NYC unveils new emergency comms vehicle for incident response
New York City officials on Tuesday unveiled a new emergency communications vehicle, designed to keep first responders connected during major events and emergencies, even when normal communication networks fail.
Called ECV-1, the custom-built vehicle will serve as a mobile tech hub, command post and communications backup system for the city’s emergency agencies, city Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser said in a press release. The new vehicle’s first real-world deployment is planned for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday.
According to the release, the city’s Office of Technology and Innovation retrofitted an old vehicle into a communications center capable of replicating all city agency radio systems and ensuring interoperability with state and federal law enforcement. This means, officials said, that even during disasters, when cell towers or radio networks might be compromised, first responders throughout the city’s five boroughs can stay connected and continue dispatching aid.
“This state-of-the-art Emergency Communications Vehicle ensures that our first responders have uninterrupted access to the tech infrastructure and services they rely upon to support the public no matter what situation arises,” Fraser said in the release.
The $1 million overhaul, funded through city and grant dollars, is designed to be easily updated as technology evolves. Inside, ECV-1 can fit to eight responders with access to dozens of public safety applications, with space for eight more under an exterior canopy. Its roof is outfitted with antennas and aerospace monitoring systems, giving the vehicle a communication reach stretching several stories high. The vehicle can also support drone operations and extend network coverage into remote or congested areas.
The technology office’s Public Safety and Emergency Management division, which also manages 911 call centers and emergency radio communications, began working on the ECV-1 about four years ago, according to the announcement. The same team also recently developed the an emergency alert system linking public schools directly to 911 during active shooter situations.
“Emergency response only works when every agency is working together, and in a city of 8.5 million people, that coordination can be the difference between getting help quickly and waiting too long,” NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol said in the release.
