Minneapolis Wi-Fi makes public safety point

For people who argue that a citywide Wi-Fi network is important to public safety, the Minneapolis bridge collapse may become their proof point. As more and more details about the disaster response emerge, it's becoming clear that the city's two-month-old and only partially completed Wi-Fi network may have had a significant role in helping with the response.  

As with other disasters, cell phone networks in Minneapolis were quickly overloaded in the hours following last week's bridge collapse.   But Minneapolis is in the process of setting up a citywide wireless network, and enough of that network was operating last week to deliver communication services to the disaster site. Its CIO, Lynn Willenbring,  explains how the city used this network.

James Farstad, a wireless consultant for the city involved in setting up the Wi-Fi network, was on the scene. I spoke with him briefly Friday as he was running through a checkpoint. He has written an exhaustive account for W2i Digital Cities about the use of that network.  

As the event unfolded, a number of immediate potential uses of the wireless network became apparent. They included opening an alternate path to electronic communication and information for City personnel; extending the Wi-fi network infrastructure to fully blanket the scene of the bridge collapse for emergency personnel on-site connectivity; implementing live multiple perspective camera coverage of the scene for EOC and Command Post uses; and providing Community links to City of Minneapolis resources, Hospital Emergency Coordination Units, State of Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT ) traffic routing information, Red Cross Blood Bank collection points, and local and national news outlets. On a longer term basis, it could be utilized to enable on-going monitoring and coordination of the rebuilding effort.