LTE  |  2017-06-26

PSCE Forum with Focus on PPDR Transition to new Technologies, a Great Success

Source: MCCResources

Public Safety Communication Europe (PSCE) Forum held its 16th conference on 4-5 May 2017 in Munich. The conference was preceded on the 3rd of May by a workshop organized as part of the EPISECC project.

Around 60 delegates from more than 30 organisations attended across the 3 days to discuss the future of public safety communications.

The transition to new technologies has opened a realm of new possibilities in the field of Public Safety Communications. The Internet of things, future broadband and the use of UAVs are creating the conditions for enhanced communication and improved responsiveness in emergency situations. Mobile Apps are being developed by public authorities and PPDR organizations to assist the general population, facilitate the work of first responders or quickly alert citizens in the event of a crisis. However, these developments have not come without new challenges. The information conveyed in emergency scenarios is often very sensitive and has ethical, social and legal implications that need to be taken into consideration. This enhanced transmission of information also means an increased exposure to cyber threats and the necessity to find new ways of mitigating associated risks.

Against this background, the PSCE conference provided updates on a platform enabling better information exchanges with regular upgrades for all possibly interested organisations and effective interactions among projects and between different communities.

The conference in Munich focused on the following questions:

  • ELSI guidelines: What are the ethical implications of the exchange of information in PPDR?
  • Future Broadband: What are the implications of future broadband for public safety?
  • IoT: What are the potential uses & benefits of IoT for public safety?
  • Cybersecurity: What are the cyber threats related to broadband transition and how to mitigate them?
  • Redundancy & Resilience: What are the synergies between Public Safety communications technologies and how can the digital transformation of public safety benefit public authorities
  • PPDR Apps: What are the functions and benefits of the Apps developed for public safety. 
  • UAVs: What potential uses for UAVs (drones) in public safety missions?

 

The event featured a diverse programme composed of interesting debates, roundtable discussions, and networking possibilities.

Download the full report of the 3 day event here