Fire brigades lined up at the Fire Station
FireFighter is a web-based crisis management system that facilitates real-time decision making which replaces the present manual processes
Current situation
Ahmedabad is a huge city, highly populated. The city grew in an organic way but lately new developed areas are sprouting up around the boundaries of Ahmedabad. The fire department here has several stations to meet the crisis situation. The personnel, staff depends on their training and experience for decisions in crisis situation. Mostly the process starts after intimation of a fire is received at the control room and sufficient arrangements are made. The system to handle the crisis is completely manual. It is clumsy to modify paper maps, and paper maps easily become obsolete and are easily damaged.
Solution
FireFighter is a web-based system that links GIS with CAD and records management databases, providing dispatchers and fire fighters with a consolidated and near real-time view of dispatch, hydrant, and logistics (best access to remote rescue areas). The firefighter application uses real time data and GIS. It is networked to the firefighting equipment and the control room. The firefighter application creates a more efficient crisis handling for the personnel. FF supports the personnel in quick identification of the disaster location. It also helps in identify population density, area type, possible causes and solutions.
Screen interface
How does the System Work?
The system consists of 2 parts – the application in the control room and the application in the navigation devices in the trucks.
Application in the control room performs GIS analysis on a regular basis utilizing call type, call density, response times, and response cost data to improve decision making for station location, equipment location and strategic deployment, and staff allocation.
Diagram showing the working of the system
The geodata can be forwarded directly to the responding units via the onboard mobile data computers in the vehicles. Crews will be able to map exactly where they are in relation to the emergency, automatically determine the best route to arrive, instantly identify the closest and most suitable hydrants, and have information regarding surrounding at-risk buildings. Having all of this information with the click of a button, while in route to a call, will give responders a distinct advantage that will help save lives.
Detail showing the working of the system
Applying GIS and network technology to fire stations can implement > centralized and graphical management of equipment and geographical related information and can provide data sharing, modern management methods, and decision-making support.
Components of a Decision support system
Process
1. User study at fire station through interviews and contextual enquiry to understand the current system.
Headquarters of the fire station
2. Identified key break points and need
3. Built scenarios
4. Make UI flow for Desktop Application and Vehicle mounted device
Scenario showing the working of the system