County’s GIS Tracks, Routes EMS Vehicles

Lexington County, SC, has implemented an advanced geographic information system (GIS) for its emergency medical services (EMS). The implementation delivers an automated vehicle location (AVL) solution for more efficient routing and response.

“We wanted to implement an advanced AVL system that would keep up with our growth,” explains Jack Maguire, GIS manager, Lexington County, SC. “We selected the ESRI software-based MARVLIS solution because it offered powerful, intelligent routing and dynamic information analysis, and updates. Every incident where an ambulance responds is automatically captured and updated in our database. It gives EMS staff a real advantage in how they serve the community.”

The solution uses Motorola’s Palmetto 800 wireless communications between the county computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and emergency vehicles equipped with mobile computers. When an emergency occurs, Lexington County EMS dispatchers can locate the incident and track the location of response units on a GIS map. Vehicle location, status, speed, and direction are relayed to the CAD system every 3 to 90 seconds depending on vehicle status.

First responders instantly receive incident information from the CAD system to their mobile computers. Continuous data updates are made even as the vehicle is en route to the incident. EMS units are automatically provided a map display of the incident, their current location, and appropriate route.

After the incident is closed, all the data taken from the field is updated into the primary dispatch database and becomes immediately operationally available. For example, if a bridge or street is not in service due to construction, the data is captured and updated into the database for future calls.

For more information on ESRI, visit http://www.esri.com