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Command support system for London Fire Brigade
London Fire Brigade has selected VectorCommand’s Command Support System as its next generation incident command system. The BAPCO Journal speaks to Dr Mike Griffin, Technical Director, VectorCommand about the role this system plays for incident commanders, particularly in light of the recent flooding and terrorist activity in the UK...
Radical alterations to command and control structures and incident command solutions have been under review following the terrorist attrocities of 9/11 and 7/7. It has been well documented that the Government is driving initiatives to ensure we are prepared for all levels of emergency, and part of the CCA 2004 underlines how, in the UK, all public safety agencies and emergency responders must be prepared for the unthinkable. Major incidents such as the flooding in South Yorkshire during June highlight the need for the emergency services to be able to communicate quickly, deploy resources efficiently and manage incidents effectively. One area, in particular, that has seen a detailed review are the command support structures of London’s Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.
After an open international tender, London Fire Brigade selected VectorCommand’s Command Support System as the integrated technology solution for its next generation of eight high-tech incident command vehicles. The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority chose Command Support System to provide an integrated suite of advanced communication, imagery, database and display technologies to provide a common operational picture to all levels of major incident command, from commanders on the fireground to senior officers at command headquarters.
The deal, part of London Fire Brigade’s Command Support Project, will mean London will be fielding the most advanced suite of command and control technologies in the fire services worldwide. In addition to using the most up-to-date versions of mobile Wi-Fi, imagery and display technologies, Command Support System will also provide commanders with integrated access to key London Fire Brigade databases such as the mobilising and personnel management systems.
Developing the advanced specification
A dedicated team of senior officers from London Fire Brigade has been involved in developing the command support vehicle project. Having developed an advanced specification, and working with prime contractor and system integrator AssetCo, the team drew up and tested designs for the vehicle’s internal layout and the technology suite with which it would be equipped. Strong emphasis was placed on providing sufficient space for collaborative working in a multi-agency environment, both inside the vehicle (using a plasma touch screen) and using a side-mounted, plasma touch screen on the outside of the vehicle. Tablet PCs, WiFi and other technologies will also be used to distribute essential command information to headquarters, incident, operations and sector commanders through mapping, graphics, live imagery and organisational charts.
London Fire Brigade Deputy Commissioner Roy Bishop said, “During the last two years we have been identifying our specific command requirements and we are now looking forward to working with VectorCommand to tailor their existing products to meet the needs of a modern fire and rescue service. This is an opportunity to provide even greater support to our front line staff and principal officers managing incidents across London”.
Eight command support vehicles are expected to be introduced in summer 2007, with the complete integration of the Command Support System within the vehicles scheduled for early 2008. A large number of other fire and rescue services throughout the UK and abroad have also expressed interest in Command Support System as the command and control solution for their next generation of incident command vehicles and systems.
In addition to the provision of world class operational capability, Command Support System is integrated with VectorCommand’s Emergency Command System family of training technology. This will allow incident commanders and their teams to have their operational command skills developed and assessed within a common operating system, the same system that they will be using for managing real incidents. According to Dr Mike Griffin, technical director of VectorCommand, “This holistic approach to combining training and operational command, in which London Fire Brigade has taken a world leading position, is likely to be adopted widely throughout the emergency service world, for the simple reason that it is the most efficient and effective use of both training and operational resources.”
Operational control of major single and multi-agency incidents
Command Support System provides a quantum leap for operational control of major single and multi-agency incidents, providing commanders at all levels and locations with a common operational picture, a clear, timely, integrated view of all relevant information and resources, supporting incident commanders and improving the quality of their decision-making for major emergency events.
Before an incident command vehicle or vessel has even left its base station, Command Support System’s database is receiving key incident information – on personnel and equipment resources available to the incident commander, as well as incident data and other key information - ready for commanders’ immediate use on arrival at an incident location. The less time required by a commander to get up to speed, the faster vital decisions can be made to deal most effectively with an incident.
But Command Support System is more than just a resource planning tool. Its combination of advanced technologies allows incident commanders to create instant “mud maps”, quick, whiteboard sketches of an incident area, showing key features on which threats, cordons and directions can be drawn and onto which organisational chart assets – people, vehicles and equipment - can be dragged and dropped.
Asset icons also display time-on-station and other essential information, and all this information can also be displayed on large format whiteboards for briefings and analysis. (Such assets can also be dragged and dropped onto any Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping an operator chooses to use within the system).
Sharing a common operational picture
All of the visual data can be distributed and displayed – instantly - on sector and incident commanders’ fixed and mobile screens, laptops and tablet PCs throughout the incident area and at strategic level command displays back at command headquarters. A common operational picture is achieved across all command levels and across multi-agencies.
Command Support System also includes advanced features such as streaming of live camera footage (from incident or helicopter cameras), a Timeline (for calculating and planning actions), a Time and Date stamp (for post-event analysis and enquiries) and built-in Help facilities.
Command Support System provides the operational command element within Emergency Command System, drawing on VectorCommand’s in-depth understanding of the practical realities and demands of emergency command operations, derived from working with single and multi-agency emergency management organisations throughout the world.
Training and Exercising, Planning and Testing, and Personnel Assessment modules are also available, allowing emergency services and emergency management organisations to train while they command and command while they train – all across a common platform with an easy-to-use interface.
With all their complexities, emergency operations present many challenges. With Command Support System, commanders know they will have access to the most advanced combination of integrated technologies for fast, effective emergency incident management.
Benefits of using Command Support System:
Fast effective situational awareness - On route to an incident, Command Support System’s database receives key incident information – on personnel and equipment resources available to the incident commander, as well as incident data and other key information - ready for commanders’ immediate use on arrival at an incident location.
Sketch Maps and Organisational Charts/Asset allocation - A unique feature of Command Support System is the sketch maps facility, permitting the drawing of quick, electronic whiteboard sketches of an incident area. Key features can be drawn and organisational chart assets – people, vessels and equipment – dragged, dropped and displayed for widespread dissemination.
Live video streaming - Live camera footage (from vessel, incident or helicopter cameras) can be streamed into Command Support System screens for real-time monitoring of threats and actions.
Organisational charts - Pre-templated or customised Organisation Charts can be created quickly and easily, displaying assets (such as personnel, vessels, equipment) and asset groups. Assets can then be dragged and dropped onto sketch maps and Geographic Information System maps. Changes to organisational assets are displayed dynamically across all screens as changes are made by the incident commander. Time-on-station is shown within asset icons.
Common Operational Picture - Command Support System provides commanders at all levels and locations with a common operational picture, on sector and incident commanders’ fixed and mobile screens, laptops and tablet pcs throughout the incident area and at strategic level command displays back at command headquarters.
