Are your incident data recording requirements being met?
Published: 01 September, 2008
Recent developments in post incident data capture as part of the CLG IRS project (Department of Communities and Local Government Incident Recording System) have resulted in significant additional data capture facilities for most FRSs. However, is the information being captured meeting the needs of each and every FRS?
A growing number of FRSs have considered their own data needs in order to support local IRMP’s (Integrated Risk Management Planning) and other partner agency data sharing initiatives, and as a result are looking for more flexibility in what they record and the ability to customise the questions they ask, plus enhance the granularity of answers.
In partnership with FRSs data collection tools, Specialist Management Information System supplier AssetCo Data Solutions Ltd has created a flexible web based IRS (Incident Recording Solution) that not only is 100 per cent compliant with CLG requirements, but also allows an FRS to define new questions and modify pick lists, ensuring that both the CLG and the FRS get what they need.
Building on over 10 years of experience of supplying and supporting FRSs with incident data collection tools and experience of interfacing to most command and control systems, plus a proven XML (Entensible Markup Language) interface to the CLG IRS system, the new tools ensure FRS’s can enjoy the flexibility of holding their own data on their own site allowing interfacing with other FRS Information Technology systems, but also ensuring compatibility with CLG reporting requirements.
But with all this extra data being recorded are people going to have access to it? Traditionally data reporting has been the domain of a few specialists within an FRS due to the complex nature of writing reports. In order to make sure data is made available to the staff responsible for meeting local targets and to ensure this is timely and relevant, AssetCo Data Solutions have enhanced their web based query tool (OPUS) to ensure data recorded in the IRS system can be accessed and turned into useful information using a simple point and click approach. With facilities for adhoc report generation, report publishing and extensible drill down facilities ensuring data held externally to the IRS system can be correlated and used within the whole organisation or externally if granted access.
But will the system be redundant once the FireControl RCCs come into service? In short no, because the system is independent of an FRS existing Command and Control system and the fact that CLG have committed to provide incident data feeds to FRS from the RCC, it will still be available even after the current Command and Control is decommissioned, and with the additional functionality it is probably better value for money than adding an XML feed onto the exiting Command and Control system in order to pre-populate the online forms.
AssetCo will be exhibiting at Fire & Rescue 2008 (stand FR 91). For more information about Fire & Rescue 2008 see page 70).
