Fight Crime Without Wires
Aurora, Colo., has installed a new wireless network to connect its public-safety workers, an upgrade from its radio system. A federal grant helped the city to move to a cellular digital packet data network, but when that was no longer supported, city officials were left with 161 fixed cellular modems and an interest in broadband technologies.
The new hybrid network uses general packet radio service and Wi-fi networks to connect the city’s public-service vehicles through laptops and GPRS connections.
Parked vehicles use a Wi-fi link, which is faster. Police officers can get mug shots more quickly and cooperate in real time, and firefighters can check maps of the areas they are traveling to for water mains and gas lines.
The system was deployed by Anyware Network Solutions and uses NetMotion Wire-less software; it is managed by Wavelink’s Avalanche and Mobile Manager, which allows for remote upgrades.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from InformationWeek (02/09/04); Ewalt, David M.