- Author
- Treado, S. J. | Holmberg, D. G. | Cook, S.
- Title
- Simulating the Performance of Building Area Networks as a Communication Bridge to Emergency Responders.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Book or Conf
- OPNETWORK. OPNET 2007. Proceedings. August 27-31, 2007, Washington, DC, 1-6 p., 2007
- Keywords
- communication networks | building networks | first responders | emergencies | emergency responders | radio equipment | simulations | scenarios
- Identifiers
- Building Area Network (BAN); public safety communications; Project 25 (P25); modeling the communications flow; deployment scenario simulation; OPNET result for deployment; single access point stress test; located in buildings; located outside of buildings
- Abstract
- This paper describes the development and use of OPNET models to simulate the use of building network infrastructures as a communication bridge between emergency responders inside buildings and emergency personnel outside of buildings. Emergency responders frequency encounter encounter difficulties with radio communication when located within buildings because of the shielding effects of the structure. One possibility for overcoming this problem is to use the existing building network infrastructure-including, including wireless access points, radio transceiver gateways and the IT network, to provide a communication path from the portable radios inside the building to the public safety network outside the building. Methods for modeling such a system were developed and quality of service issues evaluated.