System will improve monitoring of rescue services' staff in buildings

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service is to trial a global positioning system (GPS) to help firefighters locate each other at major incidents.

The software uses indoor positioning system (IPS) technology to pinpoint people inside smoke-filled environments and enables firefighters to monitor each other in three dimensions within buildings.

“This project could prove invaluable in the way fire and rescue services operate in the future,” said Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service group manager Mick Johns.

“During the trial we will be able to adapt the technology and hopefully reach a stage where it is small enough and robust enough to become a ‘must have’ item for emergency services,” he said.

Traditional GPS systems can be ineffective indoors due to interference caused by building structures. IPS uses ultra wide band (UWB) radio technology, which is better able to penetrate walls.

The Hampshire system, developed by Thales UK, will begin live trials of the equipment from April.