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Integration is the key
The secret behind an efficient ICCS (Integrated Command and Control System) is creating the right combination of knowhow and technology. Together with Fire Minister Parmijt Dhanda, Ann-Marie Knegt was the first to see the technology behind FiReControl at the EADS DS facility in Newport, Wales.
The first steps towards one English resilient command and control network were taken on Wednesday the 28th November, when the main contractor for FiReControl, EADS Defence & Security (EADS DS), revealed the technology behind this integrated command and control system to England’s Fire Minister, Parmijt Dhanda. Ian Griffiths, who has recently become FiReControl project director for EADS DS explained that FiReControl is a highly resilient, integrated command and control system, based around nine regional control centres (RCCs) instead of the 46 current ones. The aim of the project, he said, is to create a secure resilient network for the English fire service in which all FRS assets are mapped and accounted for at all times and to ensure that every FRS in England has access to the best currently available mobilisation and control technology. Other projected benefits of this integrated command and control centre network include a significant increase in cooperative working between all English FRS in order to cope better with major incidents including floods and terrorist attacks.
The project’s finalisation should take place by 2012 before the start of the Olympic Games, but the implementation is taking place as we speak. The initiator behind the project is the Department for Communities and Local Government, which chose EADS DS to implement FiReControl in a phased approach, with different Fire and Rescue Services moving to the new control centres at different times.
Core inputs
Lead system integrator EADS DS developed a system reference model that integrates all the different communications systems that are required to make FiReControl successful. The three core inputs in the system are delivered by IMASS, Ericsson and Frequentis and several other sub-contractors deliver additional services.
“We are one of the first countries in the world where there has been a major regionalisation and national networking of command and control. Traditionally, around the world the emergency services have always been organised locally,” said Ian of EADS DS.
“We will integrate our partner’s products into a coherent command and control system. The resilience of the system is found in the data centres, which are powered by HP Non-Stop Technology. They effectively work on redundant components. In each of the ‘non-stops’ there are three processors and every item is duplicated at least once. If one of the non-stops should fail, the system would continue to operate as usual without any consequences to performance.”
HP will also supply all the RCC IT desktop equipment as well as maintenance and service. The HP servers are fully replicating all data across all of the RCCs and in each of those data centres the information is also duplicated. In theory the whole system could run on a single data centre.
Training needs analysis
IT and business skills consultancy FDM will provide training to the Control Room Operators (CROs), supervisory staff and RCC management teams. It will conduct a training needs analysis for each of the individuals identified by the Fire and Rescue Service to become trainers in the future, for all FiReControl applications. National, regional and local training needs analysis will be conducted to ensure the FRSs and the RCCs are working effectively.
Frequentis is setting up the integrated communications system that will handle and distribute incoming emergency calls to the RCCs. This integrated communications system is based on an existing Frequentis product that is already in operation. However, it is currently being updated to meet the requirements of FiReControl in terms of response time and queue overflow mechanisms. The company is also working on integrating the communication system with Firelink, the future national FRS radio system based on TETRA. Ian continued: “The data captured during the emergency call will be sent to Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs), situated in the cab of every fire appliance, via the Firelink network. The product Frequentis is providing is the communications hub in which the Wide Area Network is integrated. The company also provides the touch screen interface into Firelink which will be set up at the CRO’s work station.”
The Mobile Data Terminals that will be installed in the fire appliances are a FiReControl product manufactured by Imass. The MDTs can be used to capture incident specific information at the scene of the emergency, as well as providing valuable information at the scene of the emergency where the firefighters are responding. The MDTs will give access to a wealth of information such as suggested travel routes, hydrant locations, chemical handling data, automotive data and hose measurement tools. Data transmission will take place via Firelink in the first instance and via GPRS as a secondary bearer.
Detailed information
The Local Government Association commissioned an initiative called the NLPG (National Land and Property Gazetteer) in which the location of every building in the UK is mapped. Alligned Assets, a sub-contractor of Imass, provide map-based information, which is embedded in the MDT. This supplies the firefighters at the scene detailed information on actual buildings and locations in the area of the incident.
Innogistic has produced a toolkit called FSEC (The Fire Service Emergency Cover Toolkit) for Warwickshire Fire Service. The FSEC Toolkit is an online software package aimed at assisting Fire and Rescue Authorities to analyse risk, resources and response when compiling Integrated Risk Management Plans (IRMPs).
“This system is in operation at the moment and the Department for Communities and Local Government has made it available to every Fire and Rescue Service. Innogistic is developing a product that meets the FiReControl requirements for the Risk Management Toolkit (RMT), but will have the same look and feel as FSEC,” explains Ian. He continues that this will help ease transition and says it should enable minimal conversion training for CROs. The RMT runs at the background of FiReControl and considers where other incidents are happening.
The Mobilising and Rescourcing Management System (MRMS) has been designed by Ericsson, and it will send information to the MDT and the terminal at the FRS head quarters. RMT. It sits on the CRO’s desktop and will assist them to ask questions regarding the incident in order to best establish what resources should be deployed. It also gives a very clear overview of where assets and resources are at any moment in time.
“There is a whole host of other things the MRMS does and is capable of, such as providing rosters for the stations. Firefighters can access it via the internet to update their status in real-time,” said Ian.
For in-station use Multitone developed a fire coder, reminiscent of a telex machine, which will print out the incident details. This system is connected to the in-station telemetry and when an emergency call is received the fire coder has the ability to carry out existing automated tasks such as operating bay-doors, activating alarms, switching off cookers and switching on engines.
Easynet is taking care of the wide/local area network that will link the RCCs and fire station together, whilst Cable and Wireless will provide the telephony that will link to the initial RCC. All installations will be carried out by Telent, who will then provide ongoing support for the managed services.
Ian admitted that integrating all these products and services together was a challenge. “However we have a very committed team and the co-operation between all the partners in this project is very good, because there is a high level of interoperability between their products. And that is where EADS DS earns its salt, by making sure these interfaces work,” he concluded.
