© 2013 tait limited 1 how to successfully project engineer a radio system tait communications apco...

© 2013 Tait Limited1

How to Successfully Project Engineer a Radio System

www.taitradio.com Tait Communications

APCO Western Regional - May 2014

Susan Ronning, P.E.

Senior Systems Engineer

[email protected]

Voice/ Text: 832-557-0236

www.linkedin.com/in/susanronning


About the Presenter

• 16+ years experience as agency mid-level manager, consultant, and vendor in the Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure communications industry

• Professional Engineer (Electrical) holds BSEE and MBA; member of APCO, IEEE, and Civil Air Patrol

• Desire to share wealth of knowledge accumulated in this industry to further Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure equipment, systems, and capabilities


Purpose

Today more than ever, Public Safety agencies are stretched to do more work with less staff.

“How to Successfully Project Engineer a Radio System” provides the guidance needed to understand the process involved in undertaking a new or replacement radio system project.

Applies to “almost” any project; with a unique spin.


What’s Unique? 3rd Party Systems Integration• Radio system projects aren’t usually limited to two-way

radio system. Other components include…- Radio technology- RF subsystem: spectrum, site locations, and RF coverage- Backhaul microwave and/ or fiber- Baseband IP or TDM layer- Dispatch consoles- Subscriber mobiles, portables, control stations- Logging recorder- Monitoring and alarms- Site shelter & tower space, primary and backup power- Spectrum availability


Agenda

1. Project phases

2. Project scope

3. Resources and skills

4. Key transition points


Project Phases


Project Phases

1. Design

2. Procure

3. Implement

4. Maintain


Project Phases

1. Design

2. Procure

3. Implement

4. Maintain

a) Needs analysis

b) Technical assessment

c) Preliminary (conceptual) design


Project Phases

1. Design

2. Procure

3. Implement

4. Maintain

a) Technical and functional specifications

b) Request for Proposal

c) Bid review and award


Project Phases

1. Design

2. Procure

3. Implement

4. Maintain

a) Detailed Designb) Planc) Equipment

Order & Inventory

d) Install & Teste) Install & Testf) Install & Test


Project Phases

1. Design

2. Procure

3. Implement

4. Maintain

• Vendor support agreement

• Maintenance agreements

• Remote access


Project Scope


Project Scope Driver by Phase

1. Design

2. Procure

3. Implement

4. Maintain


Project Scope Driver - DESIGN

1. Define the problem statement

2. Identify systems to integrate

3. Understand the potential migration strategy


Project Scope Driver – DESIGN (cont.)1. Problem Statement

- Identified through needs assessment stage

- Who are the users? Where do they talk? Who do they talk to? How are their workgroups organized? What are their issues?

- Identify your stakeholders & keep them informed throughout the ENTIRE process…• User perception always outweighs technology capability

- Is equipment and/or technology obsolete?- Identify whether they need or want changes to…

• Coverage, Capacity, Operability, Interoperability


Project Scope Driver – DESIGN (cont.)

2. Identify Systems to Integrate• Radio technology• RF subsystem: spectrum, site locations, and RF coverage• End user devices: dispatch consoles, mobiles and

portables• Backhaul subsystem: microwave, fiber, leased lines• Baseband subsystem: TDM or IP• Monitoring and recording: Logging recorder• Site shelter & tower space, primary and backup power• Spectrum availability


Project Scope Driver – DESIGN (cont.)

3. Understand the potential Migration Strategy- Identified through technical assessment stage

- Ideal Migration: Low Risk; Non- or Minimal affect to service; Seamless user transition

- In other words: replacement radio system to be installed, configured, and tested in whole prior to cutover from existing radio system; requires duplicate:

• Site: tower space, rack space, backhaul, power; • Subscribers: backward compatible or potential duplicate

installations• Spectrum


Project Scope - PROCURE

• Sole source contract or bid response?• Equipment only or equipment with services?• Single system procurement or turn-key multi-

system integration?


Project Scope - IMPLEMENT

• In-house, contracted, or consultant- Project management- Technical advisor

• Technicians or others available to…- Escort vendor engineers/ technicians/ installers- Provide operational use information- Provide legacy system knowledge transfer- Oversee site and system equipment configuration and

tests, site installs/ removes


Project Scope - MAINTAIN

• Internal maintenance personnel• Contracted maintenance personnel• Vendor support and maintenance agreements- Hardware- Software

• On site preventative and emergency services• Managed Services contract


Resources and Skills


Resources and Skills by Phase

1. Design

2. Procure

3. Implement

4. Maintain


Resources and Skills - DESIGN

Technical skills & past experience required….

a) Needs analysis: problem statement & requirements specification

i. Operational Stakeholders, user groups, service areas, interoperability Coverage types

Wide area, regional, campus based, in-building, etc.

ii. Functional – current and future feature sets User groups vs. service areas Operability vs. interoperability


Resources and Skills – DESIGN (cont.)


b) Technical assessment i. Spectrum – availability, usability

Frequency analysis: intermodulation studies, interference analysis, site suitability

ii. Sites – availability, usability Site survey analysis for shelter and tower space,

network, and power connectivity Identify site “make ready” requirements




b) Technical assessment (cont.)iii. Technology – vs. requirements, sites, spectrum

Features, functions, constraints

iv. RF Coverage – vs. spectrum, sites, and technology Conventional or trunked, or mix Multicast or simulcast, or mix Frequency band by region, area, or group usage




c) Preliminary (conceptual) design

d) Budgetary estimate


Resources and Skills - PROCURE


a) Technical Specifications

Internal Procurement Department….+ outside help?

b) Request for Proposal

Technical skills & past experience + Internal Procurement Department ….

c) Bid review and award


Resources and Skills - IMPLEMENTPast experience not necessary, but it really helps!

a) Project manageri. Scope, schedule, and budget

Experience on existing (or similar) system(s) in a technical role –required

b) Technical advisori. Review and sign off on…

Requirements, Preliminary / Final Design Review Migration & Cutover Plans, Test Plans Involved in verification tests


Resources and Skills – IMPLEMENT (cont.)

Various agency personnel needed as…

c) Site escorts

d) Fleet manager for mobile installations

e) End users – operational and technical training

f) Technical staff to assist technical advisor in review and sign off of…

i. Equipment configuration

ii. Verification tests


Resources and Skills - MAINTAINTechnical staff based on scope requirements…

a) Vendor support agreement i. Vendor equipment

ii. 3rd party equipment

b) Maintenance agreementsi. Software

ii. Hardware

iii. Managed services

c) On-site maintenance and repair

d) Remote access


Key Transition Points


Key Transition Points

1. Design

2. Procure

3. Implement

4. Maintain

Be sure to keepstakeholders

informed throughout the ENTIRE

process!


Thank you!


devoted to your causeTM

© 2013 tait limited 1 how to successfully project engineer a radio system tait communications apco...

Documents

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project scope slide

project scope driver

project scope driver

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senior systems