# Presentation: 147132

## Overview of Georgia’s Interoperable Communications System 

***By Dr. Douglas Cobb (Presenter),              Doug Cohen and Jay Sexton***
***Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI***)

## Discussion Topics

- Background – GTRI and Georgia
- Overview - LETPP Interoperable Communications Project
- Lessons Learned
- Questions

## GTRI and Project Team

- Nonprofit applied research organization
- Integral part of Georgia Tech
- 1290 employees; 547 Research/Faculty – 72% hold advanced degrees
- Project team from Communications Network Division (CND) of the Information Technology and Telecommunications Laboratory (ITTL)
- CND develops and evaluates communications systems for the DOD; local, state, federal, and tribal governments; private industry; and others

## Georgia Background

- Land Area: 57,906 Square Miles (Largest state east of the Mississippi River; 24th largest overall)
- Population: 9,072,576 (2005 Census Bureau estimate)
- Borders: 5 States (Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee)
- Coastline: 100 miles
- Number of Counties: 159 (2nd Most)

## Georgia Background (Continued)

- Over 55% of population lives in 28 counties of metro Atlanta
- Majority of communications is VHF
- Larger urban areas migrating to 800 MHz digital systems
- Major Radio Infrastructure Vendors: Motorola, M/A-COM, Kenwood
- Previous state-wide public safety communication efforts terminated before implementation

## LETPP Solution

- Provides interoperable communications for first responders throughout the state
- Uses existing Radio Frequency infrastructure
- Achieves “on demand” interoperability through overlay additions to the current RF infrastructure: IP network backbone, IP network components and Mobile Communications Units
- Allows interoperability between disparate radio system technologies
- Will not increase RF coverage, channel capacity, eliminate technology obsolescence

**Notes:**
Feasibility Study 
– What can we do with this money to address interoperable communications?

The requirement from GEMA was for the functionality to meet or exceed the 75% of the state population. Actually, it is over 80%.

## LETPP Solution

- Interoperable communications for first responders at the local level
- Interoperability with neighboring jurisdictions
- Dispatch back-up capability with other agencies for continuity of operations
- Dispatch conferencing with other departments and agencies
- Interoperable communications state-wide in major events

**Notes:**
Feasibility Study 
– What can we do with this money to address interoperable communications?

The requirement from GEMA was for the functionality to meet or exceed the 75% of the state population. Actually, it is over 80%.

## LETPP System

- Is flexible and scalable
- Achieves functionality with both fixed and mobile communications assets
- Will be completed by December 2007
- Is budgeted for approximately $11M
- Will be administered by three working groups: Task Force Requirements Analysis Group, Technical Working Group, Operations Working Group

**Notes:**
Feasibility Study 
– What can we do with this money to address interoperable communications?

The requirement from GEMA was for the functionality to meet or exceed the 75% of the state population. Actually, it is over 80%.

## Administrative Model

**Notes:**
Sheriffs and police are doubly represented because the LETPP grant is given to the Police and Sheriffs.

## Project Stakeholders

- Georgia Sheriffs Association
- Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police
- Georgia Emergency Management Association (GEMA)
- Georgia State Patrol (GSP)
- Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI)
- Georgia 9-1-1 Directors
- Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs
- Georgia Technology Authority (GTA)
- Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)
- Local Governments

##  Local Government/Agency Responsibilities

- Make Facilities Ready for Equipment
- Provide Own Radio Resources for Gateway Units
- Obtain Necessary MOAs
- Develop and Support System Operational Procedures
- Support Training and Exercise Programs

**Notes:**
Point out that each PSAP (county) will be provided with a VHF radio and antenna installation as past of the standard install from the state.

## Network Enterprise

- Georgia State Patrol - Business Owner & Network Administrator
- Local Governments/Agencies – Operators
- First Responders – End Users

**Notes:**
Point out that we work for GEMA

## Planning

- Technical and Financial Feasibility
- Marketing
- System Requirements
- High-Level Project Planning
- Procurement (RFQC and RFP)
- Detailed Project Planning

## Procurement

- Managed by Procurement Officer in the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA)
- State of Georgia Procurement Process
- Contract and Legal Support – GTA, Attorney General’s Office, GEMA
- RFQC, RFP Development and Evaluation – GTRI (lead), GTA
- Six calendar months
- Controlling documents – contract, RFP, RFP Responses
- No Protest

