IRIS is similar to PETUNIA in that it is a mobile radio
communications trailer that is light enough to be towed by a standard
towing vehicle. With satellite equipment it can also connect to
the Internet and Forest Protection Branch servers to exchange data
critical to fighting forest fires and other emergency situations in the
Province of British Columbia.
IRIS in transport mode
The 3 section crank up, extendable, aluminum tower, when deployed
mounts on the trailers tongue. It's maximum extension is 35 feet
and provides vertical separation for the 3 VHF mobile radios thus
minimizing interference.
IRIS CONTAINS
3 VHF radios with Provincial Ministry of Forests Channels
1 UHF radio for linking into the Provincial Ministry of Forests Radio
Network
1 VHF Air band radio for communicating with Aircraft
1 Globalstar telephone for linking into the telephone network via
satellite
1 Satellite link into the Internet and its communications network via
the dish antenna on the roof.
1 Dispatch Consol similar to Petunia 1 generator to charge the
battery bank and make IRIS independent of the power grid.
Like Petunia, Iris was designed to provide communications for
Ministry of Forests personnel attending forest fires. However, she
is quite capable of providing communications and an Internet link,
during floods and other disasters almost anywhere in the Province.
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