New World's Computer Aided Dispatch System is billed as something that will give "quick access to the most accurate intelligence to keep firefighters safe and well prepared." While this software should make responding to calls simpler and more efficient, the results have been mixed for my department.
Pros
The GPS mapping of the correct route to emergency calls has worked flawlessly. I was skeptical of the GPS at first, due to my poor experience with my personal GPS device, but I have yet to encounter an issue where the New World GPS has lead me astray. This has been a particular convenience due to the fact that our old dispatching system had no GPS capabilities. We used a program that contained maps of certain areas, but no actual directions. The New World Dispatch System has made responding to emergencies easier and less stressful.The New World Dispatch System has cut down the time it takes to write "run reports" after incidents. The New World System automatically documents what time the call came in, what time you were dispatched, when you arrive on scene, and when you clear the scene. This is very helpful considering we used to look up the dispatch log and print it out to get our correct times. Having them entered automatically has decreased the amount of paper wasted and made report writing more efficient. Less time spent on reports means more time for training and other productive activities.
Cons
The biggest flaw in the New World Dispatch System has been the computer bugs. My department made the switch to New World over 2 years ago and there are still computer glitches taking place. Time after time it has been out of service or crashed our mobile computer units on the way to a call. It takes valuable minutes to reboot the system and often we let central dispatch keep track of our response times because we don't have enough time to get the system up and running again. While our old system did not have anywhere near the bells and whistles that New World does, it was very reliable and seldom had computer bugs.The New World Dispatch System is supposed to store valuable preplan data about certain locations that may have special hazards and the layout of large buildings. This feature has worked at times, but all too often when you click the icon for preplan data you get no response from the program. This issue has been worked on and although there are periods where it is reliable I can't say with confidence that I trust it. Our old dispatch system did an excellent job of storing preplan data and made this information much easier to access.
Grade
I would have to give the New World Computer Aided Dispatch System a grade of incomplete, with the possibility of an A . When it is running smoothly it is a great timesaver and a real asset to the department. When it is experiencing issues, it makes you long for the days of simpler and more trustworthy system.References:
http://www.newworldsystems.com/Public_Safety/Solutions/Computer%20Aided%20Dispatch/index.asp
I can see how this GPS system would be helpful to firefighters especially in rural areas. Last winter, the neighbors about a mile down the road from us had a major barn fire. The first responsder was a cop. He wasn't much help. The closest fire department had problems finding the spot and actually ended up by passing the road and going around the block wasting valuable minutes. This system would be very helpful as long as it worked like you said.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard this system before. I think your description is very reasonable by dividing two parts-pros and cons. So have you ever thought about how to avoid the cons to make system better? By the way, if we use this system in China, I think China can decrease the lost dramatically from the fire. My cousin met a fire in their apartment. The firefighter came to the spot 30 min after my cousin called fire station. It was a disaster. I hope Chinese fire department realize that it is time to learn how American firefighter do in the fire.
ReplyDeleteI find your post quite interesting! Mainly because I'm shocked to learn that you didn't have this prior to 2 years ago! I'm quite thankful that you do have these know. If only the bugs could get fixed I can only imagine how much easier your lives will be!!
ReplyDeleteYes it can be very frustrating when it doesn't work correctly. I think since our IT department handles the specifics, that can make it worse because we feel our of the loop too. Jiabin, it would be interesting to see how the Chinese systems compare to American ones.
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