E-SPONDER system: A new communication infrastructure for future emergency networks

This paper describes a novel emergency communication network architecture implemented within the FP7 EU project E-SPONDER [1]. It is characterized by the deployment of heterogeneous wireless systems and also by its holistic approach achieving reliability, high performance, reconfigurability and standalone operation. It is a complete suite of real-time communication technologies built to support the first responders [1] with information services during disaster events. This work investigates the system architecture in an aircraft landing incident and describes a field test carried on at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. More specifically, a scalable and adaptive telecommunication architecture that ensures voice, video and data between first responders and command centers at all times, even under extreme conditions, is presented. The structure and functionalities of the VoIP subsystem that operates above the proposed heterogeneous E-SPONDER network architecture is described, with a detailed scenario analysis. Finally, the paper presents how the recommended solutions are integrated into an implementable platform.