CLOUDY podcast | #27 Communication in situations when things get tough

What is a deployable crisis communication system or mobile crisis communication?

This is mobile communication for firefighters. Let's start by saying that this mobile communication is not first-order. We are talking about a situation when, for example, a fire has been going on somewhere for several days and the equipment needs to be dismantled on site.

The task of mobile communication is to unify technical means so that they are available to firefighters in a durable "package". These technical means are packed in durable boxes, one could say suitcases, similar to those for military equipment. They must withstand temperatures from very low to high plus values, they must be resistant to water, rain, etc. In other words, extremes from all sides.

The set is durable, but of course it has its limits. We cannot leave it exposed to prolonged rain or place it under water. For example, a car, a tent or the premises of a municipal office, etc. are used for this.

Since we are talking about mobile communication, this means that it must be portable (by car, helicopter, plane...).

So what is it for?

Basically, the common equipment of every security or rescue unit (firefighters, rescue workers, police officers) are walkie-talkies, or radios. Because it is necessary to communicate during an intervention. In addition to the radio, during an intervention we also need to store the communication, then there are cameras for transmission (e.g. on a drone), servers, a mast with antennas, a base station, we need several interfaces to different networks...

Of course, if it works, we can use the classic mobile network of an operator. If the operator's infrastructure does not work, we can provide it.

We at Aliter Technologies came up with the use of a drone. We can install a speaker on it, for example, and warn the population, we can hang a light source there that can indicate a situation to the population, and at the same time a camera can be used on the drone. And so it is possible to have two video recordings, or two images, from the intervention. One video source is the pilot's controller and the other video source is the operator's controller. The camera can be ordinary, but also infrared...

Where everywhere, or in what ways can this system help and who can it help?

There are two typical situations when this system is used. The first is a forest fire, which has special characteristic is that even if we extinguish what is above the ground, the tree roots are still smoldering. So the fire can still spread. So it is advisable to deploy equipment on site and, say, use a drone with an infrared camera to explore the area where what needs to be extinguished.

The second common use case is when searching for missing persons. Here, of course, it is important to start the search immediately. If, say, the search is not successful within an hour or two, it is possible to come with this mobile communication and also search the surroundings with a drone.

How long can such a device be on standby? Because everything has its limits, its batteries or some power source.

We mentioned the connection in the municipal office building. If our energy infrastructure is working and we connect to the electric plug there, we operate continuously. The set also has its generators, of course, which start and connect - so when I overdo it, as long as we have gasoline in generators, the system works. So even in the event of an emergency, the system works in an emergency.

For example, the drone is not permanently tied to mobile communication, it can also be used independently. Another option is to use the drone as a tethered one. Then it is not dependent on the battery, but is powered via a cable from the base. So it can basically be in the air for an unlimited time.

Can you improvise during an intervention?

There is a certain extent to which it is possible, but definitely not. Of course, it also depends on how familiar the operator is with the technology. The more he is, the better he can use its capabilities.

Where is the future of such technology?

It is probably in solving individual variations of use. Thinking about using the technology underwater, or adjusting it according to the needs of the crew itself, climate changes, making the set smaller, larger, more/less durable, etc.

How can artificial intelligence help us?

Just like today in In medicine, AI can detect cancer in images, so in this environment I can imagine the use of AI and drone cameras, where AI will evaluate the situation during an intervention faster - for example, it will find the object that firefighters are interested in, whether it is rotting roots or a lost person.

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