Country: Poland

Client: Republic of Poland

Project Title: Government Shared Communication Network and Hazardous Materials Tracking and Management System

Project Description: In 1995, the “SuperInformation Highway” was a “buzz” term around the world and numerous countries were looking for ways to secure operations and yet expedite the integration and movement of data, especially among government offices.

While conducting research in Poland, it became apparent to Global Resources that multiple government offices had databases, but they all lacked inter-agency access. Often, getting information required a department to visit another office and search through file drawers of paper records, some of which were deteriorating quickly and were particularly vulnerable to environmental damage (humidity). For example, the Population Bureau had paper records of all citizens but no capability to share their records with the Driver’s License or Police bureau. The Health Ministry could not share medical information with the insurance industry. However, every organization agreed on one thing: nobody should have access to interfere with how they did their job or the actual management (e.g. potential manipulation) of their records, but everyone needed a better system.

Global Resources designed the Government Shared Communication Network, which utilized multimedia, state-of-the-art telecommunications and MIS/data networking technology to link government computers. By utilizing an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) high-speed backbone with appropriate security protocols guarding each agency’s data management, government officials could access needed records. Those with appropriate passwords or authority could delve deeper and more broadly into the system. By linking the computers with small, private VSAT technology (satellite dishes for communication), inter-agency data transfer could be immediate. In addition, our telecommunications/information technology design allowed users to further increase their productivity by providing access to worldwide networks.

In an unrelated project in Poland, Global Resources was asked to review concepts monitoring hazardous goods truck transportation via a global satellite monitoring system. As it is centrally located in Europe, Poland has an extensive road network, but the country lacked a system for monitoring the movement of vehicles. This situation led to higher physical infrastructure maintenance and repair costs, lost revenues and high risks for environmental damage as a result of potential accidents.

After a project review and extended discussion with private and public sector institutions, Global Resources agreed with the project idea but not the methodology. As part of the services plan, INMARSAT had been recommended for satellite services; however, INMARSAT was costly and inefficient relative to newer technologies that were a vailable in the commercial market.

Global Resources suggested a different plan and worked with the quasi-public sector organization to design a data networking and mobile communication project scope that was more specialized. Known as the Hazardous Materials Tracking and Management System, mobile computers were placed in the trucks, small communication terminals were mounted on the cabs’ roofs, and a mobile, ground-based radio system was installed which allowed the managing organization to monitor traffic in real time. Economic and social benefits were gained as a truck’s speed, location and routing could be managed on an immediate basis (and thereby facilitate immediate rerouting and/or allow individuals and organizations to assist in the case of an environmental accident).

Additionally, financial benefits were gained when Global Resources also recommended the installation of a toll-revenue system as a by-product of the new management information system (MIS)/trucking communication system. And when it came time for Poland to implement the project, Global Resources located a firm to co-sponsor the project as a market entry mechanism for the sale of its radio transmission equipment.

Pragniemy podziękować rządowi Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej za udzielenie na wczesnym etapie prac wsparcia projektom Elektronicznej Administracji oraz Zintegrowanego Systemu Zarządzania Danymi w Czasie Rzeczywistym. Doceniamy również możliwość stworzenia Międzyresortowej Sieci Łączności Rządowej oraz Systemu Monitorowania Materiałów Niebezpiecznych.