*About PDF Documents

INTEROPERABILITY

Breaking the communications barrier

The most common interoperability problem cited by SAR groups was a lack of common radio frequency and equipment.

Standing alone, the different search and rescue groups serve the individual agencies well, but in a cooperative rescue assignment, these good practices become hindered when there are technical barriers to communications.

For example, when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are tasked to perform a ground search, they may need the help of air assets who can scan the area from above to get a sense of geography and perform an air search at the same time. But what if they can't communicate because of a difference in radio frequency? This could lead to delays in rescue and potential loss of life.

The National Search and Rescue Program relies on a co-ordinated and cooperative approach, and without the standardization of practices, training and equipment, this cannot be fully achieved.

One seamless program
Although Canada has one of the best search and rescue systems in the world, ties should be encouraged to create one multi-jurisdictional program. The goal is to make Canadian search and rescue seamless and total cooperation and interoperability are the methods to achieve it.

The need for interchangeable equipment is essential because in any given emergency situation, at least three federal agencies may be tasked to respond. For example, a search for a disabled oil tanker might use the weather resources of Environment Canada's Meteorological Service of Canada, a Canadian Forces helicopter, searchers from the Canadian Coast Guard and the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary and dive teams from the RCMP. All of these groups need to work together to ensure the search is as efficient as possible.

Compatible equipment
Currently, an Interoperability Working Group, chaired by the National Search and Rescue Secretariat, is studying the issue and researching ways to standardize practices and equipment. With a standardization of equipment, it is possible that search and rescue groups will eliminate communications barriers. The most common problem cited was a lack of common radio frequency and equipment. This hindered ground search and rescue forces in their contact with air and marine resources during a search mission.

Common information
Interoperability is not limited to standard equipment needs, but extends to accessibility of information and data. When different agencies or groups are working together, not everyone has the same information, either because groups don't have access or there is a breakdown in communication. Indirect communication from one party to another through three different search groups can lead to a break in communication and sometimes misinformation.

For example, the ground searchers who, with ground-to-air capability, need to contact the air resources who might not be able to do so because the officers don't know the frequency of their radios and are unable to establish direct communication with air resources.

Standardization of equipment will help eliminate interoperability errors.

The first recommendations of the working group discussed confirming the root causes of communication problems, the extent of these problems and finding new technology to resolve this interoperability issue.

There are agencies and companies studying communications and interoperability, but this issue won't be solved quickly. It will take many meetings and multi-jurisdictional exercises before accomplishing a seamless search and rescue program. While our system is good, there is always room for improvement.

Back to Table of Contents