Operations control computer
An operations control computer ( computer-aided dispatch ( CAD ), with other components called operations control system) is an IT system that supports the employees of control centers in coping with their tasks.
tasks
An operations control computer system essentially fulfills the following tasks:
- Keeping an overview of the resources (e.g. a fire engine) and their availability or orders
- Overview of the current and upcoming (to be scheduled) operations
- comprehensive documentation of operations
- Possibility to research the logs of completed missions
- Visualization of city maps as well as location representation in a geographic information system
- Support alarm
Components
Like any IT system, an operations control system consists of hardware and software .
hardware
As a rule, operational control systems are implemented as server systems, which are used by the dispatchers from several operator stations. High demands are placed on the hardware in terms of reliability. Since normal PC components are usually used, failure safety is ensured, for example, by means of redundant design of important components.
The most important part of the hardware, however, are the interfaces to the communication facilities. These include alarm transmitters for triggering alarm systems, data transmission facilities such as the FMS status decoder, the telephone system and the documentation system for telephone and radio calls.
software
The core of a master computer system is a database in which the master data of the operational control system is held. These include B. the vehicles in the service area of the control center, special objects or contact details of contacts from other services and organizations. The operations carried out and their documentation are also archived in this database.
Special application software is used for handling the assignment, which supports the dispatchers during the entire handling of the assignment. This begins with the recording of the incident, continues with disposition, alarms and documentation and ends with research and evaluation. The application software can be installed locally or implemented via a web application . If required, web applications are also available that create links to the control computers of other affected parties (traffic control center, AVM of public transport, etc.).
Modern host computer systems have the option of graphically supporting the user. This includes the display of map sections and, if necessary, the display of images of certain objects.
The data collected in the control system can be transferred to the invoicing software for transport accounting or cost accounting via a software interface.
base data
- Resource (e.g. fire brigade , rescue service )
- Paging name
- Categorization (e.g. fire truck, ambulance)
- Status (e.g. "free on guard" or "assignment taken over")
- Alerting routes of the resource
- Mission objects
- Hazard warnings
- Directions
- Notes on contact persons
- Geodata for displaying locations in a geographic information system