Rogo Communications starts a light GPS tracking device for Wildfire crews
From Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) January 29, 2025
Rogo Communications has introduced Dropblock 2.0, a satellite-capable GPS tracking solution that is intended to improve the security and operating efficiency for wildland fire brigade and their equipment.
This advanced version of the drop block is lighter and more compact, specially designed for firefighters, crossing the distant wilderness areas in which cellular networks are not available. These robust devices not only offer real-time GPS persecution of personnel and resources, but also hyper-local weather data from portable weather stations, including metrics such as wind speed, direction, temperature and humidity. The integration of IoT sensor data facilitates life -saving situation awareness and immediate tactical coordination.
“Based on feedback from Wildland Firefighter Field Trials, the reduced size and weight of the new drop blocks enables immediate use to support the first attack of a running fire, the time of the most dangerous risk for firefighters,” said Rod Goossen, Chief Executive Officer from Rogo . Together with his brother Derek, a veteran of over 100 Wildfire Suppression teams, Goossen was the company with the task of developing life-saving technology for wildland fire brigade.
Task Force executives, who usually manage several crew from a vehicle, are equipped with broadband satellite terminals to access satellite data with a high bandwidth. This connectivity enables you to monitor Dropblock -GPS locations and weather updates from hand crews and devices, whereby all information is shared in real time with the command before incident to ensure coherent coordination.
Rogo's satellite communication systems work worldwide and were used in fire fighting efforts in local, state and state authorities in the western United States. Apart from forest fires, these systems also support first aiders in hurricanes, floods as well as search and rescue operations.
Field tests of the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management with six wildland fire hand crews have highlighted the value of the smaller drop block design and introduced the functional communication functions of the point-to-point data.
In addition, Rogo is developing a new smartphone app that offers point-to-point communication and tactical cooperation in addition to the functions for the release of location and weather data.
Related links
Rogo communication
Forest and venison – news, science and technology
Comments are closed.