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Improving Public Safety Interoperability: A Strategic Risk & Management Issue

Alaska Annual User Council Training Conference

Sept. 22nd, 2009

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Agenda• CPRC — A Brief History

• The Interoperability Dilemma

• Brief History of CITIG

• Ongoing Work, Issues and recognition

• Canadian Interoperability Communications Plan (CCIP)

• Research Funding

• Q & A

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"The single most important issue facing homeland security

today is interoperability."— Dr. David Boyd

Speech to Ninth Annual Technologies for Critical Incident Preparedness Conference and Exposition, November 7, 2007

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Canadian Police Research Centre

CPRC is a Government of Canada program with an important

mandate:

“To harness science and technology knowledge to

strengthen police, fire and emergency medical services across

Canada.”

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CPRC• Since 1979, CPRC has supported

research and development to respond to the needs of the public safety community

• The work of the CPRC focuses on three priority themes: increasing first responder safety,improving operational practices, and establishing technology standards.

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CPRC’s Priorities

• Improving first responder and public safety

• Enhancing operational effectiveness

• Developing standards, protocols, best practices and operational evaluations

Communications Interoperability a Natural Fit!

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Public Safety Interoperability• During 9/11, 411 Fire, Police

& EMS responders died inside the North Tower when it collapsed 21 minutes after the first warning of a potential collapse was issued over the police radio system

• Unfortunately, many firefighters didn’t get the message due to interoperability issues

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In Canada…BC wildfiresPrairie floodsEastern Ontario Ice StormConcordia/Dawson College ShootingsSwissair 111 crash near Peggy's Cove

• Across the country, during emergencies, the agencies and jurisdictions that should be able to talk to each other often can’t

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CACP Responds• In 2001, CACP Informatics Committee begins

working on interoperability — started with data via LEIP/PIP

• L’Abbe Report on Interoperability in 2003

• CACP White Paper soon after identified “voice” interoperability as priority

• Need identified for a cooperative forum to help fulfill interoperability goals

• Ties established with US — much foundational work from U.S., primarily from Department of Homeland Security SAFECOM

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The CITIG Formalized in 2007• Evolved into a partnership between CPRC

and the key first responder associations

• Public Safety Canada, Industry Canada, etc. and American counterparts (DHS, NIJ, IACP LEIM, NPSTC, etc.) very supportive

• Others invited to come aboard!

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Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group (CITIG)

• Creates forums for information exchange

• Facilitates communications

• Brings together the collective wisdom of public safety and communications leaders and experts

• Responds to regulatory issues (i.e. Spectrum)

• Provides research funding for national interoperability projects

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The CITIG is…• Meant to accelerate public safety

agency interoperability

• A vehicle for the exchange of information and ideas

• Ultimate goal to improve the ability of public safety providers to do their job

• Open to all who are interested in furthering public safety interoperability

• Structured to deliver results

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CITIG Successes• Over 450 individuals CITIG members

• 15 projects supported with CPRC funding, through the CITIG partnership

• Ten regional CITIG Forums from coast to coast, a Vendor Outreach Forum and two National Workshops

• Greater awareness that interoperability must be addressed collaboratively by all public safety and security agencies!

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CITIG Recognition• First organization to become an international member

NPSTC

• National award for public safety from the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association

• International IACP Award for“superior achievement and innovation in the field of communication and information technology.”

• CACP Emergency Management National Award of Excellence

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Why no Interoperability?• Incompatible or aging communications

equipment

• Limited or fragmented funding

• Jurisdictional or chain-of-command conflicts

• Availability of radio spectrum, etc.

• But the single biggest cause: a lack of coordination among public safety agencies

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“Communications interoperability refers to the ability of public safety agencies to talk

across disciplines and jurisdictions via radio(replace with voice) communications

systems, exchanging voice and/or data with one another on demand, in real time, when

needed, and as authorized.”

SAFECOMhttp://www.safecomprogram.gov/SAFECOM/

Interoperability Defined

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Now Endorsed by CACP, CAFC & EMSCC

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Joint Resolution Passed• THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED … that the Government of

Canada (GOC) recognize the Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group …, and;

• BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED … (that) the GOC, through Public Safety Canada, to fully support the Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group within the federal government in developing a national strategy, and;

• BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED … that the GOC commit financial, policy, and other human resources in Public Safety Canada … to provide vision & leadership as required to accomplish voice communications interoperability amongst public safety agencies across Canada.

