Q: What is PSCR doing to ensure MC PTT is interoperable across carriers?

PSCR is involved in two areas to ensure or increase interoperability across networks:

■ PSCR has recently awarded a cooperative agreement with Nemergent

Solutions titled "BroadImPort: Importing European BroadPort MCX concepts

to US market needs." The goal of the award is to address interoperability

across networks in regard to MCX (MCPTT, MCVideo, MCData). Some issues

have arisen from a lack of 3GPP-compliant solutions. Some of the issues stem

from the use of proprietary technology, among other things. The concept of

the solution is to use fully standardized procedures. This project will also

include LMR-MCX interworking capabilities. More information can be found

here:

https://www.nist.gov/ctl/pscr/funding-opportunities/past-funding-opportuniti

es/psiap-2022/broadimport-importing-european

■ PSCR is the lead rapporteur in the 3GPP for MCX conformance test case

creation. MCX, as defined by the 3GPP, is inherently designed to be

interoperable across multiple networks. But without conformance to

standards, interoperability across carriers and between different devices and

applications becomes uncertain. To help promote the execution of the created

test cases, PSCR has given 4 awards (3 cooperative agreements and a

procurement) to equipment manufacturers to create test equipment that

supports the 3GPP MCX test cases. Certification labs need the test equipment

to verify MCX functionality and ensure conformance requirements of devices

and applications. Some of the awardees have also worked on defining the

certification process that the certification labs will use. More information can

be found here:

https://www.nist.gov/ctl/pscr/funding-opportunities/past-funding-opportuniti

es/psiap-mcv-test-equipment

Q: Will the use of lidar/radar/ and infrared play a role together with interior personnel location?

Lidar, radar, and infrared detection are all sensing modalities that can aid in indoor

localization. Lidar, especially, is a proven technology for creating accurate 3D models of indoor

spaces. Accurate 3D models will play an important role in the display of indoor location

information of personnel.

Q: Are there still continuing opportunities for Public Safety to support the center?

Yes, please reach out to pscr@nist.gov if you are interested in engaging with PSCR for future

research activities or to come tour the PSITC.

Q: How do you keep the tester safe while using the physical staircase in the ITC space?
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A safety plan has been created for using the staircase in the ITC, including training, hardhats,

and appropriate usage. This system is only deployed for indoor location testing and will not be

used for VR or AR studies.

Q: Is there a way to compare the effectiveness of different content? Some randomized evaluation

capability? I'm trying to develop effective training content but it is difficult to scaffold

advancements in training without a baseline of performance.

There are a variety of methods to approach this but one that is NIST PSCR and AR relevant may

be this resource:

https://www.nist.gov/publications/augmented-reality-ar-usability-evaluation-framework-case

-public-safety-communications

Q: XY and Z axis location will only be of use if the spatialrelationships of the internal

environment are understood in real time (floors, ceilings, ingress egress etc.). Is the goal to have

this real time common operating picture? Without this, the disconnect will hinderthe usability of

location as merely a data point within a structure.

Yes, indoor location information must be known relative to the structure of the building for it

to be most useful for public safety. PSCR has worked, and continues to work, with external

collaborators to explore the use of lidar and camera based mapping systems that can rapidly

produce accurate 3D models of structures. These concepts will also be an important part of the

FRST Challenge and the CommanDING Tech Challenge.