Improving Field Communications

Transcription

1 Improving Field Communications Challenge Research alternative technologies that will supplement the current FS land mobile radio system and provide tracking all Forest Service employees, volunteers and vehicles. Capabilities Required Provide GPS tracking information of Forest Service assets. Two way text messaging. Computer assisted tracking of vehicles and employees. Check-in and check-out. Personal satellite tracking. Provide data mining capability for Forest Service system efficiency. Cloud-based, SaaS Unified system for both personnel and vehicle/asset 1

2 Assumptions Satellite based systems required field locations outside cell/radio coverage 20,000+ assets in FS fleet 7,500 field going personnel (1/4 organization) In-field 50% of year Bulk quantity discount (not reflected in prices shown later) 2

3 Market Survey and Findings No unified solution for asset and personnel communications/tracking Three distinct segments: vehicle/asset tracking, sat phones, & satbased personal tracking/text messaging devices Sat-based personal tracking/text messaging technology is not mature Sat-phones provide best communications Many providers for fleet/asset tracking Levels of service Communication types (cell, sat, radio or combination) High cost of entry and yearly costs (especially for sat-based) Recommend defining requirements and submitting RFP. 3

4 Satellite Emergency Notification Devices (SEND) Handheld units that provide check-in, SOS, & tracking notifications with GPS location One- way and two-way text messaging Commercial Market GeoPro Messenger Shout Nano DeLorme inreach SPOT Messenger/Tracker 4

5 GeoPro Messenger Communication: Iridium Sat (two-way) Message: Check-in, SOS text, , tracking Cost: $600 hardware Subscription Fees: $35/month + $0.21 per message (bundle) Backend: Web-based, supported by GeoPro Comments: Provides two-way communications, MTDC currently evaluating 5

6 Shout Nano Communication: Iridium Sat (two-way) Message: Check-in, text, , tracking Cost: $849 hardware Subscription Fees: $35/month + $0.21 per message (bundle) Backend: Web-based, supported by GeoPro Comments: Provides two-way communications, MTDC evaluation has not started 6

7 DeLorme inreach Communication: Iridium Sat (two-way) Messages: Check-in, SOS, tracking(solo); Text, (tethered) Cost: $250 hardware (estimate) Subscription Fees: TBD Backend: Web-based, possibly supported by GeoPro Comments: Not yet on market, Two way communications when tethered to a smartphone or DeLorme GPS 7

8 SPOT Messenger Communication: Globalstar (one-way) Messages: Check-in, SOS, tracking (solo); Text (tethered) Cost: $100 hardware (estimate) Subscription Fees: $12.50/month (unlimited message/track) Backend: Web-based, supported by SPOT Comments: Provides one-way communications only, no confirmation of message received 8

9 Satellite Tracking and Texting Devices: Estimated Costs and Features GeoPro Messenger NAL Research SHOUTnano DeLorme inreach SPOT Messenger Costs Initial Hardware Cost $600 $849 $249 $100 Estimated Messages/Voice Used per Year 3,360* 3,360* N/A 4,800** Subscription Fees $35/Month $35/Month N/A $100 w/out tracking $149 with tracking per year Estimated Yearly Message Fees Total First Year Costs per Unit (Including Hardware, Subscription Fees, and Usage Fees) $747 for 3,600 $747 for 3,600 messages N/A $149 messages $1,767 $2,016 N/A $249 Initial Cost for 7,500 Units and 1-Year of Fees $13,252,500 $15,120,000 N/A $1,867,500 Yearly Fees for 7,500 Units $8,752,500 $8,752,500 N/A $1,117,500 Estimated Yearly Life Cycle $1,200,000 $1,275,000*** N/A $1,050,000 Costs Features Two-way Communication x x x Satellite Text/ x x x x GPS Tracking x x x x Built-in GPS x x x x *The satellite tracking yearly usage figures are based on 120 field work days per year, a check-in period of 6 hours, tracking intervals of one per 15 minutes, and 4 additional messages (text or ) per day. **SPOT Messengers send tracking messages every 10 minutes. ***Price doesn t reflect required factory battery replacements. 9

10 Satellite Phones Proven technology Agency use Terrain issues Commercial Market Iridium InMarsat TerraStar Recommendation: Consolidated purchasing and bundle airtime to reduce cost 10

11 Sat-Phones inmarsat TerraStar Iridium 11

12 Satellite Voice Devices: Estimated Costs and Features Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro TerreStar GENUS Iridium 9555 Costs Initial Hardware Cost $549 $1,239 $1,195 Estimated Messages/Voice Used per Year* 1,200 1,200 1,200 Subscription Fees $19.95/Month $50/Month for 300 cell minutes $39.95/Month and $23.99/Month satellite activation Estimated Yearly Minutes $1,296 $780 $1,200 Fees Total First Year Costs per Unit (Including Hardware, Subscription Fees, and Usage Fees) $2,085 $2,907 $2,875 Initial Cost for 7,500 Units and 1-Year of Fees $15,637,500 $21,802,500 $21,562,500 Yearly Fees for 7,500 Units $11,520,000** $12,510,000 $12,600,000** Estimated Yearly Life Cycle Costs Features $1,050,000 $2,280,000 $2,542,500 Two-way Communication x x x Satellite Voice x x x Cellular Voice x Satellite Text/ x x x Cellular Text/ x Built-in GPS x *The satellite voice usage estimates are based on 120 field work days per year and 10 minutes of talk time per workday. 12

13 Vehicle/Asset Tracking Systems Many providers in industry Proven technology(s) Investigated by Fleet in previous years Wide variety of options and solutions Cell, sat, radio GPS tracking, 1-way and 2-way communications, 911 features 13

14 Vehicle/Asset Tracking Systems Example: Fleet Management Solutions Provided DHS with 2000 systems 14

15 Vehicle/Asset Tracking Systems Fleet Management Solutions: Features Satellite based - Iridium GPS tracking initiated/stopped with vehicle ignition Two-way text communication to cab terminal Emergency Panic Button Hosted web service 2 Way Satellite Message Terminal - MDT 15

16 Vehicle/Asset Tracking Systems Fleet Management Solutions 16

17 Vehicle/Asset Tracking Systems Fleet Management Solutions Costs Hardware: $1,200 per vehicle Airtime: $60/month FS Costs (10,000 vehicles - 1/2 of fleet assets) Hardware: $12, 0000, 000 Airtime: $7,200,000 annually Cellular option about half the cost 17

18 Improving Field Communications Conclusions: SEND technology: not mature Sat Phones: currently used but national contract would save $ Vehicle/Asset Tracking: Large established industry, many levels of service No unified solution for personal and vehicle/asset Recommend defining requirements and submitting a RFP 18