CRITICAL NETWORKS:
THE URGENT NEED FOR DIGITALISATION AND INNOVATION IN PUBLIC SAFETY Thomas Rehberg*, Head of Public Safety, Nokia
Those employed in the fields of public safety and critical infrastructure are, by definition, familiar with emergencies. But our world is changing rapidly, and a torrent of modern threats is ratcheting up the definition of emergency, adding more urgency to the need for innovation in critical communications.
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ublic safety is a tough job, and climate change and disaster response are making it even tougher. Forest fires in Canada burned through more than 15 million hectares this summer, shattering the previous record of 7.6 million, and led to the deaths of four on-duty firefighters. With a five-time increase in climate-related disasters in the last 50 years, according to the World Economic Forum, wildfires, extreme storms, rising sea levels and droughts are causing deaths, damaging critical infrastructure and costing billions. Add to climate disasters the enormity of our modern socio-economic challenges and the situation worsens. A lack of housing and transport for a growing urban population are driving homelessness and crime in cities. Soaring living costs are pushing many into poverty. And just when we need more first responders, the industry faces a sector-wide labour gap. Fewer and fewer people are choosing a career in critical industries and public safety, and there’s a growing skills gap as digitalisation changes job descriptions. Cybercrime adds another dimension as it diversifies and grows more frequent,
from money scams and corporate hacking attempts to the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) and social engineering cases that can lead to civil unrest. The pressure on the public safety community to operate effectively in a virtual world is enormous. So, how do public safety operators tackle all of these threats? The answer lies in developing digital capabilities at scale. Operators of critical infrastructures such as railways, power utilities and emergency response must do so to protect their own data, assets and operations against potential threats. Public safety operators must leverage digital and situational intelligence to prepare for escalating threats, and thus respond quickly and adequately.
New solutions for digital-age problems There’s some relief in knowing that a robust toolbox of digital technologies already exists. Think AI, augmented reality (AR) and deep data insights. These kinds of tools can help public safety agencies protect and serve efficiently, safely and confidently. For example, improved situational analysis can lead to better decision-making,
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laser-sharp preparedness and faster response times. The data to support this can be sourced in dozens of ways. By combining IoT sensors, wearables and body cam footage with real-time analytics in the command-and-control centre, it’s possible to follow the exact location, exposure and movement of first responder teams as well as monitor vital health statistics — helping to keep staff out of harm’s way. Drones are an especially powerful tool to elevate intelligence as well as aid disaster response: from real-time video monitoring of large public events or ongoing emergency situations to utilising drones equipped with sensors and thermal cameras to support response after disaster strikes. This type of project is already underway in Belgium, where telecom operator Citymesh has deployed 70 drones in 35 emergency zones across the country. Designed to gather information in the critical 15-minute period immediately following a call, the 5G automated drone grid ensures first responders are fully apprised of and equipped to respond to each unique situation. This new level of situational awareness can be extended further into the general public. By deploying rich-media early-warning sys-
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