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User Group Files
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TECHNOLOGY
 The
Knox County Emergency Communications District is the center of the latest in
Technology. Combined with the Technology used in conjunction with the Knoxville
Police Department, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office the Knoxville Fire
Department and combined with our partner Rural Metro, the citizens of Knox
County benefit directly from this technology.
The original 911 enhanced concepts have continually been upgraded as technology
has progressed over the last twenty years. The original 911 system meant that a
phone rang at the Knoxville Police Department. The call would then be
transferred to the appropriate agency. The Enhanced part of 911 took place in
1986 and the capability to see where the call was coming from was possible. As
time moved on, the use of cell phones changed things since people were not
always calling from home. Phase I cell phone technology was now needed.
Tennessee and Knox County have always been on the front end of new technology.
With this Chapter, we could tell who was calling on the cell phone and tell
which tower you were hitting. But, we could not tell where you were. Again, time
moved on and cell phones became smarter because of FCC action to the concerns
voiced by Public Safety. Phase II cell phone technology again allowed us to tell
your location when you called 911. Presently, this is the technology in use.
On the Computer Assisted Dispatch (CAD) side, we originally used the speed of
computers to help get the information from the call processors to the
dispatchers. As times changed, the computers were able to track the information
and have large amounts of information at the dispatcher’s fingertips to pass on
to the policemen and firemen needing the information. This technology also
allowed the Public Safety Agencies to have this information to use for their
historical reporting and planning. The technology finally became available to
send a small portion of this information directly to a computer in the police
car. Both the Knoxville Police Department and the Knox County Sheriff’s
Department took advantage of this technology and both built the appropriate
networks to provide this advantage to its citizens. The Public Safety Community
is working through the FCC and United States Congress to acquire the needed
assets to advance this technology. The next step in this area will be to
increase the ability to send large amounts of information, including pictures
and possibly live video to the Public Safety Responding Vehicle. You can be
assured that this technology will be utilized for your safety as soon as it is
tested and available. Some examples of this technology could be: Live video from
inside a bank during a robbery viewable on a policeman’s computer screen or even
a small portable PDA. Imagine a Doctor in a hospital having the ability to see a
patient and diagnose treatment while the paramedic is still at the scene. A Fire
Chief able to see live camera scenes from a fire while he directs responses from
a command post located safety away from the fire scene. These are just a few
examples of what future technology will allow.
The radio portions of Knox Counties capabilities have also changed since 1986.
By utilizing trunking technology, we have been able to link all of the Public
Safety Responders from the Police, Sheriff and Fire Department on the same
system. This system has provided good coverage for all of the responders with
these agencies. We have worked diligently over the years to try to be fully
interoperable with all of the responders for the area. As you have probably been
reading in the news since 9/11 - all of Public Safety realizes that there is a
compatibility problem nationwide. While the Department of Homeland Security has
provided money - the problem is not a simple one to fix. The Knox County 911
Board of Directors has worked on addressing the problem and Knox County has
taken many steps to provide the best in interoperability. We are involved on
many National Committees to assure that work is progressing on the issue. There
is movement in the United Stares Congress and the FCC that will change the
Technology for the future. While it is too early to predict the outcome, you can
be sure that Knox County will be ready and willing to evaluate and address new
technology as soon as it is available.
Some of the latest use of technology is the mobile command van. The command van
was made possible through a Homeland Security Grant. The $900,000.00 van is
fully equipped to handle communications as well as command facilities for any
event. The van is used regularly by the Police Department for special events and
recently by the fire department at the McClung Warehouse fire. In addition to
radio capabilities, the van also has a telephone system, which includes cellular
and satellite capabilities and can be used as a mobile Public Safety Answering
Point (PSAP).
Rounding out the technology available is an entirely separate radio system that
provides backup to the main radios system. Also, a backup remote site is also
available should the 911 center need to be evacuated.
The ability to notify large amounts of people quickly in the event of a disaster
is crucial. The Knox Emergency Agencies utilize the technology to perform this
task. The system is in place and can be used when needed.
Obviously, we cannot address all of the technology used by the multiple agencies
in Knox County, but you can rest assured that Knox County compared with any
other area of the country provides it’s citizens with the best possible
technology to aid in service delivery.
We look forward to the future technology and welcome your questions and
comments. |
