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<br />August 26,2000 <br /> <br />ADDENDUM TO: <br /> <br />Report entitled, Inteqration of Public Safety Computer Based Systems in Anoka <br />County, dated July 19, 2000, prepared by ~onald Vegemast Engineering, Inc. <br /> <br />Section 3.7.8 of the above referenced report suggests that fire service entities <br />are showing a trend toward increasing use of computer based systems. After the <br />report was published, representatives of the Anoka County fire-chiefs indicated <br />that Anoka County fire service entities are already moving toward greater use of <br />computer based technology and that a major advancement in the near future is <br />an important need. <br /> <br />Currently, Anoka County fire service entities are served by the Anoka County <br />Central Communications - 911 computer-aided dispatch system and they are <br />using local PC based software for records management. Data that is captured <br />by the computer-aided dispatch system during progress of an incident must be <br />printed out and reentered into the PC based records management systems. <br />There are no mobile data communications links to laptops or mobile data <br />terminals in fire apparatus and therefore, valuable information in preplans, about <br />structures, about hazardous conditions and in inspection reports cannot be <br />retrieved from the PC based records management systems while en route to and <br />at fire scenes. The current systems lack sophisticated graphic capabilities for <br />recording of building floor plans, for storing geographic information including <br />current road maps and hydrant and water main data, for noting locations of stand <br />pipes, and for storing and retrieving pictures taken during fire inspections visits. <br /> <br />Upgrading public safety based computer based systems with advanced fire <br />service related capabilities can result in improved safety for fire fighters and <br />improved service to the public. <br /> <br />Safety can be improved if fire fighters en route to a fire scene can review <br />hazardous conditions that were previously recorded, and by reviewing <br />inspections reports for the location of a fire and the immediate surrounding area. <br /> <br />Service to the public can be improved when current map data including road <br />closures is retrievable while en route, when building floor plans are available <br />while en route, and when hydrant and water main data is available en route. <br /> <br />Providing these upgrades will require the implementation of a laptop based <br />mobile data communications system with high data rate communications links <br />suitable for graphics transmission, and the implementation of a modern <br />centralized fire service records management system. The mobile data <br />communications system and the fire service records management system must <br />