Techno pause

In the past few years, I've gained a bit of a reputation as someone who likes to take full advantage of technology. This comes with the usual Gadget Man, Wannabe Geek and Techie titles... and I've weathered those. Truth is, we've come to a point in our development where I think we now have the tools (not toys) available for us to do a professional job. There is still the GIS web portal project and the CDEM Group website to roll off the production line, but that will take a little while yet. It is my intention to now consolidate what we have and make sure the training is in place to take full advantage of the tools. Here is a brief summary of what we've introduced...

Groove - is the Microsoft collaboration software that allows us to synchronise information across organisations. Groove is used by the United Nations in the harshest environments and certainly suits our Group operations. Groove has day-to-day applicability too we can become familiar with it outside of emergencies. Full implementation of Groove across the CDEM Group members is yet to be achieved but we are getting there slowly. The Horizons team has this fully up and running now.

Skype - free voice over IP software - we get to make free telephone and video calls to other Skype users. Some IT people freak at the use of this software but we have restricted installation to the EM laptops.

Google - Google Earth, Gmail, Google sites, Google Reader, Google docs, iGoogle and the whole Google suite have become central to an EM capability if the Horizons servers drop off-line for some reason. HorizonsEM@gmail.com is now the generic address that subscribes to warnings from several agencies. This is a back-up to our internal addresses subscribing.

Mobile office - we have put together a capability to operate outside of the Horizons environment. This includes a kit with three laptops and a printer/scanner/fax with all the connectivity options. This is partnered with a second kit with a small business PABX for a fully functional office telephone system. The EM team members have also gone to laptops, rather than dumb terminals, configured the same as the mobile office laptops.

BGAN - with the introduction of the Broadband Global Area Network service provided by Inmarsat, we've purchased an Explorer 700 terminal. This will enable us to connect the mobile office to the internet and telephony if the normal terrestrial systems are either out of service or just out of range. The terminal is a high-end product that will allow fast and reliable transmission of all forms of data.

EOC laptops - with the increasing use of technology, we found we were using the mobile office in the EOC. As it wasn't intended for that, we've introduced nine eeePCs (small laptops) to work in the Horizons EOC. These are configured the same as the mobile office and can be used outside the EOC if required.

GPS camera - the GPS enabled camera allows us to take photos in the field and transmit them back to the office in near-real time.

Data-over-radio - for the cost of a cable and a little bit of re-programming, we've set up our CDEM Group radios to be able to transmit packets of text. This is a real backup to the backup but will save time reading long sitreps out over the air.

WebSMS - I recently posted about this and the service is working out well.

SmarTrak - the ability to track many of the Council vehicles using cellular GPS services.

SPOT - satellite personal trackers were introduced when the old 243MHz personal locator beacons went off-line. These have a day-to-day functionality the the old beacons didn't have. You can confirm that you are OK and where you are. The system sends an SMS and e-mail to people you pre-select. If you need help there's that option too... if you need emergency assistance, there's a 911 button - this goes to the Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

Spidertracks - similar to SmarTrak but we only have a single unit. This unit can be moved around vehicles and is ideally suited to extended operations in areas where these is no cellphone coverage. Spidertracks is a satellite based GPS tracking system.

Webcams - we've introduced a few new webcams in the region... Whanganui River Mouth, Tangiwai, Opiki and one still to come at Akitio (really soon hopefully). The coastal cams are for storm surge observations, the Tangiwai cam for lahar and river height obs, Opiki is the floodway across SH 56. The Whanganui cam had nearly 1000 unique hits over Easter weekend alone.

Freeview - with a couple of Freeview decoders introduced into the EOC, we can now monitor news items on monitors in the EOC and adjoining office. This will help us gain intelligence that media are gathering. There's nothing like a bit of news footage to put things into context.

Green RIG - the Council's education vehicle is also fitted out for alternative EOC functions. Aerials have been fitted to the RIG and we've tested the mobile office equipment in the RIG to ensure everything works.

So... that's what we've been up to - and you thought we were twiddling our thumbs! Oh.. let's not forget the really cool blog we've started!