ICELAND POLICE, FIRE AND AMBULANCE

Iceland's emergency services introduced TETRA technology to develop an advanced computer and telematics system which includes geographical information and vehicle tracking. Icelandic GIS specialists, HNIT's 'SiteWatch' command and control system, verifies incoming calls to the emergency number (112) through a database that directs the call to the appropriate service. An incident log is created and passed through to the required service. The location and status of police vehicles, ambulances and fire engines is displayed on the same map screen and the mapping system can be viewed in either plan or photographic form. Iceland needed a system that would not only enable a seamless transition from separate to integrated command centres, but one that would also complement this new collaboration between the different services. The emergency services teams are under constant pressure to continue to provide a high level of service to the public with fast and efficient response to incidents being the priority. For example, Reykjavík ambulance service has a target of arriving at every incident within 8 minutes. Knowing the location of a vehicle can mean the difference between the success and failure of a response to an incident. It also makes the emergency services more accountable.