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In
this Issue: |
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Comm
Fire/EMS goes Live |
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Visual Burn Permit Tracking
from CAD |
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Symposium provides new CAD for busy Cape
Cod dispatch center |
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Symposium Technologies
is proud to announce the implementation of the Horizon EME Dispatch
solution for COMM Fire District of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The
system seamlessly integrates and distributes data from many
different sources, and provides the district with a centralized,
integrated decision support system that greatly increases the speed
and effectiveness of response.
The COMM implementation is also a prime example of how a dispatch
system can successfully accommodate the needs of many different
departments, while still enabling each one to maintain separate
workflows, operating procedures, and reporting.
The system currently dispatches 45 fire and EMS apparatus from 4
halls. The system is also configured to provide mutual aid
dispatching for the surrounding 10 districts and their 93 apparatus,
accommodating the complex response rules of each department.
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The Horizon EME was fully implemented
in under three months – three months ahead of the schedule
originally envisioned. This is even more impressive when considering
the fact that the system was fully customized to reflect each
department’s operations, and that the project also involved roll-out
of three different RMS implementations, each fully integrated with
the CAD.
Dispatchers now have access to a wide range of capabilities,
including full interactive mapping, unit and response information
for each of the participating departments, and real time access to
premise and inspection information collected by each department
throughout the year, and stored in the Firehouse™ RMS system.
The result of this work is a very satisfied client. As COMM’s Janice
Gannon put it, “We were very eager to upgrade our capabilities in
terms of dispatch and coordination. After looking at the options, we
decided the best way to do this was through a technology-based
solution that enabled us to better manage and track the whole
response process. “
Janice went on to talk about the difficulties associated with
putting the plan into action: “We were very hard-pressed to find a
system that gave us the capabilities we needed at a price that
reflected our budget. Symposium was really responsive in that
regard, and provided us with a system that was flexible enough to
easily adapt to our needs, at a price that reflected our size.”
Because the EME dispatch system is fully customizable, it can easily
accommodate any expansion in the number of departments served, as
well as being able to accommodate any increase in call volume or
workload – an important fact due to the extensive mutual aid
agreements that COMM participates in.
Work at COMM is ongoing to provide even higher levels of capability.
The second part of the project involves rolling out mobile data to
the district’s fire apparatus, so that responding personnel have
access to full incident data, including interactive mapping and
incident updating, GPS-based vehicle location, as well as
instantaneous information sharing with the command center and other
responding vehicles. The result will be an even quicker, safer, and
more effective response.
The project showcases many of the most progressive and practical
applications of advanced technology in the public safety field, and
highlights how Symposium’s Horizon EME can be utilized to
cost-effectively improve operations and safety.
In the end, it’s the verdict of our clients that counts. According to COMM’s Paul Rhude:
“We were concerned that bringing in such a major system would be
very stressful for everyone, but the implementation was
straightforward and stress-free. The system works great and
Symposium has been simply amazing to work with.”
For more information, or for those interested in seeing the system
in action, please contact Symposium by emailing us at
info@symposium911.com.
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Our Commitment to products for the Real
World - Visual Burn Permit Tracking |
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Most often, the best solution to any problem is the one that’s
simplest and most straightforward. A good example of this is the issue of
burn permits, and how Symposium was able to solve this dispatching
problem for our clients through a combination of listening,
technical capability, and plain common sense.
Burn permits can seem like a small issue – unless of course you’re a
fire service dispatcher. In a large county or other area, there can
be any number of burn permits in effect, each valid for a different
time and location. Therefore, when a 911 caller phones in to report
a fire in a rural or mixed-use area, there’s a fair chance that what
they’re actually phoning in is someone engaged in lawful burning,
not a fire department emergency.
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But fire dispatchers don’t always know,
especially when they don’t have quick and easy access to what burn
permits are in effect, where, and when. Checking a paper list of
valid burn permits is very stressful, wastes critical seconds, and
is too open to simple error.
This is an even bigger issue for volunteer and composite departments
(which, incidentally, are the ones that serve most rural and
mixed-use areas). Many such departments pay on a per-call basis, and
not knowing that a burn permit may be in effect can end up costing
substantially over time.
That’s where Symposium came into the picture. We are always talking
with our clients, and always looking for ways to improve our
system’s effectiveness in satisfying their needs. This routinely
results in new features, which we make available to all clients, at
no additional cost.
Symposium sat down with representatives from the various agencies
and listened to their concerns. We had engineers go in and sit with
the dispatch center personnel, so they could see first-hand how burn
permits were dealt with, and the level of stress it created for
everyone involved. We then developed and implemented a solution that
was simple, straightforward, and very effective.
This new feature enables users to place a simple burn permit icon on
the map, on the property where the burning is to take place. The
icon contains the specific start and stop times for authorized
burning, and will only appear during the time and date range
specified by the user. The icon also contains free-form fields which
enable the user to identify the permit holder, contact information,
and any other important details.
Now, when call information pertaining to a suspected legal burn
comes in the dispatcher can immediately see whether or not a valid
burn permit is active. The bottom line is better use and presentation of the
information that the agency already has, and a more effective,
intelligent, and informed response.
This is an example of how the proper application of technology in a
simple, straightforward and effective way can increase the
effectiveness of response, and greatly reduce stress for dispatchers
and responding personnel.
And it goes without saying we’re always on the look-out for new
problems to solve. If your agency is looking for ways to better
manage its dispatch capabilities, please feel free to contact us –
we’d be happy to be of service.
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Next Issue |
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We bring you more in-depth client
profiles, as well as information on how Symposium’s powerful and
seamless RMS interfaces provide better CAD-based intelligence to
responders. Stay tuned! |
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Previous Newsletters :
Dec 2003 |
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