Project Type: Acquisition-Technology Project Status: Resubmitted
Project Origin: Study/Assessment
Project Schedule: Start: July 2016 Finish: June 2018 Requestor: Fire Rescue
Contact: John Oprandy x3103 Department Ranking: 3 of 4 OFD Assistance: No
Fiscal Agent: County Project Operating Impacts: Yes Revenue Offset: None Project Description:
This project requests 30 mobile data computers per year for 2 years. It is similar to the Police Department Mobile Data Computer Program and adds necessary software and equipment for critical fire and ems personnel or apparatus (~60 Command staff and front-line apparatus) to utilize the regional public safety mobile data solution. The computers will require a MyFy device to provide wide area network (WAN) and internet access. These devices carry a monthly subscription charge which is reflected in the operating impact of this request. Once purchased, these computers would become part of the MDC replacement request, a separate CIP project submitted by Fire Rescue, and would be replaced every 5 years.
Location/Property:
Location:
Physical Location: Department of Fire Rescue vehicles (15 stations, COB, COB-5th, ECC)
GPS Coordinates: Countywide
Magisterial District: All Districts
Neighborhood: All neighborhoods;1-7 and rural areas Site Status (Land): Land Purchase Not Required
Assets: County-Owned
Relationship to an Approved County Policy or Plan:
County Aspirations:
Operational Capacity: Ensure County government’s ability to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities
Critical Infrastructure: Prioritize, plan and invest in critical infrastructure that responds to past and future changes and improves the capacity to serve community needs
Comprehensive Plan: Community Facilities Plan: Fire and Rescue Services (addresses response times) Guiding Principles:
Maintain public safety as a key component of Albemarle’s livability;
Respond to technological innovations and incorporate technological rather than spatial solutions when appropriate;
Other:
Project Justification:
Mobile Data Computers (MDCs) give fire and EMS personnel working in the Albemarle County community access to information necessary for a safe and efficient response to both emergency and routine calls for service. Information includes computer aided dispatch data, fire incident data, pre-plans, mapping, and hazardous materials storage locations.
The MDCs are an integral part of pre-hospital patient care reporting and billing system. Patient information, insurance,
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history, and treatments are all recorded at the patient’s side using an MDC. The system also increases the ability of incident commanders to effectively manage scene operations, resources, and provide up to the second information critical to the decision making process. The system also provides voiceless dispatch capability - the ability to share information with other responders, Chief Officers, and the ECC without voice radio transmission.
The Albemarle County Fire Rescue System (ACFR-S; the Department), as with all other public safety entities, depends on information and communication systems to provide the best possible service when needed. Many fire and law enforcement agencies around the nation have implemented Mobile Data Computers (MDCs) to improve both access to information and communication. MDCs within each fire apparatus are linked to the 911 center’s computer aided dispatch (CAD) system.
When a call is received, the CAD system automatically notifies the mobile computers, geocodes the location of the emergency on a map display within the apparatus, and displays existing pre‐incident plans in association with the map location along with integrated tabular information. The implementation of MDCs would provide many benefits and significantly improve our information management and ability to communicate during emergency incidents.
Over the years, the Department has developed a collection of pre‐incident plans (pre-plans) for buildings located within the County. During FY16 both the CAD system and the department’s records management system will be replaced with newer technology and a large number of additional pre-plans will be added. The Department will have invested many hours of work collecting data on the many different occupancies within the County. Yet as more information is collected, it becomes more difficult to retrieve, update, and store this information. This problem is due to the fact that many of our pre‐incident plans are paper-based and stored in binders on apparatus. This not only takes up valuable space within the apparatus, but, more importantly, it means that data is not quickly retrievable during an emergency incident nor can it be easily updated.
The implementation of MDCs would optimize this system so that the latest and most up‐to‐date information could be quickly and readily accessed while responding to and during emergency incidents.
As with pre‐incident plans, our street and hydrant maps are also paper-based in most apparatus and cannot be readily retrieved or updated. Currently, a Captain or officer on a piece of apparatus must refer to a large three-ring binder and locate the appropriate map to provide directions to the driver. This distracts the officer from focusing on the priorities of the incident itself, such as developing incident specific strategies and tactics, considering what additional resources may be needed, and assignment of other responding units. Because MDCs can be linked to a GIS database, all needed maps are easily accessible within the apparatus itself. The GIS database can be readily updated when new streets are built,
annexations occur, or additional hydrants are installed. Even temporary street closures, alternative routes, and out-of-service hydrants can be entered and updated on a daily basis. The use of MDCs with GIS integration would also allow for automatic vehicle location (AVL) and mobile asset tracking. This capability would enable fire commanders and 911 dispatchers to see the exact location of emergency incidents, hydrants in relation to the incident, and all department apparatus at any given time. Incident commanders can manage complex incidents more effectively by assigning apparatus to specific locations and tasks that can be viewed and monitored on the GIS map display within the vehicle improving efficiency and safety on the fire ground.
