https://urgentcomm.com/wp-content/themes/ucm_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • IWCE 2022 Winter Showcase
    • IWCE 2023 Pre-event Guide
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • Commentary
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • All Things IWCE
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • IWCE
    • Conference
    • Special Events
    • Exhibitor Listings
    • Premier Partners
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Register for IWCE
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
    • Cookie Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • Mission Critical Technologies
    • TU-Auto
  • In the field
    • Back
    • In the field
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Internet of Things
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Call Center/Command
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Network Tech
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Operations
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Regulations
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • Organizations
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
Urgent Communications
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Omdia Crit Comms Circle Podcast
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • IWCE 2023 Pre-event Guide
    • IWCE 2022 Winter Showcase
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • All Things IWCE
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • UC eZines
    • Sponsored content
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • Conference
    • Why Attend
    • Exhibitor Listing
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Join the Event Mailing List
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • TU-Auto
  • newsletter
  • In the field
    • Back
    • Internet of Things
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Cybersecurity
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
acc.com

Tracking, Monitoring & Control


News

Mark43, Polaris Wireless partner to deliver first-responder 3D location information to CAD system

Mark43, Polaris Wireless partner to deliver first-responder 3D location information to CAD system

  • Written by Donny Jackson
  • 18th June 2019

Polaris Wireless has announced plans to have its three-dimensional (3D) location technology integrated into the 911 computer-aided-dispatch (CAD) system from new partner Mark43 to help monitor the location of firefighters and other public-safety personnel, particularly when responding to an incident inside a multi-story building.

Public safety has long utilized GPS technology to track the XY location of personnel and vehicles at a response scene, but GPS is of limited use when a responder is inside of a building, because the structure often blocks the satellites’ signals from connecting directly to the user’s device. In addition, GPS does not provide any information about the elevation of the user, which can be troublesome in a multi-story building.

Having a solution that can provide Z-axis location is extremely important, given the proliferation of tall buildings in urban areas—including 488 skyscrapers in the five largest cities in the U.S., according to Matthew Polega, Mark43’s co-founder and vice president of operations.

“Obviously, there’s a ton of police activity that people are responding to in those different skyscrapers, and that doesn’t even includes buildings that are 20 stories, 30 stories, multilevel homes or things like that,” Polega said during an interview with IWCE’s Urgent Communications. “For us to be able to give dispatchers, call-takers and command staff the Z-level orientation and coordinates of where their really valuable first responders are is huge.

“So, this was a natural way for us to answer the question: ‘What additionally can you do to increase first-responder safety out in the field?’”

Partnering with Polaris Wireless lets Mark43 address a notable void in the company’s CAD offering which is a cloud-based service that can be utilized in both mobile environments and in a traditional 911 center, Polega said. “We had this big, gaping issue when an officer went into a high rise, skyscraper or anything that requires some sort of elevation,” Polega said. “That’s when we said, ‘Let’s look for potential partners.’

“We’ve been very much in the mode of, ‘How can we build this ecosystem of partners to give our customers the best experience?’ Mark43 can’t build every single thing, but we can bring a bunch of companies and entities together to make sure that we offer that complete solution. Polaris [Wireless] was the obvious fit.”

Karl Kessenich, executive director of business development for Polaris Wireless, said previous versions of the company’s solution have been focused on providing horizontal and vertical—or Z-axis—location information to carrier customers for 911 purposes. Polaris Wireless continues to await an FCC order formalizing carriers’ 911 Z-axis location requirements, but it has developed a cloud-based, over-the-top application version of its technology that allows the company to pursue other partnerships, such as the one with Mark43, he said.

“Our technology is available today, so we have created this over-the-top capability,” Kessenich said during an interview with IWCE’s Urgent Communications. “In the meantime, we’re trying to bring this solution to first responders through partnerships It allows us to focus on our core expertise, and it allows our partners to integrate and implement high-accuracy 3D location where their users would benefit from it.

“I’ve had my sights set on Mark43 for several years now. But it wasn’t until we came out with this carrier-independent, over-the-top capability that we really had something that we could provide directly to companies like Mark43. Prior to that, we were only really available through carrier networks.”

Polaris Wireless leverages information from the variety of sensors on a smart device such as barometers and accelerometers to help determine the indoor location of a device, whether the user is a first responder or a 911 caller, Kessenich said. But the Polaris Wireless solution is not limited to sensor information from the device, he said.

“It’s not just one technology or a couple of technologies; it’s anything that’s available,” Kessenich said. “We already have the ability to do 3D Wi-Fi positioning vertically—it’s just a function of the availability and maturity of a 3D Wi-Fi database.

“We’re also starting to research and develop some capabilities around the inertial navigation. We can expand on our single-point location and tracking using the inertial sensors and devices. So, we have multiple technologies, and our algorithms decide which measurements are most valuable.”

Leveraging location information from Wi-Fi systems and low-energy Bluetooth beacons can help Polaris Wireless deliver highly accurate location information for most law-enforcement and EMS incidents, Kessenich said. However, accurate location of firefighters typically is much more difficult, because the changes in the environment can be significant during a fire response, he said.

