Excelerate Delivers effective Communications

30/07/2008

Technology is no longer a concept sale in terms of delivering broadband to vehicles - it is now an expectation.  What is clear is that the more the technology that is installed, then the greater the usage the vehicles will be put to and the easier becomes the decision to purchase.  However, the need to ensure that this technology is fully integrated and can meet the required objectives highlights the importance of only dealing with suppliers that understand not only the technology, but also the applications and environments in which it will be used.

Excelerate Technology has become the leading supplier of voice, data and video communications solutions via satellite and wireless to the emergency services.  Whether retrofitting existing vehicles or building new vehicles from the ground up, it provides a complete single source solution with full training and support provided to complement its expert design, development, and supply and integration capabilities.  The company also operates and manages its own satellite and private GSM network.  At its International Headquarters near Cardiff in the UK, Excelerate Technology ensures the delivery of high quality bandwidth, which is tailored in real time to suit specific client needs, budgets and service level requirements. 

The company pioneered the concept of providing high speed IP connectivity via satellite broadband on vehicles within the emergency services sector and has introduced many additional innovations. It has been responsible for equipping some of the largest and most advanced mobile command and control vehicles for organisations such as Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust (SCAS).  It has also developed a wide range of smaller vehicles, many of which are used for a number of different applications.

 For example, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue’s Sprinter not only delivers rapid response command and control facilities at smaller incidents, but is also used for community service programmes at schools and shopping centres across the region.  These programmes can be scheduled in advance, unlike attendance at serious incidents, enabling the usage and value of the vehicles to be extended rather than being in a constant standby mode waiting to be called out to attend the next category ‘A’ incident.  The technology installed also reflects this dual purpose role and includes a wide range of satellite, wireless VPN, CCTV and video server systems.  It is also equipped with an outward facing 42” plasma screen and external speakers that are in regular use for briefing personnel at major incidents as well as for the delivery of community service programmes. 

SCAS uses a mobile Incident Command Unit (ICU) and a smaller Forward Command vehicle to improve the way that personnel communicate, both with HQ and with other colleagues, when responding to major incidents or attending major events.  The vehicles have significantly enhanced business continuity, incident management and the delivery of a more effective response to enhance patient care.  They are also enabling SCAS, as a Category 1 responder, to achieve interoperability and share information with other blue light services to meet its responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act. Both vehicles are equipped with motorised automated satellite antennas that provide resilient stand-alone broadband connections for high-speed data, voice and video communications within four minutes of arriving at serious incidents.  As well as voice communication technologies including UHF and VHF radios, GSM and VoIP phones, the ICU is also equipped with ruggedised, touch screen PC terminals which enable STEPS (Strategic Emergency Planning Software), GIS, email, instant messaging and other specialised applications to be run.  All such applications are current in real-time using the satellite links to ensure that vital operational decisions can be made using the latest, up to date information.  A wireless network also enables personnel using laptops to access tactical plans or information from STEPS anywhere within a 100 metre range of the main ICU.  This range can be extended almost indefinitely using Excelerate’s self-powered, rapidly deployable mesh wireless nodes.   CCTV cameras transmit live video into the ICU for viewing on any of the large or small screen monitors by Silver Command Staff operating at the scene of an incident or streamed via secure satellite links to a secure video server for online access in virtual real-time by authorised personnel using internet-connected PCs anywhere in the world. 

James Amos, Emergency Planning Officer for SCAS said: “Excelerate Technology has provided us with a powerful suite of communications technologies that enable us to deliver a more effective response to major incidents.  From the start, we were impressed by Excelerate’s professional and knowledgeable approach.  The level of service far exceeds what was promised and the company has become a close partner in helping us to deliver improved patient care at every incident.” 

High levels of expertise and operational understanding are of course critical factors when it comes to choosing a supplier.  This was certainly the case with Thames Valley Police, the UK’s largest non-metropolitan force, when it started looking for a cost effective upgrade to the existing GPRS network connections used by Forward Command Units.  According to Roger Bird, Senior Mobile Technology Engineer for Thames Valley Police:  “Having had previous experience of satellite communications with another supplier, we were sceptical about what could be achieved.  However, after talking to Excelerate Technology, it quickly became apparent that the company understood exactly what we wanted to achieve and could provide advanced solutions that were specifically tailored to the needs of blue light services.”

