Minneapolis Bridge Collapse Provides Early Test of Wi-Fi Network

James Farstad, the city of Minneapolis's principal consultant on its broadband-wireless implementation, provides an account on W2i.com of use of the city's Wi-Fi network in support of the emergency response to the Interstate 35W bridge collapse on August 1st.

"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 onsite 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 used to enable ongoing monitoring and coordination of the rebuilding effort."

Farstad is president of rClient in Minneapolis and moderates the Service-Provider Executives and Local-Government CIOs Roundtable at the W2i Digital Cities Convention.