IEEE Public Safety Technology Initiative IEEE Public Safety Technology Initiative

What Is a Public Safety Ecosystem?

From law enforcement and public safety agencies to first responders and local resource groups, the safety of our communities relies heavily upon the public safety ecosystem. This may raise the question, What is a public safety ecosystem? Simply put, it’s composed of each of these bodies working to uphold the safety of the public.

Communication between these groups and the public is essential. And in a world that’s becoming increasingly interconnected, the opportunities for more efficient communication are increasing. However, it’s imperative to ensure access to the ecosystem exists for all members of a community.

This poses a challenge to those charged with providing safety services, especially in the event of a crisis or other disaster, when rapid communication is most needed. Incorporating the latest innovations offers exciting potential to develop an ecosystem that’s fit to handle the challenges of our modern world.

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Purpose of a Public Safety Ecosystem

Whether behind the scenes or facing the public directly, our safety ecosystems work around the clock to provide critical services. On the local level, this ecosystem is composed of public safety agencies such as law enforcement, emergency medical services, and other community groups aimed at responding to crises. The goal of each of these agencies is to keep citizens safe and connected to resources in times of need.

Public Safety Ecosystem Origins

Maintaining safety has been a concern for thousands of years, but the first organized police departments weren’t founded in the United States until the mid-1800s. However, the ecosystem isn’t limited to law enforcement—it includes other public safety agencies and emergency medical services.

A prioritized focus on emergency medical services became especially relevant in the United States during and after the Civil War, but the biggest period of transformation occurred during the 1960s and ’70s. Changing legislation and increased focus on social wellbeing were factors that prompted this transformation. In recent years, incorporating more social groups into the conversation has become a key point of interest globally.

Evolution over Time

Over the years, the purpose of safety ecosystems has remained largely the same, but necessary changes have occurred. Take, for instance, video and analytics technology in law enforcement. While recording large quantities of data can be fraught with its own challenges, this data offers valuable insight to investigations. Increasing transparency and strengthening trust between these agencies and the broader public is an essential ingredient to a healthy community, and advancements such as body-worn cameras can help foster this.

Another evolution of our ecosystems can be seen in 5G applications for technology. These are numerous, but 5G’s higher data transmission speeds and lower latency are game changers. Emerging technologies can be integrated into the networks used by first responders, thus enabling quicker message transmission. Faster speeds and reliability make our daily lives more convenient, and in times of crisis, the difference of a few seconds can be life changing.

Designing a Public Safety Ecosystem 

Thoughtful design is crucial to success, but the path to establishing or improving upon a system can be a difficult task. Considering large-scale changes to largely government-led programs is an undertaking. Perhaps one of the simplest ways to view public safety ecosystem design is in terms of the functions a system should employ: prevention, protection, response, and recovery. A look at each of these areas can positively impact each group in the overall system.

Steps Involved in Ecosystem Creation

Before designing a system, it’s fundamental to first survey the entire ecosystem and its applications, services, and network infrastructure. For example: What technologies are being utilized? How is data currently being transmitted? Additionally, designers must consider the supply chain, including hardware, software, managed services, and how changes, such as those seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, might affect operations.

Another area of considerable importance is the need to encourage broad support for the collection and sharing of data for the public good, particularly from individual citizens. This requires careful consideration of privacy issues to ensure individual privacy is preserved. Encouraging the use of federated learning frameworks that don’t rely on access to raw, potentially sensitive data is also important. 

Once this due diligence has been performed, public safety leaders can follow the steps that most closely fit their needs. Some of these may include

  • working with vendors,
  • securing funding,
  • collaborating with other groups, and
  • beginning the process of implementing new technology.

Each of these steps plays an essential role in the creation process—but what is a public safety ecosystem in terms of the actions it should provide?

Prevention, Protection, Response, and Recovery

In the event of a crisis, it’s important to note that a well-functioning system isn’t solely focused on the element of recovery but on emergency prevention, protection, and response as well. These are key actions our public safety ecosystem leaders can develop, whether via changes to existing procedures or adaptation of new technology, to better serve the public. Each aspect is an essential piece of the effective ecosystem puzzle.

First, prevention includes public education on emergency preparedness in addition to managing hazards. Protection consists of the activities ecosystem groups participate in to promote secure communities. These include police patrol and services rendered by community assistance organizations.

When considering the different actions within an ecosystem, response might be the first to come to mind. Public safety communications and communications systems are crucial to guarantee swift response in the event of a crisis. One strategy leaders can employ to develop this area is participation in initiatives that provide education and collaboration with other successful organizations.

Finally, there’s recovery. A closer look at how each group in the public safety ecosystem provides recovery services, especially when communication is limited, is essential to understanding how services can be improved.

Take, for example, Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Three out of fifty-five affected counties experienced more than 50 percent of their cell sites down, with the most affected experiencing 94.7 percent outage. Such interruption leads to real consequences in how our ecosystems can provide disaster recovery services. Luckily, newer technologies like 5G services can offer better coverage.

