BGan helps fire-fighters

Global fire-fighters may soon use BGAN to tackle deadly summer wildfires that destroy property and claim lives around the world.

A new partnership between Inmarsat and San Diego State University (SDSU) is developing and testing solutions to extend the availability of Geographic Information System (GIS) data for fire teams operating in remote locations.
GIS translates geographic information into maps, globes, reports and charts enabling the user to better interpret the data available.

Inmarsat is working with the university's Immersive Visualization Center ("Viz Lab"), which is part of the university's homeland security programme.
"By delivering dynamic, real-time information about fire perimeters, weather and ground conditions, Inmarsat and the SDSU Viz Lab will enhance the ability of incident commanders to protect lives and property and improve the safety of fire-fighters in the field," said Inmarsat's vice-president of global government services, Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch.
Previously, GIS information critical for remote firefighting could not be made available with any degree of reliability, explained Rebecca.

But now Inmarsat's global BGAN network can deliver data at high speed to teams operating beyond the reach of terrestrial-based landline and wireless networks using highly-portable BGAN satellite terminals.

Source: Inmarsat