CAL FIRE Deploys Exalt Microwave Backhaul Systems to Support Video Surveillance

In order to support the video surveillance systems at the unstaffed lookout towers in El Dorado County, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has installed Exalt (News - Alert) microwave backhaul systems.

The Exalt solution will allow CAL FIRE dispatchers in the Camino Interagency Command Center (ECC) to gather additional information quickly and dispatch appropriate resources.

The number of CAL FIRE staffed towers was lowered because of budgetary cuts and CAL FIRE was in a position to adapt and rely on info from inaccurate 911 calls. So CAL FIRE opted for a system that uses tower-mounted high definition video cameras and microwave wireless links to monitor wildland fire activity.

Officials with CAL FIRE have stated that the camera system allows the Emergency Command Center to gather additional information when dispatching resources to a wildland fire.

Exalt has claimed that their systems can deliver up to 200 megabits per second (Mbps) of Ethernet capacity and can be configured to carry four T1s of GSM voice traffic and from 10 to 50 Mbps of Ethernet over distances of up to 20 miles. These Exalt systems, configured for the 5 GHz frequency band, can be deployed within a day, enabling users to rapidly upgrade their backhaul capacity. The video surveillance system currently features tower-mounted cameras covering El Dorado County, and it will be expanded to include additional surveillance locations over time.

Amir Zoufonoun, president and CEO of Exalt, has commented that flexibility and performance are the keys to pioneering new applications like this one for CAL FIRE, and Exalt offers the largest and most diverse portfolio of high-performance microwave radio systems on the market. Only Exalt allows its customers to choose from a full range of microwave systems in any frequency band and any configuration with the assurance that whichever product they choose, they will get best-in class performance, reliability, security and value.

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