How GPS Tracking Aids Post 9/11 Homeland Security

It's now been a few years since the 9/11 attackscommunication. Although radios are trusted and
on the World Trade Center and many of us getreliable, responders experience difficulty describing
complacent thinking that no more attacks on UScomplex situations and strategies using verbal
soil will ever happen. But what has been reportedcommunication alone.
by Washington is that there are now 10,000The integrated tracking device allows
foreigners from states that sponsor terrorismcommanders and operators enhanced situational
living in the US and they have obtained permanentawareness by overlaying actual unit positions
residency in the the United States in the past 7dynamically on top of the operations plans. Our
years. So the risk of yet even more powerfuloperators were pleased with the robustness,
attacks on US soil is only a matter of time. Weease-of-use, fast training, and intuitive look and
must not get lulled into thinking it won't happenfeel of this new technology which allowed them
again.to focus their attention more on sharpening their
This article explores the ways in which GPStactical skills using the tool rather than being
Tracking technology is being used in conjunctionfrustrated by its complexity.
of an application called the Mobile TacticalFrom campus security to port security, from
Collaboration System. It's and example of thecritical infrastructure protection to border patrol,
Mobile Command Post of the Future tofrom major sporting event security management
effectively help coordinate missions to thwartto VIP transportation, from man-made to
another major terrorist attack.environmental disaster response, the challenges
First we preset details of an exercise performedfaced by public safety officials and first
during the Southwestern Pennsylvania Operationresponders in the post 9/11 world are as complex
Steel Hammer; a harbor security counterterrorismas they are numerous.
exercise in the City of Pittsburgh.About Mobile Tactical Collaboration System:
At approximately 0900 hours this morning,Developed using industry standard Web 2.0-based
Pittsburgh River Rescue police officers observed atechnologies, MTCS represents the next
small boat moored along the water entrance ofgeneration of intuitive, easy-to-use browser-based
the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.collaborative command and control solutions for
Two occupants were spotted and as they werepublic safety. Because a picture is worth a
questioned, one of the officers observed athousand words, MTCS enhances public safety
suspicious package. Additional searches of theofficers ability to communicate and collaborate
boat revealed the existence of schedules andvisually and in real-time using tactical graphics,
photographs of Gateway Clipper Fleet vessels,digital maps, and shared workspaces. It facilitates
suggesting an attempt may be underway tothe rapid design of multiple scenarios, one or
commandeer one of the vessels and ram it ontomore of which can be executed based on
a bridge support and/or detonate a hazardousreal-time contingencies and at the discretion of
device.tactical commanders.
This was confirmed by an emergency call fromThe MTCS platform addresses the 5Cs of
Fleet offices that one of their boats, the LibertyInteroperability for tactical operators and first
Belle, had been commandeered by unknownresponders - Communication, Collaboration,
assailants.Coordination, Command and Control. This level of
A multi-jurisdictional and multidisciplinary task forceinteroperability is a must for critical incidents
was mobilized which included Pittsburgh Riverrequiring multi-jurisdictional and multidisciplinary
Rescue Unit, Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD),response, and for the related exercises necessary
Pittsburgh Police Special Deployment Division (akato sharpen the tactical proficiencies of operators.
SWAT), Pittsburgh Fire Bureau, EMS Divers,MTCS is accessible by authorized personnel in the
Pennsylvania State Police SERT, Intelligence Unit,field using mobile data terminals or ultra mobile
and Office of Emergency Management, toPCs via secure wireless broadband, or at the
identify, assess, interdict, board the Liberty Belleoperation center using desktop PCs and LAN lines.
and neutralize the threat.Microsoft Virtual Earth is the standard mapping
Thus began the Pittsburgh portion of Operationimagery delivered by MTCS, however other
Steel Hammer, a 13-county Southwesterncustomer imagery can be incorporated.
Pennsylvania regional (Region 13) counterterrorismAdvanTraq GPS and MTCS provide commanders
exercise under the auspices of the USand other senior leadership an unprecedented level
Department of Homeland Security.of real-time situational awareness of an executing
Following the exercise, the quotes from Steeloperation and its operators, significantly increasing
Hammer participants about the benefits theyoperator accountability and safety. The versatility
gained from using MTCS and AdvanTraq GPSof the MTCS platform enables it to be used by
were punctuated by 'awesome'. They included:law enforcement, fire/EMS, search and rescue,
MTCS workspaces and common operating pictureand EOC personnel in a variety of command and
enabled operators to communicate, collaborate,control scenarios. These include perimeter and
and coordinate visually, effectively, and in realborder security, SWAT operations, major sporting
time.event security management, disaster security
Until the introduction of the Mobile Tacticalresponse, multi-alarm fire suppression,
Collaboration System, first responders had to relypreparedness training and exercises, post-incident
exclusively on radio handsets for tacticalanalysis, and day-to-day public safety activities.