Peter S. Anderson Simon Fraser University Vancouver, Canada anderson@sfu

Building Emergency Lanes Along Building Emergency Lanes Along Information Highways and Skyways:Information Highways and Skyways:

Prospects and Challenges for Canada’s Prospects and Challenges for Canada’s New Critical InfrastructuresNew Critical Infrastructures

Peter S. AndersonSimon Fraser University

Vancouver, Canada

anderson@sfu.ca

SFU Research BackgroundSFU Research Background

Applied Research• Emergency Preparedness Information Exchange (EPIX)

• Virtual Emergency Management Information Systems

Policy Research• Telecommunications, broadcasting, information policy studies• Emergency communications – critical infrastructure, interoperability,

vulnerability, needs evaluations, regulation, industry & end-user interaction

Applied ResearchApplied Research

EPIXEPIX

EPIX Supported ProjectsEPIX Supported Projects

Initiating and hosting WWW sites for:Federal Government

• Emergency Preparedness Canada

• Industry Canada - Emergency Telecommunications Branch

• Transport Canada Aviation Safety - Pacific Region

Provincial Governments

• BC Provincial Emergency Program

• BC Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security (Emergency Social Services)

• Ontario Emergency Measures Organization

EPIX Supported ProjectsEPIX Supported Projects

Initiating and hosting WWW sites for:Public/Private Partnership Programs

• Major Industrial Accidents Council of Canada

• Safeguard

• Emergency Preparedness for Industry and Commerce Council of British Columbia

Volunteer NGO Programs

• Emergency Planners and Managers Association of British Columbia

• Emergency Social Services Association of British Columbia

• SAR Info (Search and Rescue)

EPIX Supported ProjectsEPIX Supported ProjectsHosting WWW sites for:International Programs• UN IDNDR • UN ISDR• NATO Civil Protection Committee

Hosting Email Discussion Groups• Networks in Emergency Management

nets-em@sfu.ca• Emergency Planning for Post-secondary Educational Institutions

emerg-univ@sfu.ca• US National Institute for Urban Search and Rescue• Canadian National Hazards Assessment

canhaz-assess@sfu.ca

EPIX Supported ProjectsEPIX Supported Projects Emergency SupportEmergency Support

• 1993 - present - Internet gateway/distribution of UN - OCHA disaster sitreps and appeals

• 1994 - Mirror site for California EDIS system during Northridge Earthquake relief and recovery operations

• 1997 - Manitoba Red River Floods - Internet site support for Emergency Preparedness Canada

• 1998 – Salmon Arm Wildland Fire - Internet site support for BC Provincial Emergency Program

• 1999 - British Columbia Floods - Internet site support for BC Provincial Emergency Program and emergency email distribution

Virtual Emergency Management Virtual Emergency Management Information SystemsInformation Systems

Objective: During crises - to enable emergency managers to

remain in critical decision-making processes regardless of physical location

Virtual Emergency Management Virtual Emergency Management Information SystemsInformation Systems

• interconnecting local, provincial and federal government emergency operations centers and field sites through common TCP/IP infrastructure

• national and international collaboration by VPNs across the Internet

British Columbia Regional VEMIS Project

Pacific Region Federal Joint Alternate Site

Virtual Emergency Management Virtual Emergency Management Information SystemsInformation Systems

Technology

• Integration of fixed and mobile wireless and wired systems

• Building on common infrastructure with focus on interoperability

• Using TCP/IP as common bridging protocols

Virtual Emergency Management Virtual Emergency Management Information SystemsInformation Systems

Components

• Wired intra/internet systems

• Terrestrial wireless systems

• Satellite telecommunications

Virtual Emergency Management Virtual Emergency Management Information SystemsInformation Systems

• 56 kbps UHF TCP/IP wireless system

• behaves like a slower speed version of standard Ethernet system used in most offices

Initial Wireless Internet Component1996 - Present

Virtual Emergency Management Virtual Emergency Management Information SystemsInformation Systems

• supports point-to-point and multi-point networking over large geographical areas (e.g., 120-150 Km)

Initial Wireless Internet Component

Virtual Emergency Management Virtual Emergency Management Information SystemsInformation Systems

MSATMSAT DirecPCDirecPC VSATVSAT

Other Interconnectable Wireless TechnologiesSatellite-based

Virtual Emergency Management Virtual Emergency Management Information SystemsInformation Systems

Other Interconnectable Wireless TechnologiesTerrestrial

• Cellular/PCS

• HF packet radio gateway

• High speed spread spectrum radio

Related ActivitiesRelated Activities

• Haughton-Mars99/2000 NASA Expeditions - applying disaster communications concepts to space travel

Virtual Emergency Management Virtual Emergency Management Information SystemsInformation Systems

Phase Two

• Upgrading wireless backbone to highspeed4.5 Mbps -> 100 Mbps

• Establishing emergency satellite teleport with SFU to become an emergency ISP

Virtual Emergency Management Virtual Emergency Management Information SystemsInformation Systems

High Speed Wireless Backbone

• Currently moving up to 30 Mbps

Emergency Emergency Satellite Teleport/PortalSatellite Teleport/PortalProposalProposal

• Establish a permanent emergency communication point-of-presence at SFU via satellite and terrestrial networks to support national and international humanitarian relief efforts

• SFU to be an emergency Internet Service Provider

SFU ResourcesSFU Resources

Satellite Capacity• C and Ku Band ground stations

• Potential connectivity:– throughout North, Central

and South America

– Pacific Region

• Direct interconnection to Ca*Net 3 national high speed backbone

INTELSAT

TELESAT

Coverage ExamplesCoverage Examples

Current Participating Current Participating OrganizationsOrganizations

Simon Fraser University• Telematics Research

Lab

• PolyLAB

• Computing Services

Discovery Parks Inc.

Wi-LAN Inc.

Industry Canada• Communications

Research Centre

• Pacific Region – Emergency Telecommunications

Emergency PreparednessCanada