Emergency response is critical and in many cases the speed and quality of response leads to life or death situation. Such is the nature of emergency services that even small improvements in efficiencies in the life cycle would lead to significant outcomes and save lives. Technology in general has been a game changer in the field of emergency services. IOT technologies further enhances the ability of first responders since there is access to real time information through sensors and video streaming, 5G catalyzes the information availability by providing highly reliable, low latency and on demand connectivity. While sensing technologies have been an integral part of emergency response, 5G provides certain unique capabilities that accentuates the impact. Here are a few examples of how 5G and IOT will transform emergency services in the future
- Enhanced connectivity will increase the availability, bandwidth and reliability. This will deliver an “always connected” emergency worker with high quality bi-directional voice and video conversations that will improve the situational awareness of command center. In addition to the input from workers, real time sensor data and interactions with smart buildings will help an accurate assessment of the situation and plan for the right response.
- Improved Emergency Medical Services (EMS) that will transition to providing medical services beyond first-aid. 5G and IOT will enable high definition two way communication between the responders and medical personnel to provide immediate care. In addition, real time vitals data transmission will ensure the ER is better prepared to handle the emergency. EMS vehicles can interact with road infrastructure to create a fast track lane to hospitals
- Establish a private 5G network in remote areas where there’s unreliable connectivity and enable one end point to connect to the backhaul network. Lack of connectivity was one of the biggest challenges for disaster and emergency situations, 5G in a box type of solution to quickly create an on-demand secure private network for constant connectivity is immensely valuable. The private network can be a virtual or physical one.
Riding on the 5G wave, IOT technologies such as high definition video streaming, real time sensor data communication, intelligent traffic systems, high speed network with on-demand bandwidth control, coordinated emergency response will help us as a community to respond and react quickly. Two key factors in technology adoption is the ease of use especially in the middle of emergencies and cost effectiveness of the solution to scale rapidly. In addition, there must be renewed focus on how these technologies can preempt and help governments be better prepared to handle emergencies in the future. I am certain when the emerging technologies such as IOT, 5G, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) are put to good use – our ability to preempt, prepare and handle emergencies will be transformed.
