Enabling Next-Generation Public Safety Operations with Mission-Critical Networks and Wearable Applications

Abstract

Public safety agencies have been working on the modernization of their communication networks and the enhancement of their mission-critical capabilities with novel technologies and applications. As part of these efforts, migrating from traditional land mobile radio (LMR) systems toward cellular-enabled, next-generation, mission-critical networks is at the top of these agencies’ agendas. In this paper, we provide an overview of cellular technologies ratified by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) to enable next-generation public safety networks. On top of using wireless communication technologies, emergency first responders need to be equipped with advanced devices to develop situational awareness. Therefore, we introduce the concept of the Internet of Life-Saving Things (IoLST) and focus on the role of wearable devices—more precisely, cellular-enabled wearables, in creating new solutions for enhanced public safety operations. Finally, we conduct a performance evaluation of wearable-based, mission-critical applications. So far, most of the mission-critical service evaluations target latency performance without taking into account reliability requirements. In our evaluation, we examine the impact of device- and application-related parameters on the latency and the reliability performance. We also identify major future considerations for better support of the studied requirements in next-generation public safety networks.

From Black Box to Transparency: the hidden costs of XAI in NGN

“…While some works, such as (Renda et al, 2021;Marcu et al, 2023;Barnard et al, 2022) aim to understand the decisions of ML models, others, such as (Terra et al, 2020;Morichetta et al, 2019;Spyrou and Kappatos, 2023) also uses XAI methods to explain relationships between network variables, either for cognitive purposes or for selecting relevant attributes when training ML models. Additionally, XAI constitutes a fundamental tool for regulatory compliance by facilitating traceability and explanation of AI decisions, something essential in critical applications such as healthcare, autonomous transportation, and cybersecurity management in these next-generation networks (Saafi et al, 2021). For example, the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires that AI models that make decisions about individuals be explainable (Bayamlıoglu, 2022).…”

Direct communication radio Iinterface for new radio multicasting and cooperative positioning

“…On the application side, we observe that public safety organizations have already begun to shift from traditional land mobile radio to cellular communications systems, leveraging a new set of deployed devices to meet mission-critical requirements and target new public-safety broadband applications. Accordingly, 3GPP Rel-16 targets defining the common architecture for public safety and commercial ProSe services [98]. In the case of public safety, maintaining ProSe discovery and communication is especially critical when the UE resides outside the coverage area of the cellular network, e.g., in the case of disaster management in remote areas.…”