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National Conference on Emergency
Communications
First Responders and Emergency
Communications & IT Services
December 12, 2005
David R. Beering
Principal / Founder
Infinite Global Infrastructures, LLC
+1 630-562-2427
drbeering@igillc.com
www.igillc.com
IGI Background
• Founded in 1997, IGI is a Chicago-based small business with
primary focus in design, integration, and implementation of
large-scale, high-performance, high-reliability communications
systems
– High-speed satellite & terrestrial networks
– Networks for mobility:
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Land Mobile Vehicles
Ships
Aircraft
Spacecraft
– Unusual network integration & design involving disparate interfaces
and protocols
– Rapid prototyping of communications systems and subsystems
– High-speed data transfer
– Video Broadcast, multi-cast and distribution
– High-reliability and high-security networks
– End-to-end networks utilizing multiple media
– National- and Global-Scale systems
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Areas of Emphasis
Aviation
Human
Spaceflight
Core
Technical and
Programmatic
Competencies
Commercial
Homeland
Security
Defense
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Hurricane Katrina
• Hurricane Katrina was the “perfect storm” in that it took away
communications and power for millions of people.
• Post-storm assessments were further frustrated by the lack
of any communications to support logistics
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9/11/2001
• New York City
– While the physical devastation
in New York City was limited to
approximately 14 square blocks,
no one counted on the traffic
loads presented to the networks
following the events
• Cellular
• Wired Telephony
– All of the occasional use
satellite capacity in the
Continental US disappeared
almost immediately
• Washington, DC
– Washington, DC experienced
some of the same network
traffic effects as New York City
• Cellular
• Telephony
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Portable, Mobile, Agile, Capable
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• IGI’s activities are focused on two scales of
communications systems that can be deployed
in response to disasters, or to provide missioncritical communications wherever they’re
needed
– Large-scale incident management with a
comprehensive ‘Unified Command’ system
• Projecting the power and sophistication of a leading 911
facility to anywhere in the US via dedicated, highperformance satellite links
– Rapid response using highly portable inflatable
satellite ground systems
• Inflatable satellite antennas enable high-performance satellite
ground systems that fit in a backpack
Chicago OEMC – Unified Command Project igi
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During the months that followed the September 11 terrorist attacks IGI
started an intensive dialogue with the City of Chicago’s Office of Emergency
Management & Communications (OEMC), which operates one of the most
advanced 911 facilities in the US. The goal of the effort was to provide an
advanced capability for critical communications and integrated incident
management
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This dialogue evolved (over three years) into the OEMC Command Vehicle
Project, referred to as the City of Chicago’s Unified Command Project
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The Unified Command system architecture has been influenced by a
number of high-profile events:
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Chicago River Flood (April 1992)
Chicago OEMC Power Outage (July 2004)
Numerous high-rise building fires (most recently LaSalle Bank – December 2004)
London Subway Bombings
9/11/2001 – NYC and WDC
Numerous Hurricanes (especially Katrina)
OEMC – Unified Command Project
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Single self-propelled truck with large box
30 KW of power generation on two separate generators
42-foot locking pneumatic mast with remotely operated camera and wireless networks
One each fully equipped Police and Fire Dispatch station with ability to receive 911 calls onboard
Digital recording of all voice traffic
Numerous onboard LCD screens with a studio-quality video distribution system
Studio-quality audio system for origination and oboard distribution
Full Complement of Land Mobile Radios (UHF, VHF, 800 MHz Trunk, Aircraft, Marine)
JPS/Raytheon ACU-1000 Radio Interoperability Platform
HF (Military) Radio
802.11 wireless LAN inside, and outside in the immediate vicinity of the truck
Wireless IP network using Verizon’s 1xRTT/EVDO CDMA cellular network
Receive-only Ku-Band satellite system for DirecTV / Dish Network
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With Backup satellite Internet capability
Comprehensive Voice intercom system connected to Land Mobile Radios, cellular voice network,
and IP voice network
Onboard wired IP network with fully-integrated Voice over IP (VOIP) capabilities
Two cellular-based voice networks integrated into onboard VOIP network
4 megabit per second full-duplex satellite link between truck and OEMC - DEDICATED
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Utilizing 1.8 meter Ku-Band SNG antenna on the truck w/ high power amplifier (capable of operating at data
rates up to 25-30 megabits per second full-duplex)
92 lines of Voice over IP between OEMC and truck expandable
Accelerated general purpose IP network between OEMC and truck
Fully-equipped video broadcast capability using MPEG-2/DVB format with several integrated cameras on the
truck – operates simultaneously with IP data network
IP-based video conferencing system supporting stations at OEMC, Mayor’s Office, others
Tech area for three operators
Planned Augmentations to the Project
• Ability to receive and/or relay video signals
originated from helicopters
• Ability to coordinate (and control) aircraft
operating in the vicinity of the vehicle
• Ability to provide coordinated response using
another city’s infrastructure (dial tone, IP
network)
• Ability to provide communications infrastructure
(dial tone, IP network) in support of another
city’s (or national) response
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Original US Naval Research Laboratory InfraLynx
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Tactical Response - Inflatable Satellite Antennas
Inflatable antennas represent a dramatic new capability that
will deliver high performance satellite links with an order
of magnitude reduction in form factor and weight
2.5 Meter Inflatable Ku-Band Antenna (foreground)
5.0 Meter Inflatable Ku-Band Antenna (background)
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Inflatable Satellite Antennas
2.5 Meter inflatable Ku-Band satellite antenna deployed in
Woolmarket, MS following Hurricane Katrina. This antenna,
which was deployed at a Red Cross shelter, was the only
access to the outside world within a 50 mile radius of Biloxi,
MS for an entire week
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Infinite Global Infrastructures, LLC
480 East Roosevelt Road
Suite 205
West Chicago, IL 60185
www.igillc.com