“If they go into a significantly burning building, they may pressurize stairwells to contain the fire, which creates very steep gradients, from a pressure standpoint, and they’ll cut power, so any local Wi-Fi in that building is gone,” Kessenich said.

“That’s why we’re evolving our technology to serve more fire use cases, which are the more challenging ones. That’s where we’re getting into the device and more localized solutions … There are ways to mitigate those challenges, and that’s next in our development.”

Kessenich and Polega said public-safety entities can take advantage of the Mark43-Polaris Wireless partnership immediately and that the companies are looking for agencies that are interested in trialing the technology.

 

 

Tags: homepage-featured-4 Applications Companies Dispatch/Call-taking In-Building Incident Command/Situational Awareness Interoperability News NG-911 Public Safety Standards State & Local Government System Operation Tracking, Monitoring & Control News

Most Recent


  • Verizon officials highlight role of 5G tech for responders during IWCE keynote
    LAS VEGAS—As the public-safety sector continues to expand its use of data-intensive applications, developments in 5G can provide the low-latency, high-bandwidth connectivity to meet these needs, Verizon officials said yesterday during a keynote address at IWCE 2023. Bryan Schromsky, managing partner for Verizon’s public-sector unit, noted that the carrier plans to complete its deployment of […]
  • Day 3 of IWCE 2023 features the opening of the Expo Hall
    A small crowd gathered around a four-legged robot that shifted with lifelike movements, running forward onto the show floor of the 2023 IWCE exposition in Las Vegas, Nev. “It’s meant for public safety and inspection of infrastructure,” said Charlie Robb, chief revenue officer for Common Objects, which had outfitted the Boston Dynamics robot, Spot, with […]
  • Rescue 42 launches miniCRD deployable for FirstNet
    Rescue 42 yesterday announced the launch of its miniCRD (mCRD) for FirstNet, which provides much of the functionality of the company’s Compact Rapid Deployable at a much lower cost.and in an even more portable form factor—two ruggedized cases that are about the size of checked luggage. Rescue 42 CEO Tim O’Connell said the mCRD (pictured […]
  • IWCE 2023
    Safer Buildings Coalition conducts annual event at IWCE 2023
    A common theme ran through the Safer Buildings Coalition’s annual meeting Monday night during IWCE 2023 at the Las Vegas Convention Center—strength through collaboration. “The perception is that the challenge is ‘out there,’ and someday, maybe the challenge will come here,” said Billy Bob Brown Jr., executive assistant director for emergency communications within the Cybersecurity […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

To leave a comment login with your Urgent Comms account:

Log in with your Urgent Comms account

Or alternatively provide your name, email address below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • How 3D location can increase situational awareness and improve operational efficiency
  • Scott Edson, Bob Escalle, Flo Mayr demonstrate communications solution designed to save $7,000 per vehicle
  • Polaris Wireless, Orion Labs: Companies team to develop location-services solution
  • Photo of Manlio Allegra, CEO of Polaris Wireless
    In-building wireless coverage IWCE session sneak peek with Polaris Wireless' CEO Manlio Allegra

Commentary


Updated: How ‘sidelink’ peer-to-peer communications can enhance public-safety operations

  • 1
27th February 2023

NG911 needed to secure our communities and nation

24th February 2023

How 5G is making cities safer, smarter, and more efficient

26th January 2023
view all

Events


UC Ezines


IWCE 2019 Wrap Up

13th May 2019
view all

Twitter


UrgentComm

Gallery: The last day of IWCE 2023 dlvr.it/SllQKJ

30th March 2023
UrgentComm

Video: Opening of the Expo Hall on day three of IWCE 2023 dlvr.it/SlkyNy

30th March 2023
UrgentComm

Verizon officials highlight role of 5G tech for responders during IWCE keynote dlvr.it/Slkh9n

30th March 2023
UrgentComm

Day three of IWCE 2023 features the opening of the Expo Hall dlvr.it/Slhgvr

30th March 2023
UrgentComm

Gallery: The Expo Hall opens on day three of IWCE 2023 dlvr.it/SlhfPT

29th March 2023
UrgentComm

Rescue 42 launches miniCRD deployable for FirstNet dlvr.it/SlgdtY

29th March 2023
UrgentComm

RT @IWCEexpo: 📽️ More sights from Day 2 at #IWCE23. It's been a fantastic start so far... Thanks to you! Tomorrow is another awesome spea…

29th March 2023
UrgentComm

RT @IWCEexpo: Ildefonso De La Cruz Morales, Principal Analyst-Critical Communications @OmdiaHQ takes the stage and kicks off tonight’s Keyn…

29th March 2023

Newsletter

Sign up for UrgentComm’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about Communications and Technology.

Expert Commentary

Learn from experts about the latest technology in automation, machine-learning, big data and cybersecurity.

Business Media

Find the latest videos and media from the market leaders.

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital and print audiences? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • American City & County
  • IWCE
  • Light Reading
  • IOT World Today
  • Mission Critical Technologies
  • TU-Auto

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Careers

FOLLOW Urgent Comms ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.