Updating as Times Change

Mobile technology and internet connections reign supreme, especially in terms of public access to the public safety ecosystem. These benefits can’t be overstated: many members of the public have immediate access to local authorities, 24-7. However, the digital access divide between those who have access and those who don’t must be overcome.

Times are changing, and our public safety ecosystems are too. One example of this can be seen in the tremendous increase of online healthcare services over the past few years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there was a 154 percent increase in telehealth appointments the last week of March 2020 when compared to the year prior. The surge in telehealth gives our healthcare providers increased access to the public, but only for those unaffected by the digital divide.

Bridging this gap is no easy task for the public safety ecosystem, but a few ways updates can be encouraged include

  • increasing digital literacy,
  • providing incentives to technology entities,
  • developing relevant and local content along with telecommunications infrastructure, and
  • promoting innovations geared toward bridging the gap.

Technology Used to Uphold Public Safety Ecosystems 

Whether it’s the technology utilized by the public to contact officials or the systems local agencies use internally, the safety of the public is inextricably linked to the latest advances. This is great news when considering the exciting possibilities in public safety technology the future will bring. Still, concerns over data security and privacy will play a role in how new innovations are adapted. Creating systems that ethically and appropriately handle data is paramount to the success of our public safety ecosystems.

Hardware

Like with any technology, both hardware and software are required to keep public safety ecosystems up and running. Hardware currently used to uphold our systems includes

  • satellites,
  • cell towers,
  • modems and routers,
  • phones (landline and mobile),
  • radios, and
  • technology used at PSAPs (public safety answering points, the call centers responsible for answering emergency calls).

Software

Of course, physical hardware can’t stand alone. Some of the software required in public safety includes computer-aided dispatch systems for emergency responders, GPS, and disaster notification applications. Artificial intelligence also fits into this category, and applications in all aspects of the public safety ecosystem are rising.

One example is the Assistant for Understanding Data through Reasoning, Extraction, and Synthesis, or AUDREY for short. This software application developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Department of Homeland Security leverages artificial intelligence to assess risks a first responder is facing. AUDREY accomplishes this via sensors on personal gear along with information accessed via the Internet of Things (IoT). The goal is to provide highly tailored situational awareness to each first responder.

This is merely one example among the multitude of software applications being developed each day aimed at better equipping the members of our public safety ecosystems.

Navigating the Line between Protection and Privacy

A major responsibility of entities tasked with bettering our communities is the respectful use of data. To demonstrate just how much data is out there, in 2017, more objects were connected than human beings on Earth—8.38 billion connected devices compared to 7.5 billion humans.

Regulation regarding the ethical use of data and human rights continues to be refined. A recent Joint Statement from the US-EU Trade and Technology Council Inaugural highlighted some of these significant challenges. One pertinent takeaway is that AI technologies can provide notable benefits but can also threaten freedoms if not handled properly.

How to Improve Upon a Public Safety Ecosystem

While public safety ecosystems are already at play at the local, state, and federal levels, exploring the ways to improve upon existing structures is necessary. A public safety ecosystem that involves members of the community not only provides service attuned to its specific needs but also strengthens the relationship of trust. Leaders can do this in a variety of ways:

  • Connecting with residents via survey
  • Spending face time in the community
  • Hosting educational events and town halls
  • Encouraging open, two-way communication regarding proposed changes

Another element to ecosystem improvement involves collaboration with individuals outside of the immediate field of one group’s expertise. For instance, educating mental health workers on the procedures of emergency workers (and vice versa) can help develop best practices and increase cooperation.

Ecosystems that can do this while keeping an eye focused on developing current technologies to match the needs of the time are poised for a bright future.

Adapting Smarter Technology

As previously detailed, technology is at the heart of the public safety ecosystem. Another improvement strategy is to stay up to date on the latest tech. One example is the edge ecosystem, an emerging computing system that provides greater agility and adaptability. This is especially relevant for those in emergency response positions, as it can be leveraged to provide faster coordination and communication between users.

Focus on Mental Health

Mental health plays a large role in public safety; thus, mental health workers are essential members in the safety ecosystem. For the past thirty years, the city of Eugene, Oregon, has sent mental health workers to respond to certain calls regarding mental health issues, homelessness, disorientation, and dispute resolution. According to a World Economic Forum article, in 2019, this program responded to 24,000 calls and required police backup only 150 times. Fostering a healthy relationship between mental health agencies, first responders, and other public safety leaders can be an excellent path to ecosystem improvement.

The Points to Consider

Each day, the development of new technology opens doors and ushers in fresh possibilities. Ensuring communities are a fair place for everyone involved is an essential responsibility for those in charge—because what is a public safety ecosystem without the public itself? As we move into the future, it will be critical to focus resources on shrinking the digital access divide and protecting sensitive data.

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