Roswell, GA (March 8th, 2022) – The Roswell Fire Department (RFD) is now utilizing Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) dispatching which uses the vehicle’s GPS location, so dispatchers in the Roswell 911 Emergency Communications Center can identify and dispatch the closest, most appropriate emergency response vehicle to a call for service for our residents. This was achieved through the joint efforts of staff from the City’s Fire Department, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Division, Information Technology Division, and the 911 Emergency Communications Center.
One of the main benefits of this system is the added confidence that the closest emergency response vehicle is being dispatched to the call for service, which reduces response time. This allows fire department personnel to be on the scene of the emergency in the quickest amount of time possible. Another benefit is the added peace of mind that comes from being able to reliably locate Roswell Fire Department crews based on the vehicle’s current GPS location, even if dispatchers or the department’s command staff cannot reach them by radio or cell phone.
Prior to this upgrade, the Roswell 911 Emergency Communications Center would send a fire engine, ladder truck, or rescue ambulance from the station with the closest proximity to the call for service. However, the nearest fire station does not necessarily mean the nearest fire truck or emergency response vehicle. In some cases, the fire apparatus assigned to that station may be out of the station training, conducting area familiarization, or returning from another call for service when a fire or medical emergency is dispatched.
The AVL system is only possible with reliable connectivity between the GPS-based vehicle location data and the City’s Computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system. To achieve this, the department installed Cradlepoint in-vehicle routers to improve reliable connectivity. The routers continuously and securely communicate the GPS coordinates of the vehicle to the CAD system in the Roswell 911 Emergency Communications Center.
Additionally, at the February 28th meeting, the City of Roswell Mayor and Council approved an Automatic Aid Agreement between the City of Roswell and the Cities of Alpharetta, Milton, Sandy Springs, and Johns Creek. Automatic aid is assistance that is dispatched automatically by contractual agreement between two or more communities to calls for service. Once all of the Computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems are compatible, automatic aid will help reduce response times in North Fulton by using AVL dispatch to send the closest emergency response vehicle to a call for service, regardless of jurisdictional boundaries. Doing so will increase Roswell Fire Department’s capacity to respond to large-scale incidents and also ensure that there are no interruptions in existing service while doing so. Another benefit could include a better Public Protection Classification (PPC®) from the Insurance Services Office (ISO). Most U.S. insurers of home and business properties use PPC in calculating premiums. According to ISO, “In general, the price of insurance in a community with a good PPC is lower than in a community with a poor PPC.”
The Fire Departments in North Fulton County have been working together closely to improve partnerships and implement a regional approach to fire and emergency services. The North Fulton Fire Chiefs meet monthly as do the City’s Fire Marshals, Operations Chiefs, Emergency Medical Service Divisions, and Training Divisions. This helps to ensure interoperability, and that the different departments are training together and sharing best practices.
The implementation of Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) dispatch and the execution of a North Fulton Automatic