Los Angeles County Board Vote Clears the Way for Communications System Upgrade

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The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors this week voted to approve a $10 million appropriations adjustment that clears the way for the Department's Information Management, Command and Control, and Fleet Services Divisions' personnel to embark on an ambitious data network component and infrastructure upgrade project. Their efforts will result in the replacement of legacy data systems — a term used to describe outdated electronics systems still in use — to assist in eventual compliance with the Federal Communications Commission narrow banding mandate effective January 1, 2013.

One of the first legacy systems to be replaced is the Department's supply of Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs), over 800 in all, found in each piece of response apparatus. Firefighters rely on MDTs to deliver pertinent dispatching updates such as call types, patient information and location changes, in developing emergency situations. The information is delivered to the MDTs through UHF radio data signals and then displayed via text on the MDT's monochrome screen. Existing legacy station control units (SCUs) located inside fire stations will remain in service.

MDTs will be replaced by Mobile Data Computers (MDCs), starting with the Department's fleet of 22 Suburbans assigned to Battalion Chiefs. The MDCs are durable state-of-the-art Panasonic Powerbook Model CF-19 laptops mounted atop a docking station positioned in the same location as the old MDTs. Fleet Services personnel have begun the installation process using most of the pre-existing mounting brackets and hardware for cost effectiveness. The MDCs have touch screen monitors that, while still capable of transmitting simple text messages, are at the leading edge of current technology. In the near future Fire Captains will be able to see their apparatus in relation to other resources as icons on a satellite imagery background or topographical map. Other vital information such as the location of hydrants can be added over time, and volumes of factual information such as specific building inventories will be easily accessed through the MDC.

The MDT replacement efforts are just one phase of the upgrade project, scheduled to be completed by the end of 2012. Wi-Fi access points will be added to all fire stations for our firefighters to quickly download updates to the MDCs. The Department's entire mobile data systems infrastructure will be upgraded with new components, resulting in a quadrupling of the available amount of available UHF data bandwidth. The entire system will all be compatible with the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System infrastructure network when it is completed.

Republished with permission of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. View original article here.



Author:Los Angeles County Fire Department