New GPS tracking device, DropBlock, designed for wildland firefighters, unveiled by RoGO Communications
RoGO's DropBlock 2.0 Revolutionises Wildland Firefighting and Disaster Management
RoGO Communications, a company dedicated to developing lifesaving technology for firefighters and first responders, has unveiled its latest innovation - DropBlock 2.0. This satellite communication device is designed specifically for wildland firefighters, aiming to enhance their safety and operational efficiency.
Key Features of DropBlock 2.0
DropBlock 2.0 boasts several impressive features, including satellite connectivity, durability, compactness, real-time data transmission, encryption, and a long battery life. It uses satellite networks to ensure communication in remote, off-grid areas where traditional cellular networks fail. The device is designed to withstand harsh environments typical of wildland firefighting, is lightweight and easy to carry, and enables real-time sharing of location, environmental data, and communication between teams and command centers.
Benefits of DropBlock 2.0
The benefits of DropBlock 2.0 are manifold. It enhances safety by allowing firefighters to quickly report hazards, request assistance, and coordinate responses, reducing the risk of injury or entrapment. Improved coordination facilitates effective team communication and command oversight, leading to more organized and strategic firefighting efforts. DropBlock 2.0 provides connectivity in rugged terrain where cellular service is unavailable, ensuring no team is isolated. Real-time data and location sharing enable quicker and more informed decisions by incident commanders, reducing response times and mobilizing resources swiftly.
Role in Disaster Management
DropBlock 2.0 plays a crucial role in disaster management, enhancing situational awareness, inter-agency collaboration, resource allocation, emergency evacuation coordination, and resilience. It helps first responders maintain continuous communication infrastructure despite physical damage to conventional networks caused by wildfires or other natural disasters.
Expanding Capabilities with a New Smartphone App
RoGO is developing a new smartphone app that will provide point-to-point communications and tactical collaboration features, expanding the capabilities of DropBlock 2.0. This app is anticipated to improve the efficiency and safety of wildland firefighting operations by providing real-time, on-the-go communication and collaboration.
Field Test and Adoption
The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management has conducted a field test of DropBlocks with six wildland fire handcrews, indicating the suitability of the smaller size for wildland firefighting. The success of this trial may lead to wider adoption of RoGO's technology within the firefighting community.
DropBlocks are designed to support the initial attack of a wildfire, considered the time of most dangerous risk to firefighters. They share hyper-local weather information from portable weather stations, including wind speed, direction, temperature, humidity, and other IoT sensor data. This data is shared with Incident Command, aiding faster decision-making and reducing response times.
RoGO satellite-based products and services support first responders in various disasters, including hurricanes, floods, and search and rescue operations. They operate anywhere in the world, supporting firefighting and field trials across local, state, and federal agencies in the Western United States.
In conclusion, DropBlock 2.0 is a critical tool for enhancing communication and operational efficiency in wildland firefighting and broader disaster management efforts. Its smaller size, durability, and advanced features make it an ideal solution for first responders working in remote, off-grid areas. The development of the new smartphone app by RoGO further expands the capabilities of DropBlock 2.0, making it a more versatile tool for firefighting and disaster response.
Science and technology advancements have expanded the capabilities of DropBlock 2.0, a device designed for environmental-science applications such as wildland firefighting. This gadget employs data-and-cloud-computing strategies, leveraging satellite networks and IoT sensors to gather real-time hyper-local weather data. This data, shared with Incident Command, ensures informed decision-making and reduced response times in emergency situations.
