SCAG Wireless: First Session Packs Application Punch

Maris Janson from Boyle Engineering described a case study of wireless SCADA that supports water utility infrastructure. The value of a wireless network is to enable a SCADA system to deploy sensors where it makes the most sense, to gather data most efficiently and cost-effectively.

Jerry Scalpone of Integrated Parking Solutions walked through the revenue potential of putting a parking meter infrastructure on a wireless network. Surprising statistic: parking meters currently only capture a small portion of potential revenue. Of course, the potential to raise more money is balanced by the political risks of getting carried away in this area! Suffice to say that we have a long way to go with using SMART parking meter technology to shape such things as downtown traffic circulation, parking meter revenue potential, and consumer satisfaction. It's not all about writing more parking tickets, it seems.

Finally, Ron Stein, of ShotSpotter, gave my favorite presentation. This Silicon Valley startup provides public safety agencies the ability to triangulate on a gunshot and within 10-15 seconds, provide law enforcement officers in squad cars with an accurate location for the shot, leading to dramatic increases in crime prosecution and in providing immediate help for gun shot victims. When combined with wireless video surveillance, this technology provides law enforcement with a very powerful crime fighting tool. My favorite because the gap between the current method (Radio crackles...Dispatcher broadcasts the verbal message. "One Adam 12, One Adam 12, we have a 911 report of a resident calling in describing gun shots heard in the vicinity of 12th and Brazos Blvd..." often 5-10 minutes after the fact) V. Automated data alert to all squad cars to their in-care laptop within 10 seconds of the event, with a point on a map, a description of the number of shots, and a description of what type of gunfire it was...Loads more information with which to make critical management decisions, where life and death may be on the line. Whoaa! That's cool!