***Signed Dec. 8th, 2008***

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Case Study # 1Daily Interoperability

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Case Study # 2St. John River Flood 2008

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Photos thanks to ABC News

Case Study # 3BLACK SATURDAY – VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

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Case Study #4 2004 Presidential Visit

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Visual Analytics #1(Data Interoperability)

• Combine various of sources of data (including wireless sensor data) into one visual representation that I/C can use

• Improve situational awareness / common operating pictures (COP) for all levels of Command structure

• Resource Management / Blue Force Tracking Critical

• Provide Commanders from various public safety agencies (police, fire, EMS, EM) access (when authorized) to real-time information

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Visual Analytics #2(Data Interoperability)

• New technologies could dramatically improve and eliminate need for co-location of C&C resources

• Ability to visualize voice transmissions in “real time” may help

• Wireless broadband holds HUGE potential!

• Access to wireless sensor data would greatly assist in improving situational awareness

• IACP/DHS/ERC Interoperability Projects ongoing

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http://wam.umd.edu/~mvandani/pda/lowfi3.html

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Canada – US Partnerships

• Working with DHS (OEC, OIC, S&T) & NIJ, assisted with NECP

• Attending Emergency Response Council (ERC) and other related meetings

• NPSTC welcomes CITIG as a (non-voting) Board Member

• Federal, State and Local officials in CITIG Regional & National Forums

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Concrete commitments made by DHS/PS Canada/FCC/Industry Canada

Proposed by CITIG, Jointly planned with PS Canada

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Canada – UK Partnerships

• Long standing history of partnerships with Home Office and S&T Community

• At APCO Canada learned that National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) doing great work on PS Interoperability

• Canada/US/UK teams that met numerous times over the past year are now:“Borrowing with Pride.”

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Canada – Australia Partnerships• March 2007: Meetings in Australia involving

various PS Groups, agencies and research community to gather information and develop new partnerships

• Great deal of time spent with Victoria agencies discussing February, 2009 fires, including “Black Saturday”

• Resource management and Common Alerting tools is the #1 priority

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Moving Forward – A National Plan?

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CCIP Vision• We can

communicate anywhere, anytime, with anyone, as required and as authorized

• Interoperability is a way of life and part of our culture

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CCIP - Goals• Goal 1: Establish a sustainable national

governance structure that is empowered, resourced, representative and that is accountable for their actions.

• Goal 2: To create universal understanding at all levels and to gain support on the issue from public, first responders, operational decision makers, and policy makers.

• Goal 3: To implement a multi-disciplinary interoperable system of systems nationally and to identify and harmonize interoperability standards and requirements.

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Goals (Continued)• Goal 4: Jointly developed SOPs that are

effective, adaptive and scalable.• Goal 5: Regular comprehensive region-

wide training and exercises focused on voice interoperability.

• Goal 6: Daily use of interoperability tools, procedures and technology to make it second nature when the need arises.

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CPRC’s Priorities• Improving first responder and public safety

• Enhancing operational effectiveness

• Developing standards, protocols, best practices and operational evaluations

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CPRC Call for Proposals

• Call #1 Closed Sept 16th

• Call #2 expected later this fall

• Collaborative projects

• Up to $2M available in Call #1

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Proposal Requirements• Relevance: must demonstrate

relevance to the CPRC’s mandate and investment priorities and identified gaps

• Duration: must not exceed 36 months.

• Partnerships: must include participation of at least one Canadian first responder partner (police, fire, emergency medical services agency).

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Call for Proposals• CPRC’s call for proposals — information

available soon at http://www.css.drdc-rddc.gc.ca/cprc/proj-prop/index-eng.asp

• Guidebook from Call #1 online

• Funding interoperability S&T falls within CPRC stated priorities

• Regular call for proposal cycles to start (up to three a year planned)

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CITIG Next Steps• Ongoing Regional Forums across

Canada — Next Sept. 24th in Yukon

• CATA VOF – Oct 21st & 22nd in Calgary -

• Third National Voice Interoperability Workshop, Nov. 15 – 18th, 2009, Halifax – www.cacp.ca soon for details

• More S&T money to come

• To join CITIG go to www.cprc.org/citig

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VOF # 2 – Calgary, Alberta• October 21st & 22nd, 2009

• Fairmont Palliser (discount rate till Oct 25th)

• Those interested in speaking should contact Kevin Wennekes at: kwennekes@cata.ca

• For full details go to:

http://www.cata.ca/Media_and_Events/FR_VOF/Calgary/default.html

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How Can You Help?• Support CITIG – its FREE! www.cprc.org/citig

• See this as an ALL HAZARDS “strategic risk management” issue and one that requires high level “buy-in” and support – not just a “technology” issue.

• Support our work with all levels of government and national governance agencies in making this a local, provincial, federal & international priority.

• Continue cross border interoperability planning with Canadian Provinces.

• Consider joining with Province in CPRC Project

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Discussion

Questions?

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Inspector Lance ValcourOttawa Police Service

On secondment to:Canadian Police Research Centre

Defence R&D Canada – Centre for Security ScienceProgram Manager

Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest GroupLance.Valcour@cprc.org

613-993-2842www.cprc.org/citig