Mobile Data: the First Mile in Public Safety

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Mobile Data the First Mile in Public Safety

• Gordy Hallof, XXX
• BIO-key International
• Tom Welch, Systems Administrator Franklin County,
  OH Sheriffs Office

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Discussion Topics

• Introduction
• Mobile Data Definition
• Mobile Data Evolution
• Mobile Data Future
• Franklin County Sheriffs Office Experience and
  Future Direction

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Introduction

• Company intro TBD

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Mobile Data Definition

• Mobile data Gathering, sharing and reporting
  information
• In the patrol vehicle or (now) via handheld
• Gathering Querying federal, state and local
  databases (e.g., running a plate)
• Sharing Silent messaging between units and
  groups, and with the Comms Center
• Reporting Incident/accident reporting

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Value Proposition

• Officer safety
• Situational awareness
• ONA and other alerts
• Efficiency
• No dispatcher involvement or wait
• Force multiplier
• Effectiveness
• Keeps officers in the field visible and
  accessible
• More complete information to help make the right
  decision

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Mobile Data Adoption

• Early adopter in 1980s
• From 1990 to 2003 the percentage of local police
  departments with mobile data increased from 5 to
  56 (DOJ data)
• 62 of departments in 2008 Law Enforcement
  Technology magazine Survey
• Estimated 65 (of 18,000 State, local and county
  departments) have mobile data today
• Small agencies more likely to be without
• But even in large agencies, not everyone in the
  field has access

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In-car Mobile Data Evolution

• Adoption has increased as the technology has
  evolved
• Three dimensions
• End-User Hardware
• Network Communications
• Software Applications

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End User Hardware

• Then Mobile Data Terminal
• Small-screen (30 lines x 24 characters)
• Now Mobile computer
• Ruggedized
• Touchscreen

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Network Communications

• Then Radio (with modem)
• Limited bandwidth/shared with voice
  (PacketCluster)
• Limited geography
• Advances in radio IP over radio
• Now Broadband cellular (with modem/air card)
• 3G Networks separate from the cellular voice
  network with increased speeds and capacity
• Network roaming select the best network (Radio
  or cellular)

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Software Applications

• Ergonomic Drivers Patrol car is unique
  environment
• Requires simple and predictable user Interface
• Large icons for easy touch
• Parsing so everything is where its expected
• Summarization so you dont scroll or jump around
• Text-to-Voice
• Day/night

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Software Applications

• Then Query NCIC (FBI)/State only
• Return data only
• Now The Car is the Office
• Photos and other images (in returns and for
  upload)
• Local queries (RMS)
• CAD dispatch (supported by AVL)
• Messaging Roll Call
• Mobile reporting
• Mapping
• Internet access
• RSS feeds

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Other Applications and Systems

• Other applications/systems in the car today
• e-Citations
• In-car video
• Automated license plate recognition

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The Future is Already Here

• End User Hardware
• Netbooks that move with the officer
• Network communications
• WiFi Hotspots/WiMax for moving large data files
• 4G cellular networks rivaling DSL
• Dedicated Public Safety Broadband Spectrum
  Planned
• Software applications and systems
• Remote, real-time access to onsite video
• Voice-to-text
• Messaging interoperability with other first
  responders
• Interagency data sharing

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The Next Adoption Wave Mobile Data on Handhelds

• Technology Convergence
• Takes advantage of advances in end-user hardware
  and network communications
• Move from patrol vehicles to other users, e.g.
• Command staff, investigators, specialty units,
  community policing
• Advantages over mobile data computers
• Use anywhere convenience
• Officers more accessible in the community
• One fifth the cost
• Multipurpose (replace cell phone)
• Available 24X7

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Handheld Considerations

• Ergonomic
• Screen size limited data
• Typing limited not suitable for reports
• Impatica and other solutions
• Security
• Two factor
• Cost vs Resiliency
• Smartphone (e.g., BlackBerry) vs. Ruggedized
  handheld

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Future Challenges for Mobile Data

• Messaging interoperability between mobile data
  systems from different vendors
• IJIS Institute bringing CAD/RMS/mobile data
  vendors together to develop standards
• Handling new data gathering and reporting
  requirements
• Suspicious activity reporting (SAR)
• N-DEX