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In conjunction with its subsidiary, Kelvin Connect, Airwave was also showing its Pronto electronic police notebook and information management solution, aimed at helping police transform core business processes and empower the front line on the street. Lothian and Borders Police have been using the product for over four years and have reported combined cashable savings of over £600,000 per year so far, while the company has also recently won a contract to add another 500 users to its existing relationship with Surrey Police. Messaging services and infrastructure was also the focus of exhibitor PageOne Communications, operator of one of the largest paging networks in the UK, along with its partner Swissphone. PageOne highlighted the need for emergency services to gets the best performance and lowest operating costs for their critical messaging functions, using the event to offer a preview into its dual frequency scanning solution. Once launched, the solution will allow organisations to simultaneously monitor critical messages both on-site as well as wide-area, removing the need to maintain extensive on-site paging systems when wide-area paging coverage is already available. A dual-frequency pager will continually monitor both channels, decoding messages from whichever has the strongest signal. At the device and systems end of the messaging chain, Multitone was displaying its Waterproof Pager (WP) device and its FireCoder Unified Communications solution. Providing up to 4000 hours of standard battery life, the WaterProof Pager is IP67 rated and had been tested in water up to one meter deep. Programming and management of the WP Pager is achieved by linking it up to a computer via a standard USB cable and pager cradle, allowing users and work groups to be defined, standard messages pre-programmed and up to 14 different tones can be specified to give instant audible meanings to alerts. To support the operation of both full-time and retained crews, the Multitone Firecoder is Home Office accredited, to ensure secure message delivery and provide a full audit trail, while meeting the Home Office’s MG4 specification for fire-fighter alerting. In addition to system messages, the unit can also deliver ‘unsolicited’ messages to a GD92-based network manger, providing for a degree of self-monitoring with remote diagnostics and configuration functions. Concentrating on one of the core themes of the show – improving decision making and the efficient use of resources – APD Communications announced the launch of Artemis, a module-based, comprehensive resource and information management system. By taking a modular approach, it becomes possible to create a platform tailored specifically for the needs of each individual customer, but without the need for extensive bespoke development and engineering. Commented Jonathan Hamill, sales and marketing director at APD, “UK police forces are under severe financial pressure, so solutions that assist forces in realising their transformational goals while reducing costs are of critical importance. Artemis can play a vital role in achieving more efficient resource management, improving environmental footprints and increasing public confidence.” Modules available so far include: resource location, historical replay, reporting suite, resource utilisation, driver ID, driver behaviour, vehicle management, incident data recording, sat-nav dispatch, cross-border collaboration and customised applets to interface with peripheral equipment. One aspect of the Artemis portfolio that has already achieved very successful results in trials with both ACPO ITS and the One Box Consortium, plus organisations such as West Midlands Police, involves the ability to analyse driver behaviour and vehicle usage. With this in place, emergency organisations can promote driver accountability and reinforce economical driving behaviour – potentially saving large sums in fuel costs – while simultaneously monitoring vehicle conditions automatically to reduce ownership and maintenance overheads and keep vital assets on the road for longer. Relative newcomer to the UK Hytera, recently moved to new premises in Slough, used BAPCO to present its new range of DMR and TETRA handsets and network infrastructure as well as its SmartDispatch digital dispatching solution for both public safety and enterprise users. Incorporating GPS and with ATEX-compliant products also available, the range includes a number of repeater units for backpack or in-vehicle use. Additionally, Hytera was also promoting its X1e digital covert radio, which it claims is the world’s thinnest and smallest device of its type currently available. General Dynamics had a major presence at the event too, showcasing a broad range of systems and products, covering command and control, situational and geographic awareness and advanced video surveillance solutions. Highlighting the need for increased resilience for communications solutions when out of range of conventional networks or when existing systems are overloaded, the company was displaying its portfolio of ruggedised Pathmaker networked radios and devices that use ad-hoc networking techniques to support both private and group communications and user location on the fly.
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