MDCs improve communication between responding units and dispatch. Voice channels often become congested with dispatching, unit assignments, status changes, and the announcing of benchmarks. MDCs can free up voice channels by allowing responders to notify dispatch of their response and status by simply pressing a button on the MDC screen rather than announcing it verbally over the radio. MDCs also allow responders to bypass dispatch for needed information, which not only reduces radio traffic and the burden upon the dispatcher, it also reduces the likelihood of errors associated with information being relayed verbally. By enhancing access to information and the ability to communicate, MDC
implementation results in a higher level of service to the community and improves safety on emergency scenes. The benefits listed above are the reason MDCs have become such a valuable tool for progressive fire and law enforcement agencies across the country.
This project will result in increased safety, better communication, and faster emergency response. Communications will be improved without tying up valuable voice channels, will increase productivity in the field, will increase dispatch efficiency, will streamline emergency operations, and will assist in the automation of report writing and data submission to local, state, and federal agencies.
This project will enable field personnel to access dispatch information, emergency pre-plans, permit data, in-house data management systems, geographic information system information, maps, hazardous materials data, e-mails, etc.
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Additionally, code enforcement officials will have access to motor vehicle and drivers' license information, criminal history checks, warrants and wanted persons checks, etc.
The comprehensive plan includes specific response time goals. This project will not only help to achieve those response goals, but also provides an effective and efficient method for tracking and managing response times.
This project is requested to begin in July of 2016 as it is anticipated that the existing CAD and Mobile Data replacement project currently underway and managed by ECC will have been completed by this point in time. Mobile Data computers for Fire Rescue had been expected to be implemented soon after the police department’s implementation on the old system some years ago (funding had been appropriated to do so). Due to budget cutbacks and project implementation problems, the MDC’s were not purchased.
The Mobile Data Computers, including the mounting hardware, are $6000.00 each (+ applicable inflation) per recent MDC purchases (June of 2015.)
Change/Reasons for Revisions:
The ECC will complete the installation and programming of the new CAD system during the 4th quarter of FY2016, earlier than anticipated in last year’s MDC CIP request. To utilize the communication, AVL dispatch, and pre-plan capabilities of the new system, MDCs will need to be installed in primary apparatus throughout the fire rescue system.
Alternatives/Impact if Project Not Funded/Completed:
Inefficiency in documentation of patient care, the transfer of care to the hospital, and providing reports to our billing company results in reduced cost recovery associated with EMS billing. Preparedness of responders not optimal given technology available. Inefficient use of resources. Missed opportunities to reduce response times – including inability to utilize AVL to send the closest unit to an emergency.
Other Special Considerations:
Eligible for Co-location
Related to/Dependent upon another submitted project Public/Private Partnership
Other:
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(Continued: Mobile Data Computers - New) Capital Project Request Financial Data:
Project Index
[Fire Rescue] Mobile Data Computers-New FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY17 - FY21
EXPENDITURES
Furniture/Fixture/Equipment/IT Costs $165,000 $169,950 $0 $0 $0 $334,950
EXPENDITURES TOTAL $165,000 $169,950 $0 $0 $0 $334,950
REVENUES
OPERATING IMPACTS
Operating Costs (excl. maintenance) $0 $22,032 $29,952 $30,528 $31,104 $113,616
Net Operating Cost $0 $22,032 $29,952 $30,528 $31,104 $113,616
Personnel Count 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
[Fire Rescue] Mobile Data Computers-New FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26 FY22-FY26 FY17-FY26
EXPENDITURES
Furniture/Fixture/Equipment/IT Costs $189,750 $194,700 $0 $0 $0 $384,450 $719,400
EXPENDITURES TOTAL $189,750 $194,700 $0 $0 $0 $384,450 $719,400
REVENUES
OPERATING IMPACTS
Operating Costs (excl. maintenance) $31,680 $32,256 $32,832 $33,408 $33,984 $164,160 $277,776
Net Operating Cost $31,680 $32,256 $32,832 $33,408 $33,984 $164,160 $277,776
Personnel Count 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00