Inmarsat plc, the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, and the Immersive Visualization Center at San Diego State University’s Homeland Security Program, today announced a new partnership to develop and test solutions to extend the availability of time-critical GIS data to remote fire teams fighting wildfires.
Utilizing Inmarsat’s innovative Broadband Global Area Network service and building on cutting-edge visualization research at San Diego State University, the partnership will develop solutions to replace static, hours-old information with dynamic, real-time data.
Previously, GIS information critical to wildfire suppression was not reliably available to remote fire-fighters due to connectivity dead spots. Now, information can be delivered to teams operating beyond the reach of terrestrial landline and wireless networks using the BGAN voice, video and data network. The network can be accessed through small, highly-portable Inmarsat BGAN satellite terminals at speeds up to one-half MB/second. As a result, headquarters’ leadership, incident commanders and remote teams will all share up-to-the-minute situational awareness about the fire zone.
For more information please visit www.inmarsat.com
