Intergraph Corp has won a $120m contract to supply a computer-aided despatch, radio and voice-switching system for the Bureau of Emergency Service Telecommunications for the State of Victoria, Australia to handle emergency calls across the state. The system enables operators answering emergency calls to view an on-screen map locating where the incident is, together with the name and address of the caller automatically. The operator can then despatch the relevant emergency unit directly from the workstation. The Dispatch Management System is based on Intergraph’s I/Executive software which manages the data flow between system databases. The central database contains street maps of Victoria, together with records of the name and address of all residents within the state. I/Informer enables information exchange with local, state and national databases. The system is Unix-based and uses relational databases as the central data repositories; Integraph claims the system supports Ingres, Oracle and Informix relational databases. Incoming emergency calls are automatically routed to the appropriate despatcher by I/Calltaker, it also verifies callers’ addresses to speed up the process of pinpointing a location on the on-screen map. I/Dispatcher provides the despatch capability via two screens. One screen features the despatch form which operators fill in to activate the emergency unit, and a map of relevant emergency services. The other displays an interactive map with customisable icons for real-time monitoring of incident and unit. The map also acts as a query window to other databases containing such information as detailed architectural and engineering plans, hazardous materials, fingerprint and mugshot records and firearm registrations. The system provides communication support for mobile data transfer systems and automatic vehicle location devices via I/Messenger and I/Tracker, the Huntsville, Alabama company says. As a result of being award the contract by the State of Victoria, Intergraph has formed a Public Safety division will which develop, market and implement computer-aided despatch systems.
