|
dBusiness Nov/Dec 2009 - Digital Response:
A software package created in Birmingham, MI equips emergency
responders with digital tools to better identify and respond to
fires, hazardous materials, and attacks.
Talk about old school. For years, fire commanders have created
simple line drawings of large campuses and industrial centers that
contain hazardous materials. Not only were these paper plans
cumbersome, they could be misfiled or misplaced — and they weren’t
easily shared with other safety personnel. Enter Birmingham-based
Viewpoint Command Systems, which created an easy-to-use software
package that provides firefighters, for example, with digital maps,
3-D floor plans, and active alerts for hazardous materials, medical
dangers, and structural problems. Using a laptop equipped with the
$1,100 software package, a firefighter can also indicate the
location of fire hydrants, a structure’s entrance and exit points,
ductwork, and drains. “The first 15 minutes are crucial when
responding to any type of accident or attack,” says Gilbert C. Cox
Jr., principal of Viewpoint Command Systems, along with local
restaurateur Herb Abrash and others. “It’s important that emergency
responders have all the information at their fingertips, because if
you go into an area that houses lithium and you start spraying
water, there’ll be a huge explosion.”
The system, called PrePlanView, has a touch-screen interface and
doesn’t require a network connection to operate. The mobility of the
system allows for quick inputs and changes, whether at a fire
station or out in the field, says Troy fire chief Bill Nelson.
“We’ve completed around 200 building surveys from among 3,000
structures, and so far the system is working very well,” Nelson
says. “Fortunately, we haven’t had a major incident, but we’re much
better prepared if we do.” In addition, police officials can use the
software to identify escape routes if a building has been seized or
in the event of a hostage situation.
“During the Columbine High School attack (in 1999), the safety
personnel on the ground were asking the students where the cafeteria
was because they needed to shut off the alarms,” says Viewpoint
operations manager Rich Politi. “One advantage of our software is
that it can be shared across multiple disciplines, whether it’s fire
or police officials, the U.S. Coast Guard, or Homeland Security.” In
addition, Viewpoint is working to integrate small, GPS-type monitors
with the software package so that unit commanders can track and view
the live activities of a fire or security team. “We’re also looking
at offering the system to building inspectors,” says Viewpoint
president Les Frahm. “Since we started two years ago, we’ve taken on
28 communities, and [we’re] in discussions with 15 more. Perhaps the
best thing we did on the marketing side is to attend as many fire,
security, and law-enforcement conventions as possible. Once safety
officials see the system, they want more information.”
News & Events
|
