New software offers ‘highest standard’ of emergency response

A new command and control system that boasts the ‘highest standard of emergency response software’ takes a new approach to integration by not only combining systems such as incident recording, mobile data and telephony, but also functions like records management and the corporate gazetteer. In addition, there is a new remote access viewer and direct electronic incident transfer. The Guardian Command ‘mobilising and availability’ software is designed to help control room staff carry out their duties more effectively by giving them the flexibility to perform their duties with the minimum of steps. The system is being rolled out at North Wales Fire and Rescue Service by 3tc, a specialist provider of software applications to the public sector and emergency services. It uses Geode address matching, which enables control room staff to identify locations faster and more accurately, said Peter Davis, head of control at North Wales Fire and Rescue Service. “Geode searches as you type, providing a continuously updated list of possible matches, allowing our operators to stop when they have a match. Geode doesn’t rely on the operator getting particular bits of the address correct and doesn’t need address elements to go in the right field, resulting in a highly-efficient and successful search process,” he added. “The windows-based system has resulted in improvements in areas such as batch mobilisation, automatic incident creation, incident creation directly from the map and significant improvements to general searching across the system. In addition, Guardian Command is mapped to national incident types creating a more refined approach to data collection and reporting.” He added that a time management system allows staff to schedule their availability from any device through a URL and personal log in, making it easier for the availability manager to fill spaces and to plan availability cover and ease of use for the end user. “This is especially important in rural areas covered only by retained duty fire stations,” added Mr Davis, making day-to-day administration of multiple rosters easier.