Cisco Cisco IPICS Release 1.0 Information Guide
Customer Case Study
To work around the limitation, Cal Fire set up a communications center with dispatchers from the
various agencies. When Cal Fire wanted the Sheriff’s Department to evacuate a neighborhood,
they radioed the communications center, where a dispatcher relayed the message to the Sheriff’s
department operations center. “Even during a single fire, relaying communications through a
dispatcher typically takes 5 to 10 minutes, and for the San Diego fires, it took 20 to 40 minutes,”
says Captain Guy Chambers, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. To receive updates from the
California Department of Forestry Firefighters, the Sheriff’s Department had to assign a deputy to
ride in a fire truck and relay relevant information back to the department.
various agencies. When Cal Fire wanted the Sheriff’s Department to evacuate a neighborhood,
they radioed the communications center, where a dispatcher relayed the message to the Sheriff’s
department operations center. “Even during a single fire, relaying communications through a
dispatcher typically takes 5 to 10 minutes, and for the San Diego fires, it took 20 to 40 minutes,”
says Captain Guy Chambers, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. To receive updates from the
California Department of Forestry Firefighters, the Sheriff’s Department had to assign a deputy to
ride in a fire truck and relay relevant information back to the department.
“I can unequivocally say that the NERV was instrumental in
helping us manage the Harris Fire properly. Without it, we
probably would have lost structures and lives.”
helping us manage the Harris Fire properly. Without it, we
probably would have lost structures and lives.”
—Captain Guy Chambers, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
Network Solution
The day after the fires began, the Sheriff’s Department received a call from the Cisco Tactical
Operations Support group, which offered the use of its Network Emergency Response Vehicle
(NERV). The vehicle, one of several that Cisco dispatches to emergency sites throughout the
United States, is equipped with multiple advanced communications technologies, has a conference
area that seats eight comfortably, and can serve as a central communications center for an
incident. Cisco also provides the know-how to rapidly set up the NERV at the incident site, applying
lessons learned from other emergency incidents. The Sheriff’s Department readily agreed to the
offer.
Operations Support group, which offered the use of its Network Emergency Response Vehicle
(NERV). The vehicle, one of several that Cisco dispatches to emergency sites throughout the
United States, is equipped with multiple advanced communications technologies, has a conference
area that seats eight comfortably, and can serve as a central communications center for an
incident. Cisco also provides the know-how to rapidly set up the NERV at the incident site, applying
lessons learned from other emergency incidents. The Sheriff’s Department readily agreed to the
offer.
The NERV was parked beside the Harris Fire Mobile Command Vehicle. Within 30 minutes, Cisco
had provided wired and wireless connectivity for voice, video, and data. Communications
technologies aboard the NERV include:
had provided wired and wireless connectivity for voice, video, and data. Communications
technologies aboard the NERV include:
●
Cisco IP Interoperability and Collaboration System (IPICS): This allows personnel from
different agencies to join the same talk group using any radio system, cell phone, traditional
phone, or laptop with appropriate software.
different agencies to join the same talk group using any radio system, cell phone, traditional
phone, or laptop with appropriate software.
●
Landline Cisco Unified IP phones: When their cell phone batteries died or the network was
congested, department personnel used the Cisco Unified IP phones in the NERV to
communicate with sergeants in the field as well as operational chiefs from other commands.
Deputies stopped in during their breaks to call home and reassure their families that they
were safe.
congested, department personnel used the Cisco Unified IP phones in the NERV to
communicate with sergeants in the field as well as operational chiefs from other commands.
Deputies stopped in during their breaks to call home and reassure their families that they
were safe.
●
Cisco Wireless Unified IP phones with a North Carolina area code: Field personnel could
make and receive calls with these phones when the local cellular network was congested.
make and receive calls with these phones when the local cellular network was congested.
●
WiFi network: The Sheriff’s Department made the network available to all agencies on the
scene so that first responders could check email from their laptops.
scene so that first responders could check email from their laptops.
●
Cisco Video Surveillance Solution: The Sheriff’s Department used digital video surveillance
cameras mounted on the vehicle’s mast to monitor comings and goings at a nearby
evacuation center set up at a high school. The live video provided early awareness of
potential safety threats.
cameras mounted on the vehicle’s mast to monitor comings and goings at a nearby
evacuation center set up at a high school. The live video provided early awareness of
potential safety threats.
●
Videoconferencing capabilities.
© 2008 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.
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