Monday, June 19, 2006

Wireless emergency response

In this gov.tech article, it discusses how last week it was announced that there were plans to test two competing wireless technologies to create a Citywide Mobile Wireless Network (CMWN) for emergency responders in New York:

"The wireless technology will enable New York City Police and Fire Department personnel to quickly access and download information including city maps, building plans and federal and state counter-terrorism and crime databases from police vehicles and fire and EMS apparatus. In addition, city agencies employing safety inspectors and maintenance teams in the field will also be able to utilize the wireless network"

Wireless and/or better distributed communication technologies for disaster emergencies has been on the agenda for a while. After recent events, including Katrina, this is both a much-needed move, and not soon enough...

Via Smartmobs

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