WiTec Connections 09

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WiTec Connections 09

• RFID for First Responders
• April 16th, 2009

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Agenda

• Introduction
• Technology
• Problem
• Solution

• History
• Journey
• Process
• Next Steps

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Introduction

• First Responders
• EMS
• Firemen
• Police
• Statistics
• Calgary EMS 100,000 responses in 2006
• Calgary FD 41,000 responses in 2006
• Calgary PD 1536 officers in 2006
• Alberta RCMP 800 officers on duty at any one time
• Assets
• Thousands of assets on the move
• Some assets are personnel specific
• Many assets are used as needed

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Technology

• Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an
  automatic identification method, relying on
  storing and remotely retrieving data using
  devices called RFID tags or transponders.
• An RFID tag is an object that can be attached to
  or incorporated into a product, animal, or person
  for the purpose of identification using radio
  waves.

Tags
Antenna
Reader
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Technology

• Passive tags require no internal power source,
  whereas active tags require a power source.
• Specific item level Identification

Passive
Active Tag
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Problem

• Alberta RCMP 800 officers on duty at any one time
• About 2400 shifts per 24 hr period
• Some assets are not on a per-officer based
• Must be checked in and out every shift
• pen, paper and log book
• Process can be inaccurate, incomplete or bypassed
• Higher priority duties take precedence

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Solution

• Must be seamless and identify assets with officer
• Accurate and real time info on assets
• Passive and automated
• Relieves officer from asset tracking duties
• Assist in asset recovery
• Inventory

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History

• Approached by the RCMP to work with students on
  an initial RFID project in December 2007
• Emerging Technologies
• Student Based Project Winter Semester 2008
• Current Pilot Project is a result
• Investigation Phase - ü
• Tags, Technology, Hardware and Software
• Experimentation
• Lab Trials

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Journey

• Questions
• What assets do you want to tag?
• Where do you want to track them?
• When do you need the asset information?
• Who needs the information?

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Journey

• What assets do you want to tag?
• Large
• Small

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Journey

• Where do you want to track them?
• Everywhere?

• Coming and Going?

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Journey

• When do you need the asset information?
• Annual Inventory
• Match Asset to Officer
• Assist in Asset recovery

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Journey

• Who needs the information?
• Inventory Management Team
• Detachment CO

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Journey

• 350 tagged assets
• 20 plus asset types
• 4 read areas
• All doorways
• 1 Tag Acquisition Processor (TAP)
• Keeps track of tag direction
• Remote/local management interface for readers
• Asset tracking software
• Leverage existing Inventory management system?
• Still under trial

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Process
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Next Steps

• Pilot System Installation
• Software Trials
• System comparison
• Automated vs. manual
• Final report
• Options
• Best practices
• Implementation strategies

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RAD Lab

• Multiple Vendors
• Hardware
• Software
• Proof of Concept
• Pilot Projects
• Mobile Lab

• Contact Info
• Glen Kathler
• 403.774.4994
• glen.kathler_at_sait.ca
• www.sait.ca/appliedresearch