IPStar proves worth
A NEW remote communications system operated by the Hutt Valley Emergency Management Office (HVEMO) provided invaluable assistance in the search for Polish tramper Jacek Grzybowski in early June.
Mr Grzybowski was found dead in Rimutaka Forest Park on June 7, a week after he gone for a day trek. Details of the trek were uncertain, but he was thought to have intended to visit either the Rimutaka Forest Park or the Belmont Regional Park, although Rimutaka appeared to be the most likely.
The HVEMO was contacted late in the evening of June 3 by Wellington Land Search and Rescue, asking for communications equipment, aerial photos and other assistance and services.
Staff immediately deployed the new IPStar system, which had been used operationally only once before, and then only for a few hours. The system is set up at HVEMO headquarters at The Pavilion in Laings Road in case of emergency, and another unit is available for mobile use.
The mobile system consists of a dish which connects to a satellite hovering permanently 36,000 kilometres above New Zealand, a laptop and printer.
“IPStar allows us to have complete communication facilities just about anywhere in New Zealand,” says HVEMO Senior Emergency Management Adviser Dave Jack.
“It gives us internet and phone coverage in places where we would otherwise be completely out of touch.”
The team set up IPStar next to the search HQ in the DoC field centre in Rimutaka Forest Park.
It was immediately able to access the Internet to look at train timetables to see when Mr Grzybowski might have travelled from Wellington; to look up information on the brand of a headlight found; the type of jacket the tramper was wearing and what radio or radar equipment might pick up a reflection; daily weather forecasts; and Google Earth for an aerial view of the park.
It also established email and satellite phone links to police investigating staff, police media, and flight track data from air operators assisting with the search.
Hutt City Council’s Land Information Services also assisted by providing large aerial photographs of the park, which were downloaded by IPStar.
“While the search ended tragically for Mr Grzybowski, the IPStar system showed its real worth,” Dave says. “It’s a fantastic resource that greatly enhances our emergency response capability.”
Dave says he was also pleased with how various agencies in the Hutt Valley co-operated during the search. They included the Salvation Army – who provided meals for the search teams – the Upper Hutt Community Rescue Team, and Hutt City Council’s Land Information Services.
“This kind of co-operation can only benefit during other emergency situations.”