More Flexible, More Resilient with APD Communications and Fortek

Nottinghamshire Police has developed a highly flexible and resilient communications, command and control system around its dual control rooms in Nottingham and Mansfield using combined systems from APD Communications and Fortek Computers. The two companies have worked alongside one another with the force since 2003, proving the potential for their two systems to combine effectively in emergency command and control environments.

Since 2008, Nottinghamshire Police has been using the latest VISION PX command and control system from Fortek Computers to manage operations across every workstation in its two control rooms. VISION PX enables forces to map, manage and optimise business processes across their control rooms and public service desks. Fortek Computers has developed data interfaces for the force to support the exchange of data to existing services such as the crime database and the Highways Agency. It has also expanded the VISION PX system to be used outside of the control room, offering a thin client user interface to enable the support of operations from senior management. VISION PX is virtualised across both control rooms to provide a single interface for sharing of contact information, intelligence, and incident and resource management.

In January 2011, the force began the latest upgrade of its APD solutions, starting with the control room hardware and software. Nottinghamshire Police operates two large control rooms in Nottingham (74 seats) and Mansfield (47 seats). All server and client hardware were overhauled along with new touchscreens. Physical peripherals have been replaced with APD’s new software alternatives, improving resilience, cutting down clutter and also saving on power costs.

APD also updated the CORTEX Software Integrated Communications Control System (SICCS) software to the latest version, which offers server virtualisation, enhanced performance and security, merging radio dispatch, call handling, video monitoring and web services, allowing control room operators to conduct their duties effortlessly.

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