Wildland Fire
Four considerations for scaling mesh networks on the fireline
This year has been one of the worst on record for wildfire response operations and crews around the globe. It started in Australia at the very beginning of the year, with brushfires that were so devastating and destructive that they were headline news on every continent, burnt approximately 46 million
Video | Reimagining the wildland firefighter communications toolkit
As wildfires grow increasingly severe, we need to rethink the technology and equipment our firefighters rely on to stay safe, connected, and aware. This session from the 2020 Colorado Wildland Firefighter Conference will provide an overview of the new and innovative communications technologies that are enhancing resilience and accountability on
CivTAK brings military-grade situational awareness to any professional team — here’s how to take CivTAK off the grid
The civilian version of the U.S. military’s situational awareness application, ATAK, is officially released so any team around the world can take advantage of its leading tools for teamwide command and control — completely free of charge. The Team Awareness Kit for Android (often referred to as CivTAK or TAK-CIV)
Maintaining situational awareness off the grid a hot topic at IWCE 2020
When disasters damage or destroy terrestrial communications networks, first responders need rapidly deployable equipment to maintain situational awareness and communications. This was one of the central discussions during the 2020 International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE 2020), a virtual event that brought together critical communications technology providers, practitioners, and other industry
Look to the skies for the future of fighting wildfires
In my previous article on The Last Mile, I looked at the current state of the wildfire threat in the United States and how recent climate changes and shifts in our environment are not only making wildfires more frequent, they’re making them more destructive and deadly. In that article, I
Denied in the heat of battle – why traditional radios fall short when battling a wildfire
The summer and fall months are peak wildfire season thanks to a combination of warm, dry weather, low precipitation and high winds. And these months are incredibly important for firefighters and emergency response organizations across the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest because of a wildfire’s sheer destructive potential. Just last
Making the case for smartphones
Ask the average millennial or member of Gen Z to find you something on a paper map. If you do, I hope you’re prepared to wait for a while. Millennials have been accused of killing everything from chain restaurants to the diamond industry. And I’m certainly not trying to jump