Indoor GPS-denied First Responder Location and Tracking Solutions

Indoor GPS-denied First Responder Location and Tracking Solutions
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Team Organizations	TRX Systems
Team Leaders	Jeffrey Kunst
Participating Municipalities	Harris County TX
Status	Launched
Document	None

Description

First Responder personnel often work indoors, underground, and in other areas without accurate GPS. Determining the location of public safety personnel working in areas without a clear view of the sky, and therefore without access to reliable GPS, and providing mechanisms to create, access and share map (building and asset) data, is the focus of this project. The objectives are to accelerate availability of improved location accuracy, comprehensive map data sources and tools, and 3D visualization to meet an array of first responder use cases.

Challenges

• GPS doesn’t work inside buildings, underground or in many urban areas where first responders operate every day
• Map data is often unavailable and/or difficult to manage

Solutions

• The project will integrate mapping and location technologies to deliver reliable, real-time 3D location and map information.
• Built upon a foundation based upon NEON Personnel Tracker, the solution will improve command effectiveness and safety for our first responders and the population they serve.

Major Requirements

• Develop target architecture and technology approach
• Validate against first responder use cases
• Identify map data sources and develop appropriate interfaces
• Add/integrate location technologies appropriate for use cases
• Run field tests with First Responder stakeholders
• Finalize mapping and location technology integration
• Launch updated NEON Personnel Tracker solution for first responders

Performance Targets

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)	Measurement Methods
Improve operational efficiency such that response time of first responders (e.g. police and EMTs) at large public events (sporting, concerts, etc.) is reduced by 30% or more. Improve 3D location accuracy to 5m or better radius (95% probability) in gps-denied, preplanned buildings.	Analysis of response time in minutes at public events where system is being tested over 12 month period Measurements of time in minutes before EMTs are allowed to enter a Active Shooter Incident during 2-4 training exercises.

Standards, Replicability, Scalability, and Sustainability

• The project will allow GIS & public safety personnel as well as building owners to deliver 3D map information to a collaborative db of maps.
• The solution will implement a validation process by which map data is continuously validated, using automatic cross correlation of different map data elements.
• The solution will be future-proofed with open APIs that allow any location services provider to deliver location input so that, as new sensor technology or RF sources become available, these may be used as constraints for the localization solution.
• The proposed API will allow synchronization of map data with other (e.g., BIM) databases, using standardized interfaces (ie. OGC).
• The project will create a commercial off-the-shelf software solution with a self-sustaining business model.

Impacts

• Increased operation efficiency of first responders
• Improved safety of first responders and the community they serve

Demonstration/Deployment

Demonstration will include a live demonstration of the NEON Personnel Tracker application including:

• Simple building map tools used to develop 3D building outlines
• Demonstration of inertial, UWB and BLE technologies for personnel tracking and locating
• Real-time 3D location of personnel at the event venue using a NEON Tracking Unit and Android software
• Historical tracking showing 3D tracks of one or more personnel using NEON Command software