U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Funding & Awards
 Next Generation Emergency Networks
Award Information
Awardee
              VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE & STATE UNIVERSITY
Award #
              15PNIJ-23-GG-01949-RESS
Funding Category
              Competitive Discretionary
Location
                    BLACKSBURG, VA
Awardee County
              Montgomery
Congressional District
              9
Status
              Open
Funding First Awarded
              2023
Total funding (to date)
              $166,500
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY23 Graduate Research Fellowship
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2023, $166,500)
In emergency situations like fires and mass shootings within buildings, it is crucial to communicate effectively with first responders and those at risk. Providing precise location information and audiovisual cues is necessary to develop responsive strategies and ensure everyone's safety. The Federal Communication Comission (FCC) is seeking innovative solutions to the z-axis localization problem, which requires higher precision for positioning along a building's height due to the difficulty in quickly moving between floors. With advancements in cellular networks, 3GPP, responsible for cellular standards, also recognizes the importance of localization and is seeking innovative solutions to overcome challenges. One significant challenge for emergency networks targeting incidents within buildings is the harsh wireless signal propagation environment, known as the Outdoor-to-Indoor (O2I) scenario. Understanding and characterizing this environment, considering both localization and communication needs, is crucial. To address this challenge, a new cellular architecture proposes using UAV-mounted base stations instead of conventional fixed-location base stations. UAV mobility can improve wireless links' quality, enable effective communication, and facilitate new localization techniques. For wireless links between UAVs outside buildings and User Terminals inside, there are propagation paths due to Reflection, Transmission, Diffraction, and Diffusion mechanisms. To study this scenario further, we use asymptotic techniques from Electromagnetic field theory to evaluate the signal propagation mechanisms as a function of UAV position. User terminals that are located within a building can also establish wireless links with each other, enabling the use of collaborative techniques for localization and communication. We can also incorporate prior information about the building, such as floor plan information, to improve our analysis. The insights we seek to develop can be incorporated into new wireless channel models suitable for emergency networks and can lead to new cellular standards that address these networks' specific needs. We plan to validate our ideas and insights in peer-reviewed Wireless Communication journals. Finally, the goal is to implement prototype systems that utilize current 5G technology, such as Time-of-flight, Angle-of-Arrival, and Received power measurements, with our insights aimed specifically at emergency networks. CA/NCF

  
Date Created: September 14, 2023
    
          Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              Current Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Forthcoming Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Expired Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
    
      
            
            
            
      Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
    
      
            
            
            
      Fellowship & Student Programs
    
      
            
            
            
      Travel Scholarships
    
      
            
            
            
      NIJ Challenge ProgramSimilar Awards
        
                      We Met Them Where They Are, But Is It Enough? A Qualitative Examination Of A Co-Response Outreach Program Servicing Vulnerable Populations in Philadelphia
                  Scalable Multiphone Targeted Data Extraction System
                  Developing, Visualization, and Reporting a Combined 2D+3D Automated Dental Biometrics Identification System for Forensic Odontology
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov