Page 25 - DCAP311_DCAP607_WIRELESS_NETWORKS

Unit 1: Introduction to Wireless Networks

Improved Productivity Notes
As David G. Bishop, Chief of the Beaverton Police Department stated: “Real time
information enables officers on the beat to be better prepared to make the right decision
about the situations they face every day.” Officers can now access their desktop, the city
network and the Portland Police Data System from their patrol cars enabling real time
access to information including mug shots, digitized fingerprints and criminal histories.
Officers conducting follow-up investigations no longer have to return to headquarters or
stop at a satellite office. Prior to the availability of the network, officers had to call in for
histories and written reports, a time consuming and labor-intensive process.
Reliable and Scalable
Beaverton is already experiencing tangible benefits from their wireless deployment. The
network’s role in supporting an expanding range of day-to-day activities of the police
officers in the field requires it to be both reliable and scalable. With Homeland Security
grant funding from the federal Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program (LETPP),
the network is also designed to adapt to the increased capacity and coverage requirements
that often accompany an emergency situation.

Increasing capacity on the network can be accomplished by either adding a node or just
adding another wired egress point. The network’s patented architecture enables capacity
to be added anywhere in the network and directed to wherever it is needed. Quality of
Service (QoS) capabilities ensures the prioritization of critical voice, video and data traffic.
Future-Proof
The subject of interoperability among multiple public safety agencies and jurisdictions
predates recent disasters that have clearly brought those issues to the forefront. The
FCC has been active in the area of interoperability going back to at least 1986, when they
established the National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee. And, given the
number of departments, agencies, advisory committees, and jurisdictions involved, and
the constantly changing nature of telecommunications technology, interoperability of
public safety communications will continue to evolve even as new solutions are adopted.
The Design

The overall objective of the wireless networking project is to provide a secure wireless
infrastructure across the city and county. Through a comprehensive RFP and vendor
selection process, an initial field of 12 interested firms was reduced to two finalists: BelAir
Networks (bid by wireless integrator, Invictus Networks) and Motorola. Evaluating the
finalists according to functionality, customer support, experience and reference, cost,
implementation and installation, the winning bid scored an impressive 95%.
High-Performance, Multi-Application
High-performance BelAir200 and Belair100 wireless multi-service nodes have been
installed throughout Beaverton to provide wireless coverage of city hall and the commercial
districts.
The city fitted its fleet of forty police cars with wireless-enabled computers. Within just a
few months, the Information Systems department of the City of Beaverton, working with
Washington County, had the in-house expertise to install, deploy, and run live tests over
the new network, and had developed plans for expansion of both the network coverage
and its integrated applications.
The Result

Beaverton, home to divisions of leading technology companies such as Intel and IBM,
is often referred to as ‘Silicon Forest’ so it is not surprising that the city would choose
Contd...

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