Thames Valley Police now uses a Transportable Broadband Satellite VPN solution and wireless DECT phones installed in a communications support vehicle that has delivered significant improvements in the way that Silver Command Centres communicate regardless of where they are located.  It provides WAN flexibility with direct, secure links to the force infrastructure as well as standalone LAN connectivity enabling planned or spontaneous Command Centres to be located in buildings or temporary accommodation.  As with SCAS, Thames Valley Police’s vehicle is also regularly deployed at major events across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire such as Royal Ascot and other Royal events in and around Windsor.  Excelerate Technology maintains the system and supplies airtime through its own Virtual Network Operator managed solution.

“Covering such a large geographical area means that we place a lot of emphasis on our communications structure and we don’t want to compromise that in any way.  Excelerate Technology provides us with the highest level of support and any technical issues are always rapidly resolved enabling us to maintain a high state of operational readiness at all times,” Roger Bird concluded.

DIVERSE APPLICATIONS

But Excelerate Technology does not just work in partnership with blue light services and it is rapidly making a name for itself in other key markets sectors including education, utilities, medical, sport and commercial where it offers a range of similar solutions for use in fixed and mobile environments.   

For example, Powys County Council has enhanced the delivery of its Youth Information Service with two new purpose-built vehicles equipped with the latest satellite-based communications equipment.  They will enable Powys to meet statutory requirements for the provision of informal learning opportunities, guidance and support for young people on a wide range of issues including education, training, employment, law, finance, health, housing, leisure and recreation.  Each vehicle is fitted with a motorised 75cm satellite dish that automatically locates the necessary satellite when operational within three minutes of deployment and stows down when travelling. This provides youth workers with access to high speed broadband enabling them to access the Internet to obtain specific information for young people regardless of location.

According to Chris Jones, Youth Services Manager for Powys CC:  “We aim to make a real contribution towards raising the quality of young people’s lives.  Excelerate Technology has provided us with a simple to use yet effective solution that enables our part-time youth workers to provide the highest level of support without having to worry about the technology.”

Mark Kerr, Chief Executive of Powys County Council, added: "These new vehicles will not only significantly enhance our Youth Information Service, but the built-in satellite communications capability will enable us to deploy the vehicles anywhere in the county at short notice to provide communications support in the event of a local disaster.  They will also provide us with an essential fall back should our central facilities be compromised."

 It is certainly interesting to see how this trend for dual purpose functionality is enabling organisations to cost justify their investment in this level of technology.  In the case of Powys, it illustrates how local authorities can meet their obligations for Civil Contingency within existing budgets.

HART (Hazardous Area Response Teams)

One of the most significant events at the recent AMBEX 2008 exhibition, the UK’s showcase for the NHS and Ambulance Service was the unveiling of the first newly designed and built HART Mobile Incident Response vehicles to roll off the production line.  Excelerate Technology was appointed technology supplier nationally for the HART contract after successfully completing a pilot scheme with London Ambulance.  According to Mark Rainey, CBRN HART co-ordinator for London Ambulance, who was in attendance at AMBEX 2008 to answer questions from other ambulance services about the finished HART vehicle:  “This MIRV represents a significant step forward from the prototype we have been trialling since December 2006 and successfully deployed at more than 250 incidents.  The new vehicle received an overwhelmingly positive response from delegates throughout AMBEX, which is a significant endorsement of what has collectively been achieved by the project team.  Construction is to the highest quality throughout and the improved technology installed has the resilience to deliver a rapid response in any environment.”

“This new generation of HART vehicles will provide high levels of real-time information and resilient communications to enable ambulance service personnel on the ground to make more effective decisions and enhance patient care at major incidents,” concluded Mark Rainey.

 The first vehicles, now widely recognised as being the most comprehensively equipped incident response units ever deployed by ambulance services worldwide, are destined for West Midlands, West Yorkshire and North West NHS Ambulance Trusts.   

David Savage, Chief Executive of Excelerate Technology, commented:  "We are incredibly proud of this new generation of Mobile Incident Response Vehicle and the capability it gives our clients which is the result of more than two years development.  The effective partnerships formed with the NHS and coachbuilders W.H. Bence have ensured that the design, build and technology systems used are a quantum leap ahead of the previous generation of vehicles.”