Redefining interoperability: Understanding police communication task environments

Abstract

The goal of this research is to understand the concept of police communication environments related to interoperable issues. Interoperability is critical to both inter- and intra- organizational communication. Especially in the emergency operations with multiple groups at the same place, the importance of interoperability has been much appreciated. This study used semi-structured interviews to examine the police communication issues and reconceptualize interoperability in the police communication domain. Based on the interview, we identified three important concepts to specify interoperable groups. First, highly distributed decision making processes are problematic for multiple communication needs. Second, a police team is self-organized at the scene. Finally, their operational boundaries are tentative based on contextual information. Based on these main concepts, we provided high-level suggestions to design a police communication system based on cognitive radio technology. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.