An emergency communication system based on software-defined radio

Wireless telecommunications represent an important asset for Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) organizations as they improve the coordination and the distribution of information among first responders in the field. In large international disaster scenarios, many different PPDR organizations may participate to the response phase of disaster management. In this context, PPDR organizations may use different wireless communication technologies; such diversity may create interoperability barriers and degrade the coordination among first time responders. In this paper, we present the design, system integration and testing of a demonstration system based on Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology and Software Communication Architecture (SCA) to support PPDR operations with special focus on the provision of satellite communications. This paper describes the main components of the demonstration system, the integration activities as well as the testing scenarios, which were used to evaluate the technical feasibility. The paper also describes the main technical challenges in the implementation and integration of the demonstration system. Finally future developments for this technology and potential deployment challenges are presented.JRC.G.6-Digital Citizen Securit

Security Aspects in Software Defined Radio and Cognitive Radio Networks: A Survey and A Way Ahead

Software Defined Radio (SDR) and Cognitive Radio (CR) are promising technologies, which can be used to alleviate the spectrum shortage problem or the barriers to communication interoperability in various application domains. The successful deployment of SDR and CR technologies will depend on the design and implementation of essential security mechanisms to ensure the robustness of networks and terminals against security attacks. SDR and CR may introduce entirely new classes of security threats and challenges including download of malicious software, licensed user emulation and selfish misbehaviors. An attacker could disrupt the basic functions of a CR network, cause harmful interference to licensed users or deny communication to other CR nodes. The research activity in this area has started only recently and many challenges are still to be resolved. This paper presents a survey of security aspects in SDR and CR. We identify the requirements for the deployment of SDR and CR in the public safety, commercial and military domain, the main security threats and challenges and the related protection techniques. Finally this paper provides an overview of the SDR and CR certification process and how it is related to the security aspects.JRC.G.6-Security technology assessmen

EULER - The First Pan-European SDR-based Public Safety Communications Platform Project

Effective international public safety communications has become in more recent times a principal focal point; partly motivated by the increased risk of concentrated natural disasters, such as flooding, earthquakes and fires, and partly, due to the risks and consequent impact of terrorist attacks. This paper focuses on a European Commission (EC) Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) initiative known as EULER ¿ European SDR (Software Defined Radio) for wireless in joint security operations. The EULER project seeks to demonstrate the benefits of SDR pertaining to a natural disaster of significant stature such as to solicit a coordinated pan-European response. The SDR platforms interfaces with WiMAX and TETRA COTS networks with an underlying satellite link to guarantee the wideband capabilities for performing a full voice, image, file and video transfer. The main feature if EULER in this respect is the definition of a common waveform that respects the SCA constraints, and guar-antees maximum portability. This paper discusses a range of issues which have been identified thus far within the EULER project, in particular the perceived pan-European interoperabil-ity needs of Public Safety, and of the latter with military de-vices/networks. Aspects of interoperability are also extended to the three dimensions of platform, waveform and information assurance.JRC.DG.G.6-Security technology assessmen

The EULER project: application of software defined radio in joint security operations

International audienceRecently, the task of improving the effectiveness of public safety communications has become a main priority for governments. This is partly motivated by the increased risk of natural disasters such as flooding, earthquakes and fires, and partly, due to the risks and consequent impact of terrorist attacks. This paper focuses on the experience from the European Commission (EC) Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) project known as EULER, which seeks to demonstrate the benefits of Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology to support the resolution of natural disasters of significant stature, which require the participation of different public safety and military organizations, potentially of different nations. In such scenarios, the presence of interoperability barriers in the disaster area is a major challenge because different organizations may use different wireless communication systems. In this context, the main aspect investigated in EULER is the definition of a common waveform that respects the Software Communications Architecture (SCA) constraints, and guarantees maximum portability across SDR platforms. This paper discusses a range of issues which have been identified thus far within the EULER project; in particular the perceived pan-European interoperability needs of Public Safety and the coordination with military devices and networks. Aspects of interoperability are also extended to the three dimensions of platform, waveform and information assurance

The EULER project: application of software defined radio in joint security operations

