Design and Engineering

Designing cost-effective, spectrally efficient systems to meet user needs

Issues and Challenges

• Smoothly integrating new systems and transitioning from legacy systems
• Ensuring interoperability with users of older equipment and with outside agencies
• Solving complex technical issues on a limited budget

The federal government was tasked to meet the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) mandate to increase spectral efficiency of land mobile radio (LMR) systems by 2005. In addition, Congress and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have established requirements to consolidate planning, maximize resource sharing, and foster interoperability within federal departments and with local, state, and other federal agencies. Concurrently, agency mission requirements are driving the need to increase the reliability, availability, security, and features of systems, while enhancing agent and officer safety. As more advanced wireless technologies and services emerge, federal agencies need a comprehensive approach to design and engineer solutions to replace existing systems.

The Booz Allen Solution

• Objectively evaluate existing and emerging standards (Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronics Industry Association [TIA/EIA]-102, Trans European Trunked Radio [TETRA]), and architectures (conventional, trunked, and hybrid)
• Apply experience in capacity planning and coverage prediction, ensuring spectral efficiency
• Evaluate the tradeoffs and the appropriateness of commercial and private wireless technologies, documenting the performance and cost implications of each
• Assess different backbone technologies (microwave and landline networks) aided by our wide-ranging telecommunications expertise
• Work as a trusted partner that will see the design through installation, test, and operation, ensuring the vendor delivers as designed

Why Booz Allen?

• We have no proprietary interests that would cloud objectivity; we provide an unbiased evaluation of system architecture proposals, achieving best value to meet specific needs.
• Our technical staff have experience in equipment offerings of all major manufacturers, so our clients have the benefit of a single source for multiple technology options.
• We offer a robust set of system modeling tools, including geographic information system (GIS)-based visualization, coverage analysis, and network and system-level design tools for providing efficient and consistent engineering support.
• We use our Wireless Engineering Laboratory to test alternative transition strategies and study implications, reducing the risk that costly, inefficient systems will be implemented.