Support Unit Austria
The Support Unit Austria is a nationally and internationally deployable disaster control unit that provides the most modern radio and communication technology, IT technology and office equipment.
Technical and organizational concept
The facilities are based on the communication technologies operated in and by the Austrian state of Vorarlberg and are part of this system. In Vorarlberg, the Austrian Red Cross (rescue service), the fire brigade , mountain rescue , water rescue and the state services use the same communication facilities and are all alerted and coordinated via an integrated rescue and fire brigade control center (RFL). The team of the Support Unit Austria thus consists of a total of 28 IT and telecommunications experts from all of these organizations and from the state of Vorarlberg .
System description
- Telephone system with 25 devices
A small telephone system with 20 cordless telephones (DECT) and 5 fixed devices is available to support an emergency command . The system enables entry into a locally operated telephone network and is connected to the local trunked radio center and the satellite telephones via interfaces .
With the help of 4 satellite telephones , countries with poor communication infrastructure can be connected to the “outside world”. Via an interface, data and images can also be sent or received from a computer via a data satellite system.
- Trunked radio station with 108 terminals
The core of the trunked radio system MPT1327 consists of a central control computer for switching and a bundle of transmit and receive frequencies (channels). All participants registered (registered) in the system are initially in standby mode on a computer-controlled organization channel. If a subscriber wants to get in touch with another, he dials his phone number or selects it from the alphanumeric speed dial memory on the handheld radio and thus signals the connection request to the person in question. The host computer simultaneously selects a free channel from the frequency bundle and then switches both radios exclusively to this channel. You can now speak undisturbed for the duration of the conversation. The remaining talk time is currently shown on the display. In contrast to conventional radio, another participant cannot overhear the radio connection (closed radio traffic). With this system, depending on the number of channels, several calls can be made at the same time.
- Tactical radio unit (70cm band) with 108 devices
This system is used for open communication on site. In tactical radio, a distinction is made between 2 operating modes. The Simplex operating mode can be used for small-area applications . For large-scale operations or operations in mountainous terrain, the range can be significantly improved by using a relay station and the semi-duplex operating mode .
The same terminals as for the MPT 1327 trunked radio application can be used for both radio modes . These can be switched manually from the trunked radio application to a conventional operating mode. From this moment on, the devices can no longer be reached via the trunked radio network.
The terminals can be used in conventional operation in the range between 406 and 470 MHz.
- Alarm system with alarm converter and 108 terminals
The alerting system is used to notify and alert emergency services. This is a digital call system ( POCSAG ) with text display. Up to 128 characters per message can be transmitted and 20 such messages can be stored on a call receiver . The call receivers are one-way devices with which messages can only be received - but not sent.
- IT systems
A local IT network with appropriate computers (server + 5 notebooks) is used for data exchange in the premises of the operations management (offices, meeting rooms, etc. ). The W-LAN technology used enables the required freedom of movement and the use of centrally located devices such as plotters, scanners, etc. without the otherwise necessary cabling effort.
A high-performance Internet connection is available via a satellite system and can be put into operation at any point on earth in a short time.
- Office module
The Support Unit Austria can support an operational command with extensive office equipment. This includes in particular fax machines, copiers, scanners, flip charts, writing implements, paper, and much more.
Mission sequence
The Support Unit Austria is registered as a support unit with the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior ( Federal Warning Center) for national and international operations. The Support Unit Austria can also be deployed nationally and internationally via the Austrian Red Cross . After alerting the emergency services via the integrated rescue and fire brigade control center in Vorarlberg, the Support Unit Austria goes into action after a lead time of approx. 4–8 hours. The average duration of use can be set at around 2–3 weeks.
Depending on the scope and the task at hand, the Support Unit Austria is deployed with 2–5 people and appropriate equipment.
The entire system is modular. For example, a terminal box with 12 handheld radios can be used as the smallest unit for carrying out an ambulance service.
In the largest expansion stage, there is a mobile operations center with 4 radio levels, IT systems with internet access and telephone connections via satellite, including all the required end devices and its own power supply.
