Imagine what public safety operations were like in the past. You had a single dispatcher in a building far from the scene, taking calls, putting callers on hold while contacting the appropriate agencies, and relaying messages between witnesses or family members and agencies.
You had printed maps to navigate steep terrain, or you kept your eye on the sun’s position and held a compass to track the direction you were traveling. Staticky walkie-talkies carried messages from one team to another.
This shifted to vans with some built-in technology. When the technology outgrew the van, a new unit was purchased. Technology is constantly advancing, and Draxxon believes the days of single-use vehicles are over. Mobile command centers that grow with your organization are the future.
The Shift to Mobile Command Centers
Mobile command centers (MCCs) provide all the technology needed for successful missions, under one roof, in a van or trailer that moves from one location to the next. Instead of communicating back and forth through a dispatcher in a building back in the city, operations run from the MCC, at or near the incident’s physical location.
MCCs offer many benefits, including:
1. Alternative Energy Operation
When an MCC relies on gas or diesel, it’s possible to run out of fuel before the job is done. An empty tank is problematic if you need to run the AC or heat, as they burn through your fuel faster than just running the engine does.
Draxxon’s MCCs offer a hybrid option where a generator can power your van. Turn the engine off and let the generator keep things going. Solar panels are another possibility, and make it easy to run everything from sunlight.
2. Ergonomic Workstations
All the technology in the world won’t help if your incident commander is uncomfortable and can’t sit still. Sharp focus is essential during a natural disaster, a search and rescue operation, or a mass casualty incident.
With ergonomic chairs and workstations, the team inside the MCV stays comfortable and focused. Plus, the desks are designed for writing, adding to your commander’s peace of mind. A quick note is written and not lost in a rush of incoming information.
3. Interoperability
Depending on your region, it is common for fire departments to operate in the VHF band while police use UHF. They also operate in different frequency bands. When you’re in the field, switching back and forth between frequency bands can cause teams to miss important messages.
Draxxon’s mobile command vehicles and trailers use a Team Awareness Kit (TAK) server to bridge teams. Different agencies can share data and communicate with each other, even when they use different radio frequencies and equipment.
4. Reliable Connectivity
What happens to your mission if you can’t get service because of weather or another event that topples towers? You’re on top of a mountain with flames coming quickly up the hill, and service goes out. You need to reach the command center to get an updated weather report, but you’re in a dead zone.
Draxxon’s mobile command centers ensure you’re always connected and always have high-bandwidth data. Units need to see drone footage in real time. They need communications to go through without drops or lag. Connectivity occurs through the linking of three distinct communication pathways.
- 5G and Mesh Networking – For local high-density data
- FirstNet – Ensures that essential data goes through before anything else.
- Starlink – For fast speeds with low latency, no matter where you are
UAS Keep an Eye in the Sky
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) are a relatively new entry in the tech available to first responders, search and rescue, and other public safety organizations. Instead of putting men and women in dangerous terrain for what might be nothing, a drone can fly over, capture real-time video, and determine whether a person needs to go into that area.
Drones can also reach areas that people cannot easily access. A recent case involving a missing older hiker in Asia shows the value of UAS in difficult areas.
Rescue teams had a lot of terrain to cover, and time was running out as he’d been missing for a few days. The SAR team used UAS to search narrow canyons and waterfalls that they couldn’t access without an experienced, well-equipped rock-climbing team.
In a wildfire or building fire, thermal imaging sensors and high-zoom optics allow incident commanders to see through the smoke and locate missing people using heat signatures. Responders remain in a safe area until they have the exact coordinates, then enter and exit quickly.
Because a drone has limited battery life, it’s important to have extra battery packs, on-site charging stations, and a suitable launch pad. Monitors for close viewing of the footage are essential.
If you need a continuous video stream, Draxxon’s automated tethered system provides a constant watch that’s tethered to the trailer or MCC for up to 24 hours.
Draxxon’s Approach to Public Safety Technology is Modular
When you choose a Draxxon MCV, you’re getting a scalable unit. The modular design makes it easy to upgrade items as technology improves. If 5G technology evolves into 6G, as is expected over the next five years, upgrade when you have the money and interest.
AI scares some people, but others are excited about what it can do. In the world of public safety, AI is a master at scanning hours upon hours of video feed and quickly narrowing down the:
- Critical aspects to provide a full picture that helps narrow down the locations of a missing person.
- Analyzing the path of a wildfire and calculating where it’s heading.
- Planning a safe perimeter for fireworks at a public 4th of July event.
- Finding errors made during the last mission to ensure they don’t happen again.
Don’t rush out and buy a brand new MCV to keep up with advancing technology. Take advantage of the modular design and grow your van as technology grows.
Special Projects Division Designs and Builds Exactly What You Need
What if the standard Draxxon MCV or mobile command trailer isn’t enough? We have the ideal solution for your organization’s specialized needs.
Draxxon’s Special Projects Division talks to you about what your goals are, how you want it to function, and uses your specs to deliver your ideal MCV. makes it come to life. If a standard solution isn’t good enough, the customized solutions are everything. We can:
- Work with any level of difficulty or regulatory compliance.
- Provide all the clearance and headroom you need.
- Quickly assemble a prototype for your approval, then send it immediately to our skilled production team for fast deployment.
- Include every piece of technology you desire.
Learn more about Draxxon’s high-tech mobile command units today. We’ll help you get off to a great start with a loaded mobile command center that you can adjust as technology advances.
