Feb. 7, 2021 - One of the biggest challenges first responders face is making quick decisions that save lives. Sharing crucial real-time information from the field with command centers can make dramatic improvements to life-saving decisions for first responders out in the field. Through mobile video communications and portable Internet connectivity, first responders are more empowered than ever before. They can quickly be in direct contact with their command centers where off-site experts can have real-time eyes in the field, to help their team make informed decisions in seconds.
What is VidOvation?
VidOvation provides compact, lightweight field transmitters that can be worn on the body, via drones or in the vehicle. The camera systems send live video back to a centralized command center where images can be instantly shared for effective collaboration between command centers and those in the field. There are also larger rack-mounted field transmission systems available ideal for mobile command vehicles or even temporary command centers with cellular and Internet connectivity.
Capability for up to 12 IP connections that can be applied to cellular, the public Internet, satellite, WAN, and more provides the most robust and reliable video, audio, and data transmission stream to greatly improve outcomes in highly critical situations. The system uses bonded cellular technology for uninterrupted, seamless video sharing.
Life-Saving Decisions
This unique system allows first responders to make time-critical, life-saving decisions with the assistance of command center input. They can remain calmer on the job with the knowledge they have an entire team available to offer timely advice when faced with the most critical situations. With the addition of enhanced situational awareness, communications field commanders and personnel have improved, real-time communication that increases the odds for survival in the worst possible emergency situations.
Using AVIWEST SafeStreams technology (SST) first responders and command centers share a secure virtual private network (VPN). This is accomplished by extending the network at the command and control center to the field. As a result, all the cameras and other IP assets are connected to the same subnet as the command and control center.
Mobile Command
Even public safety agencies using mobile command vehicles in the field can share secure connectivity to the team back at headquarters. This allows them to share real-time videos and data that promotes collaboration amongst teams so effective time-saving and time-sensitive decisions are made quickly. Whether it is sharing video with police, firefighters, or EMTs, the ability to remain connected keeps teams safe.
Individuals are better able to respond quickly to situations when team members share real-time images. Teams can send and receive live videos to assist in locating victims in disaster situations, or accidents in widespread areas. This mission-critical streaming and connectivity technology reduces the risk for team members in dangerous situations, as live video is streamed in real-time, so everyone is accounted for as events progress or escalate.
Eyes in the Sky
First responders are often called to dangerous or remote locations where it can be difficult to locate victims or fellow responders. The use of drones and unmanned aerial systems technology offers the latest in emergency tools that are crucial to the first responder’s toolkit. With eyes in the sky, first responders can quickly locate victims and quickly assess how they can be reached efficiently and safely.
Using portable field encoders from VidOvation, first responders have visuals of what is happening on the ground and can share it with specialty emergency teams so they can quickly determine the best approach to retrieve the injured. As well, these visuals can be used to provide real-time video from an aerial banish point back to command-and-control. Drone operators wear a small portable field encoder on his/her belt or in a backpack allowing them to continue working while sharing life-saving video. This greatly improves situational awareness for informed decision making that saves lives.
Drone Inspection and Assessment
When engineering crews are required to assess disaster or accident sites, they can quickly inspect infrastructure using drone inspection. This offsets the exorbitant cost of aerial inspections via aircraft and helicopters. Using drone technology, inspections can be made of disaster and accident areas quickly, and video can be shared with all parties including EMTs, fire departments and police. This allows for quick deployment of appropriate services to assist in life-saving maneuvers.
When experts cannot be sent to disaster areas, video can be shared via live transmission so they can review the scene and make expert decisions to mitigate risk. This is also important for major accidents such as train accidents where dangerous chemicals might be involved or where the security and safety of passengers and employees are threatened.
