Intersection analysis application aims to help emergency departments improve response times, safety
Emergency responders have a new tool that can help to speed up response times and improve safety with the release of Opticom Analytics. The web-based platform can help departments assess intersection performance, reveal problem areas and make corrections to provide a faster, safer emergency response.
Opticom Emergency Vehicle Preemption (EVP) solutions – which work by requesting a green light for emergency vehicles — have helped thousands of departments move quickly and safely through intersections for nearly 50 years.
This new tool allows departments to easily view critical information about their department’s vehicles as they pass through an intersection. Global Traffic Technologies’ (GTT) president Jason Lund said the new platform gives departments the data they need to make more informed decisions about their emergency response.
“Departments can see which intersections are slowing down their emergency response,” Lund said. “They don’t need to rely on anecdotal evidence or spend valuable staff time figuring out where their vehicles are getting delayed. Opticom Analytics shows the severity and exact locations of the delays.”
Knowing where the slowdowns are can help departments make changes that improve their response to an emergency.
“Once they pinpoint the problem areas, departments can add or modify preemption to enable a faster response time and reduce the chance of an accident,” Lund said.
The analytics software relies on data collected from Opticom GPS-enabled EVP hardware. Data logs from the vehicle equipment are securely uploaded to the analytics platform via a Wi-Fi or cellular connection. The information is compiled into a web-based application that can be accessed anywhere with an internet connection. Users can sort and view performance metrics based on date, speed, travel time, vehicle type, preemption usage and more.
The platform gives users the data needed to assess, reveal and correct problems:
· Assess performance: The interface provides an easy means to evaluate intersection performance, assess run statistics, review operational trends and quantify overall productivity of the EVP system.
· Reveal problem areas: Mapping functions reveal problems, including slowdowns and delays caused by heavy traffic or a lack of preemption.
· Make corrections: Departments can fix problem areas by adjusting the preemption system, adding components or performing maintenance.
GTT’s vice president of marketing Michael Haldane said that departments across the United States have been receptive to the new tool during discussions this spring. When departments seek to install traffic signal preemption, Opticom Analytics could help provide justification to key stakeholders by showing where equipment is needed and how effective it is.
“Fire chiefs we talked to are determined to improve response times and increase safety,” Haldane said. “Opticom Analytics gives them the data they need to improve operational performance.”
GTT’s system provides data that beyond what is typically collected from an emergency vehicle’s onboard computer. GPS data from the Opticom system is logged at 1-second intervals for accurate and detailed vehicle and intersection information. Opticom Analytics uses this data to give departments the information they need to maximize their preemption system, enabling them to arrive quickly and safely at the scene of an emergency.
More details about the Opticom Analytics platform can be found at gtt.com/opticom-analytics/ or by contacting a GTT regional manager.
GTT’s product manager, Chad Mack, will host a webinar demonstrating Opticom Analytics on Wednesday, July 19. Registration information can be found here: gtt.com/opticom-analytics-webinar/.
View coverage of this story in Firehouse magazine and 911 Magazine
