You are in:
- Back Issues » 2007 » June
Networked control capability
Steve Whitby, FiReControl Project Director, EADS speaks to Dawn Davison-Read about the FiReControl project explaining how it will increase national resilience and that the first RCCs will be in place toward the end of 2009...
The FiReControl project has sparked a great deal of interest, particularly since the current 46 fire control rooms operated by local fire brigades across England will be reduced to nine Regional Control Centres (RCCs), all networked with one another.
The RCCs, all using the same new technology, systems and processes, will be networked to automatically be able to back each other up in times of increased demand or failure and able to provide information to deploy the nearest suitable appliances and provide information on site risks and handling direct to the firefighters’ vehicles. Modular and flexible in its design, the EADS FiReControl system’s architecture will also cope with unforeseen future demands or extreme disruption to elements of the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure.
Steve Whitby, FireControl Project Director, EADS, explains, “Currently when control receive an emergency call they only mobilise the fire station. The new system will also do this whilst automatically feeding the information directly to the appliance. If the appliances are already on a shout, or on duty they can be mobilised directly without having to return to the station, which is a major leap in capability.”
The parameters of FireControl
Under normal circumstances a call will be routed to the nearest region, that RCC would handle all of the data, but, importantly the remaining RCCs will also have access to that information, therefore meaning that any RCC could pick up the call and provide the capability, should an RCC reach its threshold then calls can be load balanced. Asking if there was the potential for a call to be routed around the nine RCCs, and thus taking longer to answer, Whitby emphatically replied, “No, due to the dynamics of the system, and the load bearing capabilities calls would be routed to the next available RCC seamlessly.”
“What's more,” he added, “In a major incident scenario RCCs would also have the capability to mobilise the New Dimension vehicles that require a different type of control. They could then nominate an other RCC to handle that particular incident leaving local incidents to be handled at the local RCC, creating a major benefit to the fire service.”
Whitby also pointed out that one of the main reasons behind the structure and dynamics of the RCCs was to plan for the unknown, as the military do. “The Government is now thinking along these lines to cater for the New World and with extended powers and responsibilities apportioned to the Fire Service it is imperative that the control rooms can manage in the event of the unthinkable, which is set out as part of the CCA.”
Citing the recent earthquake in Folkstone, Kent as an example, albeit, we were very lucky that it was ‘deep seated’ and thus didn’t cause the widespread devastation that could have happened if it had been closer to the earth’s crust, Whitby explained that had it been a far greater incident it would have meant a vast number of resources being deployed to the area and prioritisation could have been necessary. Very subtly, the new RCCs would have given greater capacity and ability to manage the incident along with day to day operations.
managing data
Feeds from geographical information systems will enable RCC teams to pinpoint, at any time, the availability and status of the nearest and most appropriate resources, regardless of fire service boundaries, as well as the precise location of callers and incidents. It is the first time the Fire and Rescue Services will be able to draw on such a national view of resources and plan responses and co-ordinate mobilisation accordingly.
Migrating data into a national data set will be fundamental to the successful roll out of the RCCs, for instance the NLPG is equally applicable to any emergency service points out Whitby, along with all other spatially aware information. “At the moment gazatteers are in overlays it will be far more efficient to have all the information stored with a GIS link, therefore empowering officers as all pertinent information can be displayed about a particular location from any RCC.”
The system is also capable of holding temporary information such as roadworks and accidents to aid routing. Therefore, there will be two sets of data, dynamic and static accessible to all, which is imperative when dealing with cross-border incidents.
handling the transition
Whitby is quick to point out that there will be a great deal of effort and energy placed in managing the transition period. “We understand that there will be concerns about the transition to the new system, which is why we are running risk analysis, planning, training and even more importantly understanding that the adoption of different processes will need to be addressed prior to roll out.” He also emphasises that they are currently building a system reference model that will have all of the features and functionality to give sight, feel and full testing capabilities before being installed within the RCCs. “We are not just sizing the system on what happens on an average day, but looking at worst case scenarios. For instance we will be using anecdotal data and recordings from 7/7 and to ensure we can load balance in the event of a major catastrophe, we will deliberately fail an RCC to test the system dynamics prior to going live. This will not just be on the number of calls per hour but will take into consideration, for instance, three major incidents, routine calls and give a realistic mix to see how both operators and the system can cope.”
Whitby also explained that training on the system formed a major element from RCC operators to firefighters using Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) and they are currently identifying exactly what the requirements are.
“The training has to capture every element of how the user community wants to use the system,” he said. “There will be various levels of training including classroom and simulation to ensure training levels achieve accreditation.
“We are also currently assessing the BAPCO training and accreditation programme for control room operators to see if it can be fed into our overall training scheme.” Whitby added, “It looks very interesting and the decision will come out in our training needs analysis where we are currently working with different user groups.”
Negotiations are being finalised with the consortium partners, who are each acknowledged experts in their fields, to work with EADS to deliver the capability required within budget and on time.
