|
During a NASCAR race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, various public safety agencies can come together to provide on-scene support, each bringing their own staff and equipment. Henry County, GA provides on-scene communications and response during a variety of events at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Both for regular public safety communications and in the event of an incident on the day of a race, it is imperative that the local law enforcement, EMS, local fire personnel and the track safety officials are able to communicate. Previously, Henry County lacked the means for these various public safety agencies to communicate while using their disparate radio systems. The need for an interoperability solution was prompted.
Recognizing that interoperability is fundamental in achieving a coordinated response effort during any event at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Henry County Fire Department began looking at the JPS solution. With the assistance of Jeffrey Silberberg, President of CompuDesigns, Inc. of Atlanta GA, they successfully piloted the use of an ACU-T Tactical Intelligent Interconnect system at the fall 2004 race. The ACU-T, a smaller tactical package of the proven ACU-1000 interoperability technology, allowed for Henry County Fire Department to interconnect up to six connections which solved their immediate need for an interoperability solution.
As more users wanted to utilize the advanced capabilities of the JPS solution, Henry County was in need of an interoperability solution that allowed for more interconnections. After being awarded a grant from the Georgia Office of Homeland Security and the Federal Office of Domestic Preparedness for a high-tech, self-sufficient mobile command center, an ACU-1000™ was purchased by Henry County to be installed in their new mobile command vehicle, built by NACS of Melbourne, Florida. The ACU-1000™ first was used at the spring 2005 race. The decision to expand to the ACU-1000™ was based on Henry County's success with their current JPS interoperability equipment. It also was based on the proven abilities of the ACU-1000™ for seamless integration into a mobile platform as well as its flexibility and ease of operation.
"The JPS Communications' ACU-1000™ provided the versatility necessary to ensure various agencies participating in response efforts at all events at the speedway can communicate," stated Captain Stan Jones of Henry County Fire Department.
To date, Henry County successfully has deployed the ACU-1000™ system at the fall 2005 NASCAR race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway along with several other major events. An example is a major resettlement shelter following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. At the fall 2005 race, the ACU-1000™ was used to connect the fire department, EMS, local law enforcement and the race control personnel. The ACU-1000™ interconnect switch facilitated communications among 800 MHz EDACS ProVoice trunking systems, UHF radios, a 800 MHz ITAC-3 conventional system and a Nextel Walkie-Talkie in Direct Connect Mode. Henry County utilized 11 out of the 12 interface modules that comprise the ACU-1000 in creating interoperability among responding agencies at the race track.
"The ACU-1000™ has allowed for exponential growth with the Atlanta Motor Speedway's communication response efforts," stated Captain Stan Jones of Henry County Fire Department. Henry County now is able to use the ACU-1000™ to create multiple configurations to enhance and ensure interoperability communications.
Sandy Waters, vice president of sales and marketing for JPS Communications adds, "The use of the ACU-1000™ at the Atlanta Motor Speedway has demonstrated both the manageability and the versatility our products have to offer. When first responders come to the speedway on the day of a race or other major event, they will be able to communicate with another agency regardless of the type of radio or communications equipment simply by patching to the ACU-1000™."
|
