Objectives: Catalyst and Virginia Polytechnic Institute propose to develop new technology that will leverage existing Internet Protocols and networks to enable on-demand radio interoperability. Our Phase I goal is to demonstrate the feasibility of routing radio voice traffic across existing computer networks to create a peer-to-peer Voice over IP (VoIP) solution allowing multiple agencies to dynamically patch together disparate radio users. Approach: This distributed architecture will let each agency retain control of its own radio channels and create autonomous links to any other agency, eliminating a political barrier to radio channel patches. The research, coordinated with our current USFS customers, will focus on VoIP issues specific to USFS radio traffic profiles, the use of the unicast transport method, radio-initiated patches, and satellite links for radio users in remote areas. Non-technical summary: Wildfires could cost the US $2 billion in 2002, as over 6 million acres and 650 structures have burned. Eighteen people have died. Fire fighters require instant verbal exchanges with state, tribal, military, National Guard, and local public safety organizations that provide the initial response to 90% of wildfires. Unfortunately, USFS radios cannot talk directly with radios from these agencies, hampering fire management and further endangering lives and property. This solution will provide direct communications between fire fighters and other public safety personnel that can be quickly enabled and modified in the first, critical hours of a fire. It can be immediately deployed with legacy radios, saving lives, property, and tax dollars. Use of existing computer networks rather than dedicated circuits and avoidance of upgrading to new radios provide further cost savings. Catalyst will use its commercialization experience to sell this product to other federal, state and local agencies and to private companies such as utilities for fire management, law enforcement, counter-terrorism, storm restoration, and routine communications.
Keywords: fire management; mobile radio; interoperability; voice over ip; peer-to-peer; rural communications; terrorism; law enforcement
