A mass of data is pretty useless without a Big Data application – a smart program that looks at a vast amount of data and uses it to produce new insights. The Google search engine is a prime example of such an application. Using billions of web pages as its input, it employs sophisticated algorithms to create efficient searches.
Introducing mobile broadband and new apps and devices means that public safety professionals in the field can get more accurate data delivered to them. This helps improve their operations as well as their safety - and and the safety of the people they serve. But there is also potential to organise and analyse the underlying data to gain insights, for example a rising trend of fires at particular types of property, prompting further investigation.
Ownership of the data is important. Public safety organisations are familiar with the importance of keeping communications confidential. In addition, they must ensure that when new data apps are taken into use, they own and master the data assets.
As with any new apps, Big Data apps are relevant only when they are useful. In addition, no application will be useful if it does not work within the organisation’s operational procedures.
It is important to consider how the app would be used in practice and how it might need to work with other solutions such as control rooms.
Introducing any application in a public safety organisation is complex. It is therefore a good idea to start with a trial group of users to identify the most beneficial apps first. Experiences from those apps can demonstrate from the very beginning that apps are worth investing in. The key is to introduce Big Data apps in the same way you would introduce any other app for everyday use.
Acronyms and new terms come up in all discussions, even when meeting mission-critical professionals. How will these new technologies affect the daily work of public safety and other professionals? What should you know about IoT, 5G and Big Data?
Today’s mobile professionals cannot afford to waste time worrying about running into communication blind spots. But how do professional network planners determine whether a network can deliver complete coverage?
Choice is good. But it can be hard sometimes to decide which option is the best. Here are three different approaches for taking networks into the future.
When public safety professionals need to work together under pressure, their communication has to be reliable, as well as very structured and orderly.