**Notes:**
Business processes
RFQC
RFP
Vendor single point of contact – procurement officer
Organizational structure
Specialists – procurement process, technical, application, legal, voting and non-voting members
Management of vendors, management of evaluation team
Evaluation criteria
Technical
Price – initial, recurring, TCO
Contract structure
Part of RFP or Separate
Performance Bond or Alternatives
Contract negotiation
Ts and Cs
Last and Final Offer
Dealing with protest
Single point of contact
Legal involvement throughout
Post award de-briefing

## Motorola MOTOBridge

- Comprised of 4 basic components:
- Operational Management Control (OMC) Server
- Keeps track of network configuration and is used to manage entire system
- Two redundant systems (main and backup)
- Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) Server
- Sets up calls on the system
- Two redundant systems (main and backup)
- Radio Gateway Unit (RGU)
- Connects the radio systems into the network
- Resides in every jurisdiction (usually in communications center)
- Work Station Gateway Unit (WSGU)
- Gives dispatcher access to the system
- Resides in every jurisdiction (usually in communications center)

**Notes:**
The first two (OMC & SIP) don’t really affect the PSAP. They are located in Glynn County and at the State Patrol (Confederate Ave, ATL GA)

The last two are the equipment located at a PSAP.

## MOTOBridge Technology

- SIP Server

- System A

- System B

- OMC Server

- MPLS

- Dispatch

- 911 Dispatch

- VHF

- 800 MHz

- UHF

- RGU

- RGU

- WSGU

- WSGU

- VHF

- MCU

**Notes:**
Top level function diagram.

## Slide 17

**Notes:**
Point out that Motorola is monitoring the network for problems and failures.

Two MCUs located at Cobb and Wayne counties

## Project Organization

## Project Responsibilities

- GEMA – Overall Program Management
- GTRI – Project Management, Consulting Services
- Motorola (Motorola Shops, SpaceNet) – Project Management, MOTOBridge Gateway Products & Services, Satellite Services
- GTA (AT&T) – Project Management, Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) Services

## Design

- Data network specifications
- Network resource naming and addressing
- Network security
- Core site design
- Mobile Communications Unit design
- Training, technical support, test procedures, standard operating procedures
- Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP)
- Methodology
- Detailed design

## Project Evolution

- Pilot Phase
- 4 PSAPs
- 1 MCU
- 2 OMC Servers
- 2 SIP Servers
- Phase 1 (Additions)
- 64 PSAPs
- 1 MCU
- Phase 2 (Funded Additions)
- 37 PSAPs
- Phase 3 (Estimated Additions)
- 40 PSAPs

## PSAP Design & 

**Implementation**

## PSAP Design Activities

- Site Walk by GTRI
- Survey current power, data connectivity, space, and radio systems in use
- Identify space, power, rack requirements, data connectivity and schedule required for LETPP
- Identify Agencies dispatched
- Interoperability Workshop facilitated by GTRI
- PSAP staff internalizes interoperable needs through  completion of Agency Interoperability Matrix (AIM)
- Row 1 – Agencies Dispatched; Column 1 – Desired Interoperability; Cells – How accomplished
- Assign Radio Resources by type and quantity to satisfy AIM
- Create Interoperability Roadmap

- © Copyright 2005-2007
- Georgia Tech Research Corporation
- Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0415
- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

## RGU Interoperability

**4W+Tone Remote Control**

## AIM and RGU

| Agency/
Agency |   | County 
Dispatch | Cherokee 
SO | Holly
Springs PD |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pickens 
County | Dispatch | PSTN | R-GU/VHF | R-GU/VHF |
|  | Radio | R-GU/VHF | R-GU/VHF | R-GU/VHF |
| Dawson 
County | Dispatch | PSTN | R-GU/VHF | R-GU/VHF |
|  | Radio | R-GU/VHF | R-GU/VHF | R-GU/VHF |
| GSP  | Dispatch | PSTN, 
WS-GU | R-GU/NET | R-GU/NET |
|  | Radio | R-GU/NET | R-GU/NET | R-GU/NET |

| Ports | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  |   |  |  |  |
| Resource Type | VHF-H MA | Console I/F | Console I/F | 800 MHz A/D |
| Radio Resource | Control Station | Console I/F | Console I/F | Control Station |
|  | CDM-1550 |   |   | XTL-5000 |
| Source of Resource | State | Local | Local | Local |

- © Copyright 2005-2007
- Georgia Tech Research Corp.
- Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0415
- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

## PSAP Investment Summary

- PSAP Equipment
- RGU, WSGU, Workstation, VHF Radio System
- Network Connectivity
- Common System Equipment (share)
- OMC Servers, SIP Servers, MCUs
- Network Connectivity
- Common Services (share)
- Procurement, Technical, Project Management, Training, Support
**Local Government Provided: $5,500 (average)**
- Control Stations, Dispatch Console Interfaces