The task of improving the effectiveness of public safety communications has become a main priority for governments. This is partly motivated by the increased risk of natural disasters such as flooding, earthquakes and fires, and partly, due to the risks and consequent impact of terrorist attacks. This paper focuses on the experience from the European Commission (EC) Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) project known as EULER, which seeks to demonstrate the benefits of Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology to support the resolution of natural disasters of significant stature, which require the participation of different public safety and military organizations, potentially of different nations. In such scenarios, the presence of interoperability barriers in the disaster area is a major challenge because different organizations may use different wireless communication systems. In this context, the main aspect investigated in EULER is the definition of a common waveform that respects the Software Communications Architecture (SCA) constraints, and guarantees maximum portability across SDR platforms. This paper discusses a range of issues which have been identified thus far within the EULER project; in particular the perceived pan-European interoperability needs of Public Safety and the coordination with military devices and networks. Aspects of interoperability are also extended to the three dimensions of platform, waveform and information assurance.JRC.G.6-Security technology assessmen

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Employing SDR for International Public Safety

International audienceWe report in this paper some initial results generated from an integration exercise held in October of 2011 in Munich (Germany) at the Rohde & Schwarz premises using Software Defined Radios (SDRs) for actual public safety applications. The SDR technology is being produced to benefit the International Public Safety Community, and partly funded by the European Commision (EC) under the Framework 7 programme. Specifically, this project is called EULER (EUropean SDR for wireless in joint security) operations. Project EULER is bringing together a number of European Industries and Acedemia for maturing the aspect of SDR with security, as would be necessary for rapid and international communication. EULER has given rise to the initial effort to forge together an international collaborative effort, which is yielding a SDR approach with the additional matter of integrated networks. The underlying technology is SDR, with, some of the networks using conventional Standards such as TETRA and WiMAX and there is some Ethernet wired network connectivity. This approach has been necessary to yeild a practical realisation of an SDR network, which can then augment elements of the ensuing network to yeild a more ubiqutious SDR solution, perhaps in a EULER 2 system. Whilst the offering in EULER is a SDR network, a number of platform and waveform innovations can be seen, which are elements of an SDR system that is necessary for briding a wireless network together to enable international public safety. We report in this paper upon these innovations and the progress made to this date. The public safety community is perceived to be TETRA based, which offers a low data rate, order of tens of kilobits/s, and is used mainly for voice communications. The TETRA system offers a level of security, as would be expected for delivering Public Safety. Clearly, Public Safety has now evolved to a need for secure widerband communications (order of Mbps); to enable Video, Data and Assured Multilevel Services to be used. EULER is enabling a High Data Rate (HDR) waveform (WF) to connect together a number of public safety communities through briding the various TETRA networks; the EULER WF (EWF) has been produced for linking together a number of Public Safety Communities for HDR services for a Line of Sight (LOS) network. We briefly discuss the EWF Backbone verification and testing which has been generated on a number of SDR systems including the Thales Internet Protocol BaseBand (IPBB) platform and the Astrium Proteus SDR system. In addition, the network links together a real-time, in threate situational awareness via the use of both the EWF and the WiMAX System, which is being supplied by Cassidian, to brige to the TETRA. There is a Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) element being supplied by Astrium which offers a minimum of two WFs running on an Astrium SDR system, Proteus, to cater for interference - like in a situation similar to an earthquake which may give rise to rouge radio transmission. It is envisaged that, from an operational standpoint, the scenario mentioned here will allow the formation of a Common Operational Picture (COP) using both HDR LOS and BLOS services within an SDR environment, to allow multi-level and secure operation facilitating a rapid formation of an infrastrucure for the Public Safety Community. Whereas the conventional form of BLOS is the provision of reachback for SATCOM, mandating a single disaster zone relative to the BLOS scheme, here it is assumed that a potential exists for a double disaster zone; the second being a consequence of the human displacement following the initial disaster. This scenario implies a need for a HDR capability on both sides of the BLOS link, mandating a need in this case for a WiMAX BS on either end of the BLOS link - implying a minimum of two BSs. The discussion provided in this paper details some of the EULER achievements at this Integration stage particularly as the network is validated giving rise to new realisations of connectivity and thus a new range of applications for the public safety community; the final demonstration will be held in the Netherlands in approximately April 2012