Surrey fire-fighters get smarter route planning

A new system selects vehicles for dispatch based on their location and capabilities

Surrey Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) has introduced a new command and control system which integrates geographic information to reduce response times.

The new system, which takes information from the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG), automatically selects appropriate vehicles for dispatch based on their location and capabilities.

Information on risk intelligence is also sent directly to the onboard terminals, which crews use to access data before reaching incidents.

The NLPG system includes details on every property in Surrey, said Carl Walker, head of systems information and technology at SFRS.

"The system looks at the geographical position of the incident and the available resources to work out which vehicle can provide the quickest and most appropriate response," he told Computing.

"The advantage with this system is its use of risk information which is linked to the NLPG data. When appliances attend incidents they are armed with any appropriate information on the premise or surrounding area."

The system is a result of collaboration between the SFRS, local authorities, police and the NHS, with each body working to improve the quality of the NLPG for use in the new software.

SFRS is also building a web portal which will allow users of the system to post changes, enabling local authority staff to update and continually improve the NLPG system.

The system has been developed in preparation for FireControl, a nationally linked network of nine Regional Control Centres across England which will also use NLPG as the source of geographic data. The FireControl programme is set to be rolled out in 2012.

The NLPG system has been used in a number of local government schemes such as the clean-up process conducted by Hull City Council in the aftermath of the floods in the city in 2007.