**PSAP Investment Summary**

## Workstation Installation

## Rack Installation

## MCU

## MCU

- Radio Resources
- 1 VHF repeater
- 5 channel 800 MHz Trunking Capable Repeater System (MCU #1 only)
- 1 Aviation Radio
- 2 Amateur Radios
- 2 800 MHz Control Stations
- 2 VHF Control Stations
- 2 UHF Control Stations
- 1 Low Band Control Station
- Cache of 25 800 MHz and 25 VHF portables
- Operational Modes
- Interconnected to LETPP MPLS via satellite
- Free standing

## System Testing

- Site Tests (PSAP and Core)
- Mobile Communications Unit Acceptance Test
- Pilot Acceptance Test
- Overall System Acceptance Test

**System**** Testing**

## Standard Operating Procedures

- PSAP (End User)
- Core Sites (Network Administrator)
- Business, Technical
- Mobile Communication Unit
- Gateway Vendor
- IP (MPLS) Network
- Reseller, Service Provider
- Satellite Service Provider

## Training and Education

- End Users (Train the Trainer)
- System Administrators
- System Engineers
- MCU Operators
- LETPP Exercises
- Local
- Regional
- State-wide

**Training and Education**

## Marketing

- Presentations to Stakeholders
- GEMA Newsletters
- Project Kick-off Meetings
- Presentations and demos at Georgia Emergency Management Conferences
- Print media interviews and articles
- Television interview and news clip

## Coverage Map

**Notes:**
How did the counties get selected?
1) Population – Took top 40 most populous counties
2) Critical infrastructure
 – nuclear power plants (Appling (Hatch, Appling GA), Burke (Vogtle, GA), & Early (Farley, Dothan AL) counties. 
3) Transportation corridors – 75, 95, 16 big ones for hurricane evacuation

## Interstate Interoperability

- Muscogee County – Phenix City, AL
- Catoosa County – Chattanooga, TN
- Columbia County – Aiken, SC
- 	(In Discussion)
- Richmond County – SC (Palmetto 800 Network)
- TBD County – Florida (Florida Interoperability Network)

##   Project Time Lines

- Feasibility Complete – 12/04
- Project Start – 2/05
- Procurement Complete – 9/05
- Pilot Project Start – 11/05
- Phase One Production Start – 7/06
- Phase Two Production Start – 2/07
- Phase Two Production Complete – 12/07
- Phase Three Production (estimate) – 1/08 to 12/08

**Notes:**
Point out the following dates:

Feasibility study
Procurement
Pilot start 
Pilot finish
Production finish

## Draw on the experience of others
Use executive sponsor to deal with political issues
Create a synergistic environment for combined project teams
Deliver consistent messages
Invite elected officials, local government administrators, public safety chiefs to project kickoff meeting

- Use executive sponsor to deal with political issues
- Create a synergistic environment for combined project teams
- Deliver consistent messages
- Invite elected officials, local government administrators, public safety chiefs to project kickoff meeting

**Lessons Learned**

## Tune the implementation process periodically and with any significant change
Thorough documentation is critical to project success
Be prepared for delays due to redesign – system of systems

- Thorough documentation is critical to project success
- Be prepared for delays due to redesign – system of systems

**Lessons Learned**

## Local radio shops are key to project success
Gateway training for shops should be timely with multiple representatives per shop
Expect implementation quality variations in shops - minimize with better documentation

- Gateway training for shops should be timely with multiple representatives per shop
- Expect implementation quality variations in shops - minimize with better documentation

**Lessons Learned**

## Involve local finance personnel in kickoff meetings and allow project time in the decision process for a board meeting
Involve the shops in client meetings, particularly interoperability workshops
Teach solution value by involving the client in the PSAP design process
Project should address technology, associated business processes and necessary organizational structure 

- Involve the shops in client meetings, particularly interoperability workshops
- Teach solution value by involving the client in the PSAP design process
- Project should address technology, associated business processes and necessary organizational structure

**Lessons Learned**

## Questions?

**Notes:**
Point out that we work for GEMA

## Contact Information

- Douglas Cobb – 404-407-6343
- 	douglas.cobb@gtri.gatech.edu
- Doug Cohen – 404-407-6985
- 	douglas.cohen@gtri.gatech.edu
- Jay Sexton – 404-407-6653
- 	jay.sexton@gtri.gatech.edu

**Notes:**
Point out that we work for GEMA