Agenda item

*To receive a report

Mr A Dosanjh, Head of ICT and Improvement, introduced his report explaining the capital investment in the ICT technical estate contained within the Service’s Medium Term Capital Programme.

The server hardware renewal related to the Storage Area Network (SAN) and other hardware servers that had reached their end of their replacement in 2015. Replacement of the servers was planned for 2018/19.

The replacement of the risk information mobile data terminals had been deferred to 2018/19 to align with the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (EMSCP), a national programme to replace the Airwaves emergency services communication network, for the mobilising mobile data terminals. However, the replacement of the risk information mobile data terminals was being brought forward as there were a number of defects being reported in relation to these mobile data terminals.

SC J Gell reported that the risk information mobile data terminals were ruggedized laptop terminals which were used at incidents to enable crews to access risk information in the appliance and on the incident ground. These were fitted to 22 rescue pumps and the rural water tenders throughout the Service. In addition to risk information, the terminals also allowed the Officer in charge to access the GIS maps and tactical operational guidance. An example of this was the ability of the terminal to access floor plans and entry codes for high rise premises. It also had the facility to provide chemical data and a vehicle recovery system for Officers attending road traffic collisions. The terminals could be used in their cradle in the appliances but could also be taken off the cradles and onto the incident ground.

Future technological developments were expected in this area within the next few years and the Service was currently involved in a regional group considering the next developments, such as enabling legislative fire safety work and safe and well checks to be completed on the terminals. Whilst there were small savings arising from economies of scale, the real benefit was closer working arrangements with neighbouring and regional Fire and Rescue Services.

The Head of ICT and Improvement explained that the primary core switch replacement related to where the cables which distributed the external line connection to all the internal switches.

The secondary network switch replacement was to install switches at Bedford and Luton Fire Stations which host the Northern Area Office and Southern Area Office respectively. The additional switch would increase resilience as there would be a switch for each of the two external network connections going to those premises so that, in the event of a failure, the network connection could be accessed via the second switch.

The network structured cabling replacement would allow for older cabling to be replaced with cabling with a high bandwidth and this would enable a faster throughput.

SC J Gell, Response Support, gave a presentation on the mobilising mobile data terminals. These worked as part of the Resque 4i mobilising system across the secure Airwaves emergency services communication network.

The mobilising mobile data terminals were for use solely in the appliances as a result of Code of Connectivity restrictions.

The presentation included slides of the screens on which Control and the fire crews could communicate with data over the Airwaves network. The mobilising system identified the nearest available appliance to the incident and this appliance was then contacted by Control to mobilise to the incident.

Information available to the fire crews on the terminal included GPS, mapping scales, a search capability, measuring facility and an automatic vehicle location system (this was updated with real-time locations approximately every 20 seconds).

There was currently no risk information stored on these terminals but there was the facility for this to be added in the future. There was also the facility to send incident and operational messages over the Airwaves network.

The ability to communicate by voice was still available. Sending data messages over the Airwaves system allowed responses to be time and date stamped when multiple appliances were called to an incident. This enabled various crews to report simultaneously rather than waiting for a gap as was the previous situation when mobilisation was undertaken via voice only.

Feedback from fire crews was that the new system was very easy to use.

The Group noted that the mobilising mobile data terminals were due for renewal and this was also being programmed to align with the ESMCP.

Members all agreed that it was useful to see the practical application of equipment which fell within the ICT capital programme and Members passed on their thanks to Jason Gell for his useful presentation.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received.