Capital Wireless Information Net (CapWIN)

What is CapWIN

The Capital Wireless Information Net (CapWIN) is a program to advance data communications among first responders across agency, jurisdiction, government, and discipline boundaries. Located in the University of Maryland’s Center for Advanced Transportation Technology (CATT), the program was created by, and continues to operate under the direction of, a coalition of law enforcement, fire/EMS, and transportation agencies in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia  The coalition directs CapWIN through a Board of Directors representing local, state, and federal agencies operating in all three jurisdictions, and drawn from law enforcement, fire/EMS, homeland security, and transportation. 

The Board of Directors defined CapWIN’s mission as follows.

The CapWIN Coalition promotes and enables interoperable data communications, access to operational data, and incident coordination to public safety, transportation, and other first responder agencies in the field, across Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and the federal government in order to strengthen their collective ability to secure the welfare of the public.

CapWIN Services

To advance its mission CapWIN has implemented an operating system that delivers data to personnel in the field across disciplines and agency boundaries.  It has created a set of software Products and Services that supports field operations of law enforcement, fire/EMS, and transportation agencies.  The CapWIN Software Solution Suite is a set of Government Off-the-Shelf (GOTS) standards-based solutions that gives users secure access to multiple data sources.

• CapWIN Global View+GIS gives users a comprehensive picture of live incidents and events taking place in their jurisdiction and across the region.

 

• CapWIN Comm-Link supports direct, real-time data communications to all CapWIN participants regardless of discipline or jurisdiction.

 

• CapWIN LEAccess provides law enforcement officers with secure field access to multiple state and Federal law enforcement databases, for example, law enforcement systems (CJIS) in the three states, Maryland drivers license photos, and regional transportation incident data.

 

• CapWIN InfoShare is a robust networking infrastructure that enables real-time data access and exchange across multiple public safety, transportation, and emergency management databases. 

Two mobile client applications—one for laptops and one for handheld devices—support field access to law enforcement and other data sources, secure instant messaging, and incident coordination tools.  Finally, CapWIN staff provides operational support to participating agencies for pre-planned events, training services for users, and assistance with technology issues and system development.

Membership

CapWIN serves a growing family of users and agencies.  Currently the CapWIN Membership includes over 4,500 users drawn from 80 local, state, and federal agencies operating in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.  They represent law enforcement, transportation, fire/EMS, and emergency services.  Users include members of large state agencies such as the Maryland State Police; small agencies such as the Police Department in Galax, Virginia; transportation agencies such as the DC Department of Transportation; and emergency response organizations such as the American Red Cross (National Capital Area).  CapWIN users transmit more than 15,000 messages each day, both internally and across agencies. 
Joining CapWIN is a relatively simple process.  An agency must execute an End UserAgreement, go through a training program, and arrange to pay a modest annual subscription fee that is based on the number of devices on which they load the software.  Membership entitles an agency to  access the system and all of the support services provided by CapWIN including software maintenance, upgrades, training, and access to the 24/7 help desk.

For further information contact John Binks jbinks@capwin.org, Marvin Thomas mthomas@capwin.org, or visit our website at www.CapWIN.org.