The Model City of the Future

This "Model City of the Future" will incorporate full, secure, reliable and trusted integration of the telecommunications infrastructure, physical security-protection capabilities and automated command and control of homeland-security protection. From a business perspective, the private sector has responded proactively to the challenge, producing a number of initiatives, products, systems solutions and services that meet HSP requirements. In the absence of global industry standards, private industry and government agencies have formed standards-making and implementation-oriented organizations. Some of these are the Physical Access Interagency Interoperability Working Group; GTSI's InteGuard Physical Security Protection Alliance; and the Open Security Exchange. In addition, GSA and the National Institute of Standards and Technology participate in federal, U.S. and global standard-making efforts through the Government Interoperability Advisory Board, Smart Card Alliance, Global Platform and other organizations.

But it is the contribution of several promising innovations in telecommunications, combined with physical security protection, that will make the most outstanding contribution to the Model City of the Future. Three telecommunications technologies stand out: advanced, secure wireless communications; innovative uses of Ultra Wide Band (UWB) supply-chain management; and advanced Wireless Broadband (WiMax), an emerging wireless broadband standard. Advanced, secure wireless communications are critical to "always-on" connectivity. High-speed data-network connectivity and protocols give us far more cost-effective cellular voice and data communications alternatives within a typical urban city. Seamless integration of different types of wireless enterprise networks will assure critical connectivity.

The second technology, the innovative use of supply-chain management techniques, such as Radio Frequency ID (RFID), is used widely by retail giants such as Wal-Mart. RFID allows retailers to track merchandise similar to the way bar-coding makes it possible to identify prices and objects. When combined with traditionally available bar-coding applications, RFID can increase the efficiency and throughput in distribution centers. The application of UWB to RFID will greatly expand the use of RFID technology to quickly identify not only objects, but individuals and life-saving equipment.

The third telecommunications technology, WiMax, backed by influential industry players including Alcatel, Intel and Nokia, is gaining acceptance. The objective is to arrive at a cost-effective viable alternative to broadband wireline access. In the next year or two, WiMax, officially called IEEE 802.16, will be used to extend broadband access capabilities beyond Wi-Fi. WiMax laptop computers and other portable devices could become widely available by 2006.

Arpad G. Toth ([email protected]) is senior technologist at GTSI, and head of the Physical Security Protection business operation and chairman of GTSI's InteGuard Alliance.