National Capital Region (NCR)

Interoperability

In 2005, the NCR (National Capital Region) Interoperability Program (NCRIP), a regional initiative, was established by the local governments of the NCR to create digital networks and systems interoperability for public safety and emergency response. As part of this effort, a project called NCRnet was established to assist the local governments with interconnecting their institutional networks (I-Nets). In doing so, the project provides a survivable infrastructure, complementing communications over the internet and leased lines, linking Maryland, Virginia, and DC local NCR jurisdictions together for the benefit of first responders and other local government officials both in regional emergencies and in routine operations.

The NCRnet project, now part of NCR ICI (Interoperable Communications Infrastructure), provides network infrastructure to the participant jurisdictions to enable secure, non-commercial, local government-controlled access to Regional Systems and Applications. NCRnet was created to enhance Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) ability to succeed in their mission of building and sustaining an integrated effort to prepare for, prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from all hazards, threats, or events.

Benefits to the Emergency Responder Community

Jurisdictions achieve the following benefits as a result of leveraging the NCRnet architecture:

Private fiber interconnection network, independent from public networks, controlled by local jurisdictions
Interconnection between jurisdictional infrastructures leverages existing I-Nets investments and help desk processes
Enables secure, enhanced, and robust regional interoperable of data, video, and voice communications over a high-capacity fiber optic network
Private and controlled network with intrusion detection and packet inspection tools enables a higher level of security
Any application already hosted and transported on a jurisdictional network connected to NCRnet is a candidate for cross-jurisdictional exchange
24x7 NCRnet monitoring, operations, support, and alerting to interconnected parties
Ability to support network failover capability for critical applications with access to alternate transport mechanisms utilizing NCRnet’s DNS services
MPLS technology allows separation and prioritization of network traffic for different categories of applications and according to needs

Jurisdictions Connected

Activated connections as of February, 2024:

Arlington County
Charles County
City of Alexandria
City of Bowie
City of College Park
City of Falls Church
City of Gaithersburg
City of Greenbelt
City of Manassas
City of Manassas Park
City of Rockville
City of Takoma Park
District of Columbia

Fairfax City
Fairfax County
Frederick County
Herndon
Loudoun County
Montgomery County
MWCOG
Prince George’s County
Prince William County
Town of Bladensburg
Town of Vienna
WMATA

In addition, NCRnet peers with NetworkMaryland and is capable of interconnecting with all agencies connecting with NetworkMaryland

Enabling Regional Interoperability

NCRnet’s goal is to provide a secure, reliable, and scalable IT communication infrastructure that enhances Public Safety and Government agencies' interoperable communications capabilities in the NCR.

A number of Regional systems and applications are currently using NCRnet. The CADtoCAD Data Exchange between Fairfax County, Arlington County, the City of Alexandria, and the City of Fairfax allows for mutual resource sharing and dispatch between the Fire Departments of those jurisdictions.

The License Plate Reader enables Federates searches for NCR Law Enforcement participants in Arlington, Loudoun and Prince George’s, Prince William Counties as well as:

Alexandria
City of Fairfax
Falls Church
Gaithersburg
Greenbelt
Manassas
Vienna

Mobile AFIS allows law enforcement in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties to perform Fingerprint identification using NCRnet; a capability soon to be available for others like the Loudoun County Police Department.

NCR Geospatial Data Exchange

The NCR Geospatial Data Exchange (NCR GDX) system serves as a brokerage of Geospatial and data feeds to be securely exchanged among multiple participants at the Local, State, and Federal levels the MD Index system provides a Situational Awareness by allowing the exchange of Geospatial Police and Fire Incidents between Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George’s Counties County, the CCTV traffic camera feed Pilot and framework enables real-time access to camera feeds from various Transportation departments in the District, Maryland, Prince George’s, WMATA and in the near future Virginia the NCR Video Conferencing System -sponsored by the Emergency Managers in the NCR, facilitates collaboration and communication for multidisciplinary practitioners, EOC staff and decision-makers at the executive level other applications such as WebEOC server exchanges, Regional AFIS, Mugshots, and Mobile AFIS are in planning phase to leverage NCRnet for secure and robust Regional network connectivity.