The AIRS Project (Advanced Incident Response System)
IPv6 Solutions for First Responders
In real-world deployment scenarios, incident response teams are called to unknown sites to undertake operations where advanced communications and specific environmental information is limited or non-existent. Currently the level of data pull is limited by a number of factors, including communications. This lack of sufficient communications and information gathering functionality creates high risk and reduced operational capabilities. AIRS was developed to address the shortcomings of this existing infrastructure.
The Advanced Incident Response System (AIRS) is an IPv6-enabled solution that allows incident response personnel from various local, municipal, and government agencies to communicate seamlessly during an event while minimizing dependencies on the fixed infrastructure of the disaster site. Leveraging next generation technologies like IPv6, network mobility, mobile ad hoc networking, and advanced sensor systems, the AIRS solution enables responders to communicate securely with each other and with their commanders in real time. Personnel at the command post are able to monitor a variety of human and environmental statistics in real time and can convey that information to responders as needed. These statistics and other crucial data are captured and stored by the AIRS solution so teams can later review their efforts and continually improve the way they respond to situations.
The Technology
The Advanced Incident Response System enables real-time communication and situational awareness among first responders. (Video) (4:44 min)
AIRS demonstrates the ability to use a Hastily Formed IP incident-area wireless Network or HFN. The HFN covers an incident site and provides the communications to transport packet traffic from sensors including physiological, biometric, and environmental data, voice over IP (VoIP), and IP video. The IP traffic is then aggregated and interpreted to enable an Incident Commander to manage the operation using information that is far superior to the current state-of-the-art. This is done using a wireless network while the Incident Commander is physically outside of the incident environment.
- Internet Protocol Version Six (IPv6)
- Hastily Formed Networks (HFN)
- Internet Protocol (IP) embedded sensors
- IP devices to utilize IPv6 features
including, auto-discover, ad-hoc connectivity, IP mobility, peer-to-peer connectivity and mobile security
The Benefits
The real-world benefits from commercial deployment of the AIRS project include:
- A solution based totally on Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) technologies.
- Capability to scale to address multiple incident response scenarios.
- Potential reduction or elimination of multiple proprietary communication protocols deployed for incident response. Any standards-compliant IP device can be introduced into the system.
- Superior information pulled from sensors, programmable logic controllers, and devices used by incident responders will provide accurate monitoring of vital physiological and environmental metrics of responders and their operating environments.
- Ability to have a proactive response to human and environmental metrics.
- Large upside additional data gathering potential without introduction of new communications equipment.
- Value from leveraging the IP consolidation taking place in the network, sensor, programmable logic controller (PLC), device and appliance markets for incident responders.
At this time, IPv6 and IT devices that operate using IPv6 are sufficiently developed so that functional network-centric applications that leverage the advanced capabilities of IPv6 can be deployed. ‘Incident Response’ is a market with clear needs for improved communications and where network-centric solutions using IPv6 have a high return on investment and important operational value. IPv6 is poised to change the way systems are developed, the way business is conducted, and the way operational requirements are addressed with technology. The AIRS solutions addresses a market with a clear need for proactive data on environment, biometric, and physiological states to improve response capabilities.
For more information about the AIRS Project, contact your Command Information representative.