communications, mobile (Firelink, Battlemap and Mobile Asset Command & Control - MAC2)

FireLink® Common Operating Picture (COP) is a “real-time” independent mobile digital communications network that provides emergency services with an accurate COP to assist in the command and co-ordination of land, sea and airborne assets during an emergency.

FireLink provides a 2D and 3D representation of an emergency situation visualising land, sea and air assets over terrain, satellite imagery and a variety of maps and GIS information. It allows multiple feeds from remote assets and other disparate systems such as computer-aided dispatching (CAD), vehicle locating tracking systems, weather and radar to be presented in a single 2D or 3D picture, in real-time, for assisting in any decision process and post emergency analysis.

The 3D visualisation allows operating areas to be produced and displayed in support of air space management for aircraft and determining those areas that are active and those that are under or coming under threat etc for land assets.

Mobile Asset Command and Control (MAC2) is a radio and computer processor combination that provides a mobile communications network without the requirement for a fixed infrastructure, which is necessary to support such systems as mobile phones, vehicle location tracking and/or CAD etc.

The system can be connected to a vehicle's engine management system (EMS) and/or just a GPS antenna and the information is automatically sent to HQ for display. The MAC2 offers an operator two-way digital communications between assets and an HQ or can simply provide data automatically to an HQ without any operator intervention.

Each MAC2 also acts as an automatic relay station and effectively extends the line-of-sight range of a UHF or VHF radio by the number and range of the participants in the actual network.

DescriptionPertinent information

ATI has developed a C4I system called BattleMap® - an advanced tactical command display system which provides a 3D visualisation capability and manipulates real, and non-real time track information over mapping, terrain elevation and imagery data.

BattleMap® provides a strategic, tactical and real-time platform:

  • strategic – imagery, GCCS-M, domestic CSS and intelligence.
  • tactical – Tactical Data LINK (11, 16 & 22) and digital communications (on command)
  • real-time - sensors & displays and visual networks

The MAC2 modem is a commercial “real-time” mobile digital communications network that can provide civil and military services with accurate data to assist in the command and control of land, sea and airborne assets such as vehicles, helicopters and small boats.

MAC2 enables assets to communicate real-time information enabling increased situational awareness for individual units and asset co-ordinators, via a dedicated radio network.

Status

Company

The MAC2 system provides:

  • independent 2-way mobile digital radio network;
  • automatic relaying and data forwarding;
  • asset management, co-ordination and planning in 2D/3D;
  • briefing and debriefing tool;
  • increased situational awareness;
  • 2D/3D visualisation of imagery, mapping, digital pictures and terrain data;
  • redundancy for primary voice communication;
  • reduces voice requests for updates and status reports.
 Team Australia - Australian Technology Information Pty Limited