CTC specializes in planning and design for public safety networks utilizing the full range of communications technologies. Our expertise ranges from in-depth needs assessment and requirements projection to specifying and procuring fiber, wireless, and microwave resources for public safety and homeland security needs. Our experience and expertise includes user requirements analyses, cost modeling, system planning, specification of system components, performance modeling, implementation oversight, system certification, acceptance testing, and facilities inspection.

The following is a sampling of representative CTC projects.

CTC serves as engineering lead on the National Capital Region Interoperability Program I-Nets Project (known as NCRnet), a regional networking project funded by the US Department of Homeland Security Urban Areas Security Initiative. CTC is tasked with network needs assessment, inter-jurisdictional coordination, and fiber/microwave design. NCRnet is designed to provide an interoperable, robust, reliable fiber and microwave infrastructure to serve the first responder communities within the NCR, including local and regional Law Enforcement, Fire/EMS, Emergency Management, Transportation, Public Health, and Public Utilities organizations.

As lead engineer for NCRnet, CTC conducted a needs assessment and requirement projection of overall networking needs throughout the region, and is now designing and deploying a fiber-optic and microwave network to interconnect the existing communications networks of the 19 jurisdictions in the region. CTC is designing NCRnet to form a region-wide redundant and scalable infrastructure. The network uses both fiber optic cable and microwave, and also provides backhaul for wireless assets. The result will be a failsafe, secure high-capacity network able to meet present and future public safety and first-responder needs and scalable to serve new stakeholders and user communities.

In previous years, CTC served as consulting engineer and technical architect for the feasibility studies and plans that led to the funding of this ongoing major regional network interconnection effort by the US Department of Homeland Security.  CTC prepared four major feasibility studies, including design and governance recommendations, for a multi-jurisdictional public safety network.

CTC serves as lead engineer/design/implementation consultant for design and deployment of the microwave network (NCR Regional Microwave Network) among the 19 jurisdictions in the National Capital Region.  In this capacity, CTC performed site selection, frequency coordination, microwave path analysis, and network design.  CTC also serves as lead technical consultant with regard to specification development, vendor selection, and integration coordination and oversight.  The microwave network is designed to enable extensive patient tracking by the public safety and public health communities in the event of an emergency.  CTC designed the network to mesh with a fiber-optic network connecting the DC Metro jurisdictions and provide airbridges to hospitals in the DC metro area. The use and a wide variety of technologies and the “re-use” of existing jurisdictional assets has allowed CTC to design a cost-effective, cutting-edge interjurisdictional network serving DC metro first responders.

A consortium of Northern Virginia jurisdictions requested that CTC perform a feasibility study for an information technology recovery center in Northern Virginia that would enable the participants' IT resources to remain functional in the event of a natural or other disaster. CTC determined the likely range of costs for a recovery center, the interconnection network required to serve the facility, the center's potential capabilities, and the advantages and disadvantages of a community-owned center relative to a leased facility or leased recovery service.  CTC presented the results of the study to the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC).

CTC negotiated and designed communications networks for numerous local jurisdictions and states to meet institutional needs including emergency communications and public safety. In Arlington County, VA , for example, CTC worked on a number of fronts to leverage information technology and high-bandwidth communications to improve the capabilities of its first responders, provide decision-makers with critical information during emergency situations, and ensure continuity of government in the face of large-scale disasters. Toward this end, CTC has assisted Arlington County by:

In Prince William County, VA, CTC researched current and future wireless technologies and evaluated the feasibility of implementing a secure public safety wireless network. CTC also designed and implemented a pilot project to test the feasibility of a public safety network.

For the Anne Arundel County, MD Fire Department, CTC prepared system level design recommendations and cost estimates for an extensive, Countywide system to support interactive and on-demand video training communications. The system design leveraged the County's existing fiber optic communications network, which connects all Fire Department facilities, and incorporated capabilities to enhance emergency collaboration and routine staff meetings to minimize wasted time traveling to convene key personnel.

Also for the Anne Arundel County, MD Fire Department, CTC developed a design for a video display system for the Fire Department's new dispatch center, intended to allow key sources of information to be prominently displaSyed throughout the new facility. CTC developed a Request for Proposals, incorporating the design and detailed specifications, evaluated proposals, and provided oversight for the system integration process.

CTC also developed a design, on behalf of the Anne Arundel County, MD Fire Operations Center , for a video presentation and conferencing system for the Department's operations system, intended to support communications and coordination among key personnel during an emergency situation. The system will also support routine training and briefings.

For the Mesa, AZ Fire Department, CTC prepared system level design recommendations and cost estimates for an extensive, Citywide system to support interactive and on-demand video communications for training, emergency collaboration, and routine meetings between Fire Department personnel. The system is designed to leverage private digital cable television channels and cable modem services acquired by the City, and a rapidly growing private fiber infrastructure. Working with a local cable television provider, CTC integrated a pilot videoconferencing system to demonstrate certain capabilities of the system design.

CTC is working currently with the Howard County, MD Office of Emergency Management and the Arlington County, VA Office of Emergency Management to develop for each jurisdiction a design and deployment strategy for an AM broadcast radio system to disseminate information to the public during emergency situations. In Howard County, CTC has assisted the County to obtain AM broadcast radio licenses and developed candidate system designs. In Arlington County, CTC has assisted the County to obtain AM broadcast radio licenses, developed a detailed design, and is engaged in attempting to obtain a waiver from the FCC to allow for a higher power, more effective broadcast.

CTC worked for the Prince George's County, MD Police Department to develop a plan to improve the availability of video feeds from police helicopters throughout the County by making it available over the County's fiber optic communications network. The plan includes upgrades to the video equipment at the Emergency Communications Center and the fiber network.

For Carroll County, MD, CTC assessed the feasibility of constructing a mobile video production vehicle to support live remote broadcasts over the County's Public, Education, and Government (PEG) cable channels, and potentially to serve as a mobile communications hub and control room for emergency communications. CTC prepared a baseline system-level design to identify the basic functionality possible within the target price range, with several optional design components identified.

CTC prepared the baseline system-level design in light of two key design principles: first, that the video production system design should prioritize the use of standards-based, digital video production technologies, rather than physical scale of the production capabilities. This design principle will extend the functional life of the system, relative to using less expensive analog video production systems nearer to obsolescence, and will enable the system to be expanded for enhanced functionality and larger scale productions in a phased approach, as funding is made available to meet the growing requirements.

On this project, CTC's second key design principle is to prioritize greater physical size and the use of robust, Internet Protocol (IP) based communications systems over initial video production capabilities. This design principle will enable the vehicle to potentially meet a range of mobile communications and technology needs, maximizing return on investment, possibly increasing funding through inter-agency collaboration. For example, the vehicle could serve as a mobile communications and command vehicle for the Emergency Management Agency (EMA).