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Firefighter Finder

by msecadm4921

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service is working with a multi-national organisation in the development of a Global Positioning System (GPS), which could help firefighters locate one another at major incidents.

The service has joined forces with the Research and Technology lab of Thales UK, in Reading, to assist in the development on the company’s new Indoor Positioning System (IPS), which can pinpoint people inside smoke filled buildings. IPS uses a new form of radio signal called Ultra Wide Band, which is able to penetrate structures enabling firefighters to monitor one another three dimensionally within buildings. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service is due to begin live trials of the equipment from April.

Group Manager Mick Johns, who is responsible for Command Strategy and Specialist Response at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "This is a very exciting project to be involved with and one that could prove invaluable in the way fire and rescue services operate in the future.
"It should assist firefighters in establishing their position in buildings, in relation to one another, and also in relation to fire appliances and other objects. It will also allow Commanders to ensure that searches of specific areas are thoroughly completed as quickly and efficiently as possible."

Traditionally GPS systems, such as SatNav, often have difficulty operating indoors because signals are deflected off buildings or are too weak to be effective. However IPS is transmitted over an ultra wide band frequency ensuring accuracy. It has taken nearly three years to develop the system which will be trialled by Hampshire fire service but could go on to be used by other emergency services and the armed forces.

Group Manager Johns adds: "By working with Thales we are offering them the opportunity to develop their technology in an operational environment, thereby expanding their knowledge of safe working practices in order for them to develop the system further. During the trial they will be able to adapt the technology and hopefully reach a stage where it is small enough and robust enough to become a ‘must have’ item for emergency services."

Collaborating

Thales UK technical manager for research, Mike Quinlan, said: "The technology and programming being used to develop IPS is unlike anything else out there. Ultra Wide Band is designed to cover a very wide band of frequencies. This enables the system to operate within buildings, which are typically very difficult environments for normal radio systems. Firefighters often find themselves in very dangerous positions, so IPS could be invaluable in helping them establish their position whether they are indoors or outdoors."

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