Improving Field Communications
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Challenge
Research alternative technologies that will supplement the current FS
land mobile radio system and provide tracking all Forest Service
employees, volunteers and vehicles.
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Capabilities Required
Provide GPS tracking information of Forest Service assets.
Two way text messaging.
Computer assisted tracking of vehicles and employees.
Check-in and check-out.
Personal satellite tracking.
Provide data mining capability for Forest Service system efficiency.
Cloud-based, SaaS
Unified system for both personnel and vehicle/asset
Assumptions
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Satellite based systems required – field locations outside
cell/radio coverage
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20,000+ assets in FS fleet
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7,500 field going personnel (1/4 organization)
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In-field 50% of year
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Bulk quantity discount (not reflected in prices shown later)
Market Survey and Findings
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No unified solution for asset and personnel
communications/tracking
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Three distinct segments: vehicle/asset tracking, sat phones, &
sat-based personal tracking/text messaging devices
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Sat-based personal tracking/text messaging technology is not
mature
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Sat-phones provide best communications
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Many providers for fleet/asset tracking
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Levels of service
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Communication types (cell, sat, radio or combination)
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High cost of entry and yearly costs (especially for sat-based)
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Recommend defining requirements and submitting RFP.
Satellite Emergency Notification Devices (SEND)
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Handheld units that provide check-in, SOS, & tracking
notifications with GPS location
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One- way and two-way text messaging
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Commercial Market
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GeoPro Messenger
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Shout Nano
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DeLorme inReach
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SPOT Messenger/Tracker
4GeoPro Messenger
Communication: Iridium Sat (two-way) Message: Check-in, SOS text, email, tracking
Cost: $600 hardware Subscription Fees: $35/month + $0.21 per message (bundle) Backend: Web-based, supported by GeoPro
Comments: Provides two-way communications, MTDC currently evaluating
Shout Nano
Communication: Iridium Sat (two-way) Message: Check-in, text, email, tracking
Cost: $849 hardware Subscription Fees: $35/month + $0.21 per message (bundle) Backend: Web-based, supported by GeoPro
Comments: Provides two-way communications, MTDC evaluation has not started
DeLorme inReach
Communication: Iridium Sat (two-way) Messages: Check-in, SOS, tracking(solo); Text, email (tethered)
Cost: $250 hardware (estimate) Subscription Fees: TBD Backend: Web-based, possibly supported by GeoPro
Comments: Not yet on market, Two way communications when tethered to a smartphone or DeLorme
SPOT Messenger
Communication: Globalstar (one-way) Messages: Check-in, SOS, tracking (solo); Text (tethered) Cost: $100 hardware (estimate) Subscription Fees: $12.50/month (unlimited message/track) Backend: Web-based, supported by SPOT
Comments: Provides one-way communications only, no confirmation of message received
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Satellite Tracking and Texting Devices: Estimated Costs and Features
GeoPro Messenger NAL Research SHOUTnano DeLorme inReach SPOT Messenger Costs
Initial Hardware Cost $600 $849 $249 $100
Estimated Messages/Voice Used per Year
3,360* 3,360* N/A 4,800**
Subscription Fees $35/Month $35/Month N/A $100 w/out tracking $149 with tracking per year
Estimated Yearly Message Fees
$747 for 3,600 messages
$747 for 3,600 messages N/A $149
Total First Year Costs per Unit (Including Hardware, Subscription Fees, and Usage
Fees)
$1,767 $2,016 N/A $249
Initial Cost for 7,500 Units and 1-Year of Fees
$13,252,500 $15,120,000 N/A $1,867,500
Yearly Fees for 7,500 Units $8,752,500 $8,752,500 N/A $1,117,500
Estimated Yearly Life Cycle Costs $1,200,000 $1,275,000*** N/A $1,050,000 Features Two-way Communication x x x Satellite Text/E-mail x x x x GPS Tracking x x x x Built-in GPS x x x x
*The satellite tracking yearly usage figures are based on 120 field work days per year, a check-in period of 6 hours, tracking intervals of one per 15 minutes, and 4 additional messages (text or email) per day.
**SPOT Messengers send tracking messages every 10 minutes. ***Price doesn’t reflect required factory battery replacements.
Satellite Phones
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Proven technology – Agency use
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Terrain issues
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Commercial Market
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Iridium
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InMarsat
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TerraStar
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Recommendation: Consolidated purchasing and bundle
airtime to reduce cost
Sat-Phones
inmarsat
Iridium
TerraStar
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Satellite Voice Devices: Estimated Costs and Features
Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro TerreStar GENUS Iridium 9555 Costs
Initial Hardware Cost $549 $1,239 $1,195
Estimated Messages/Voice Used per Year*
1,200 1,200 1,200
Subscription Fees $19.95/Month $50/Month for 300 cell minutes and $23.99/Month satellite
activation
$39.95/Month
Estimated Yearly Minutes Fees
$1,296 $780 $1,200
Total First Year Costs per Unit (Including Hardware,
Subscription Fees, and Usage Fees)
$2,085 $2,907 $2,875
Initial Cost for 7,500 Units and 1-Year of Fees
$15,637,500 $21,802,500 $21,562,500
Yearly Fees for 7,500 Units $11,520,000** $12,510,000 $12,600,000**
Estimated Yearly Life Cycle Costs $1,050,000 $2,280,000 $2,542,500 Features Two-way Communication x x x Satellite Voice x x x Cellular Voice x Satellite Text/E-mail x x x Cellular Text/e-mail x Built-in GPS x
*The satellite voice usage estimates are based on 120 field work days per year and 10 minutes of talk time per workday.
Vehicle/Asset Tracking Systems
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Many providers in industry
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Proven technology(s)
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Investigated by Fleet in previous years
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Wide variety of options and solutions
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Cell, sat, radio
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GPS tracking, 1-way and 2-way communications, 911 features
Vehicle/Asset Tracking Systems
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Example: Fleet Management Solutions
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Provided DHS with 2000 systems
Vehicle/Asset Tracking Systems
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Fleet Management Solutions: Features
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Satellite based - Iridium
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GPS tracking initiated/stopped with vehicle ignition
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Two-way text communication to cab terminal
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Emergency Panic Button
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Hosted web service
2 Way Satellite Message Terminal - MDT
