GPS Tracking Tool Unveiled by RoGO Communications for Wildland Firefighters
RoGO Communications, a company dedicated to developing lifesaving technology for firefighters and first responders, has announced the launch of its new product, DropBlock 2.0. This innovative device is designed to track the location of firefighters and equipment, proving invaluable in wildfire situations.
Founded by Rod Goossen and his brother Derek, who has fought over 100 wildfires, RoGO Communications was established with the goal of creating technology to save the lives of wildland firefighters. The company's latest offering, DropBlock 2.0, is no exception.
The new DropBlocks are smaller in size and weight, making them suitable for wildland firefighters who often operate in remote areas with no cellular networks. This reduced size and weight enable immediate deployment to support the initial attack of a wildfire, a critical and dangerous time for firefighters.
The DropBlocks are equipped to track the location of crews, equipment, and resources such as bulldozers, water tenders, fire engines, high-value structures, medical evacuation rescue, and makeshift water resources. In addition, they share hyper-local weather information from portable weather stations, including wind speed, direction, temperature, humidity, and other IoT sensor data. This information is crucial for first responders as it helps them make informed decisions in the heat of the moment.
Task Force Leaders receive a broadband satellite terminal with high-bandwidth satellite data connectivity to receive DropBlock GPS locations and weather data from handcrews and equipment. This real-time information is also shared with Incident Command, ensuring a comprehensive overview of the situation.
In addition to the DropBlocks, RoGO Communications is developing a new smartphone app. This app is intended to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of first responder operations in various disaster scenarios, providing point-to-point communications and tactical collaboration at the edge. The app is designed to support the edge of field operations, likely referring to the immediate area where first responders are operating.
RoGO satellite-based products and services support first responders in other disasters including hurricanes, floods, and search and rescue teams. These solutions operate anywhere in the world, supporting field trials across various agencies. For instance, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management field tested DropBlocks with six wildland fire handcrews, with the smaller size of DropBlocks being highlighted as an advantage for their field tests.
While specific details about DropBlock 2.0's latest developments and features are not available at this time, it is clear that RoGO Communications continues to push the boundaries of technology to aid first responders in their crucial work. As more information becomes available, we will keep you updated.
- RoGO Communications, with its focus on environmental science, especially addressing climate-change issues in wildfire situations, is stepping forward with their newest product, DropBlock 2.0.
- Considering DropBlock 2.0's smaller size and weight, it offers a suitable solution for gadgets that are essential for wildland firefighters operating in remote areas with spotty cellular networks.
- In the realm of sports like mixed-martial-arts, the significance of real-time data-and-cloud-computing accessed via satellite could prove paramount for making quick, informed decisions—a lesson that can be learned from DropBlock 2.0's innovative approach.
- Science and technology, in unison, can make significant strides in enhancing both lifesaving efforts in emergency situations and value-added productivity in industries such as sports and environmental science.
