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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-17-2011 - 1ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: November 17, 2011 Action Agenda Item No. 1 SUBJECT: Review of the VIPER (Voice Interoperability Plan for Emergency Responders) Original Design and Implementation and Strategies to Improve Coverage and Capacity DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): 1) VIPER Final Analysis Report 8/20/04 2) Orange County Radio System coverage Conformance Testing Report 9/9/07 3) Assessment of the Current, Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services Delivery System INFORMATION CONTACT: F. R. Montes de Oca, 245-6100 Michael Talbert, 245-2153 PURPOSE: To review the design and implementation of the original VIPER (Voice Interoperability Plan for Emergency Responders) system and explore strategies to improve both the coverage and capacity of the system. BACKGROUND: By 2001 Orange County began discussions with the public safety community and started planning for the implementation of VIPER. In 2003 the VIPER system first appeared in the County Capital Investment Plan and by 2009 the system switchover occurred with the exception of the Sheriff's Department. In early 2011 the Sheriffs Departments' radios were installed and all Orange County public safety agencies are using VIPER. VIPER is a statewide 800 MHz trunked radio network being used. by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol to provide multi-jurisdiction, multi-agency interoperability. A trunked radio system is a complex digital radio system which uses a few channels to support multiple talk groups. Orange County and its communities have chosen to become a partner with the NC State Highway Patrol on the VIPER system. NC State Highway Patrol has taken the responsibility for the VIPER backbone design of the radio sites and equipment providing radio coverage to Orange County. The VIPER radio has been installed as designed and is functioning well but is not perfect. The system, like any other digital communication system, is in need of expansion as the state-wide system grows and technology upgrades as the technology is constantly changing and improving. History October 27, 2003 VIPER included in the Capital Investment Plan August 8, 2004 Final VIPER Analysis Report (Consolidated Communications Network Design) May 17, 2005 Approved Grant funding for (147) new 800 MHz portable radios August 16, 2005 Approval of Regional Grant Application (Durham & Orange) March 2, 2006 Accept COPS Interoperable Communications Technology Grant Program Award January 23, 2007 Acceptance of Grant Allocation from the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program V/PER Radio Limitations Quote from the MMA Report, "Assessment of the Current, Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services Delivery System, May 3, 2011" "The VIPER radio system is an essential element of Orange County emergency services system. The radios system's configuration has limitations. Several Vo{unteer fire agencies reported "dead spots" where radio reception and transmission are not possible. The VIPER radio system uses the 800 MHz band. Radio frequencies in the 800 MHz band width do not penetrate buildings effectively. Building penetration refers to the reception and transmission from handheld radios operating within buildings. Dead spots and poor building penetration place responders at risk when operating under emergency conditions." Possible VIPER Solutions System Coverage -The percent of the area served (Orange County) by a radio system where a user can have radio reception and transmission whether using a mobile radio or a handheld radio. The current system does not produce 100% coverage -there are "dead spots". Attached is the "Final Viper Analysis Report" that lists VIPER tower sites (page 12) serving Orange County. All tower sites recommended in Table 3-1, page 12 have been constructed. To solve the coverage issue construction of new towers in strategic locations is required. It will take approximately one year to permit a new tower. The estimated cost of a new tower is $750,000 to $1,000,000 each. Orange County is likely to need two or more new towers. System Capacity -how many different calls can the radio system handle at once. When all of the channels are busy, the user gets a busy signal which comes across the radio as a "bonk". The capacity of the radio system is limited by the tower site with the least number of channels on the tower. The VIPER radio system is a state-wide shared radio system. The number of state-wide users continues to increase, with both the Sheriffs Department and Alamance County having come on line in the last year. Within the next 12-24 months, Person County will expand its VIPER use as well as increases in capacity occurring in Alamance County. The VIPER system is a broadcasting system, in many cases sending the same message to multiple users at once. When the system is broadcasting, every tower in the system is used to get the message out to all users. Orange County utilizes towers in Alamance, Durham, and Chatham counties to communicate with emergency services providers in Orange County on the state- wide radio system. Adding channels to existing towers will improve system capacity. The cost of one channel added to one tower is approximately $30,000 and multiple channels will be needed on multiple towers. Building Penetration -refers to the reception and transmission from handheld radios operating within buildings. Mobile Repeaters significantly improve in building reception. The Chapel Hill Fire Department has used mobile repeaters to significantly improve VIPER radio reception. Repeaters can either be mobile or mounted to a fixed location. Mobile repeaters in emergency vehicles will significantly improve building penetration. Mobile Repeaters are estimated to cost $20,000 each and many repeaters will likely be needed. Listed below are the VIPER towers that provide service to Orange County and the number of channels on each tower. V/PER Towers Orange County: Eno Mountain (Hillsborough) 8 Channels WUNC (Chatham Mtn.) 5 Channels Orange County North (Laws) 5 Channels UNC - MED (Brickhouse Bldg) 8 Channels Durham County: Cole Mill Road 5 Channels Camden (Roxboro Rd.) 5 Channels A/amance County: Cane Mtn. 8 Channels Altamahaw 8 Channels Orange County does not have the technical expertise to evaluate coverage and capacity issues with the VIPER system. A technical analysis is required to provide accurate information to solve the coverage and capacity deficiencies. A coverage and capacity assessment will provide the County with analysis of present coverage, suggestions for upgrades of existing sites, and additional locations for supplemental sites to increase the coverage to an acceptable level. FINANCIAL IMPACT: This presentation of this information has no immediate financial impact on the County. After a coverage & capacity assessment has been completed, a financial plan will be presented to the Board. Staff anticipates a total cost estimate for towers, additional channels, and repeaters to be between $3.5 and $5 million dollars which would to be included in the County's Capital Investment Plan. A coverage and capacity assessment is estimated not to exceed $50,000, and the Emergency Telephone System Fund has adequate fund balance to cover this cost. 4 (Agenda Item #5 for this November 17, 2011 meeting provides a summary of the potential costs associated with Emergency Services Coverage, Capacity and System Improvements addressed in this and other agenda items.) RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board authorize the County Manager to enter into a contract for a Coverage & Capacity Assessment Analysis, not to exceed $50,000 using a qualified technology firm.