses and homes. When an incident occurs, these cameras are on the scene instantly, recording events and detecting unusual activity for more effective crime resolution and safer communities. Body sensors and body-worn cameras can dramatically improve personnel safety by raising alerts the instant someone is injured or under threat and drone-mounted cameras can help to track suspects on the move.
These are just a few examples to demonstrate the tremendous potential for analytics and AI to optimise productivity and expand resources virtually. They can accelerate the transmission of intelligence, heighten awareness and promote better preparedness. The improved decision-making and collaboration which such technological advancement can offer helps teams to remain focused on the task and be their best in the moments that matter. And that is what digital transformation is all about.
MORE AWARE, MORE PREPARED AND IN CONTROL
Software evolution advances innovation in mission-critical applications and services for humanitarians in the field
While Motorola Solutions’ 90-year history is deeply rooted in pioneering voice-based systems, we are constantly seeking new ways to advance the communication lifeline and help humanitarians to meet ongoing challenges. Today, our company has established itself as a trusted, end-to-end communications and intelligence provider. And that’s where we can offer you even greater value.
Motorola Solutions has continuously strived to understand the conditions humanitarians face in their daily operations. We talk regularly with humanitarian organisations to develop comprehensive, customised solutions that meet your particular requirements. And we work closely with customers to deliver high-tech, flexible and affordable voice and data solutions that support greater safety and expand capabilities, so you can be primed and prepared when you’re on the move.
Adding value to modern critical communication systems
In a crisis situation, communication centres around data – capturing it, accessing it, sharing it and analysing it - so you can make more informed decisions based on improved understanding. But this can be tricky when you’re faced with growing threats to security and stretched resources. The challenge is compounded by having to work across disparate systems. This wastes valuable time, as you have to sift through - and manage - information from multiple sources. It also makes it difficult to co-ordinate activities for seamless interaction between work groups.
This is achieved thorough a multi-layered approach comprising:
• Two-way radio - instant, one-to-one/ group voice and data-rich communication
• Broadband work group communications – unified PTT voice and data solutions for users across different devices and networks
• Real-time tracking - of personnel, vehicles and supplies to optimise efficiency and enhance safety
• Planning, managing and streamlining workflows, using job ticketing
• Predicting and preventing emergency situations and automating processes for quicker response using Mission Critical IoT
• Telemetry - for remote monitoring and control of perimeters, machinery, power supplies, sensors and alarms
• Managed Services – ensuring your systems are maintained and managed so you can stay focused on the task at hand
Motorola Solutions has acquired a number of companies that build on our track record of developing next-generation mission-critical solutions. This has enabled us to bring together artificial intelligence (AI) and human intelligence and to create new user interfaces for delivering information.
They include:
• Video Security, body-worn cameras, live video feeds and sensors
• Data and video analysis using AI
• Integrated Control Room software and applications that centralise and simplify data collection, management and interpretation, to facilitate the co-ordination of diverse activities across multiple sites.
All these components combine to offer you integrated solutions that enhance safety and improve efficiency, enabling you to become more aware, more prepared and more in control.
Talk to us today to find out how we can work with you to add greater value to your operations and create the solutions you need to meet challenges as they arise.
Driving Costs Down
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.
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 behavior 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].
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
• 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:
• 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
[1] Grafham, O. and Lahn, G. The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid, Research Paper by the Moving Energy Initiative, December 2018 pg11.
[2] Ibid. Pg 4.
PROTECT WHAT MATTERS MOST
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.
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.
Advancing the Humanitarian Lifeline
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?
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
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
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.
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.
THE BEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT
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
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.
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.
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.
TWO-WAY RADIO AND THE SECURITY-DEVELOPMENT NEXUS
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.
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.
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.
It achieves this by:
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:
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)
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
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:
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.
DATA-DRIVEN DECISION-MAKING
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
TAKE A PEEK INTO THE FUTURE
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.