TALKING POINTS
APCO, International recognizes that public safety must develop effective partnerships as well as clearly define
the most appropriate data to cause the prompt, effective and competent dispatch of appropriate emergency
services.

These information elements may arrive at the Primary PSAP from private sector public safety and service entities, agencies at the all levels of local, county, state and federal government and related services.

In addition, the availability of additional event related data must be made available as needed to associated agencies including hospitals, transportation, public works, environmental services, disaster relief organizations and the like.

The Committee has chosen to pursue these challenges to existing systems by the use of Focus Groups. These Groups are called together via conference call and as necessary face to face meetings to identify, agree upon and define the data fields required to maximize the intelligent deployment of appropriate resources. The use of a standard data set as well as the cooperative interaction of public safety Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems is required as well as several means of moving the data as needed.

Top of Page

Focus Group One DTC FG1

Central Station Alarm Association - The residential and commercial property and personal safety alarm industry serves millions of citizens everyday. The Alarm Center Data Focus Group working in partnership with the Central Station Alarm Association has developed a data transfer standard which is now being tested at selected sites across the nation.

The Alarm Center Data Transfer Committee will maintain this partnership with increasing positive outcomes for public safety. The test sites have begun the process of sharing data on residential burglary alarm events in VA, FL, and CA.

The Committee will monitor the test site experience and participate in modifying the data elements for the purpose of increased efficiency of alarm call processing;

The Committee will seek to eliminate as much as possible, the current practice of re-keying all related data to PSAP CAD or equivalent incident records systems;

The Committee will promote closer working relationships between PSAPs and Alarm Central Stations, while progressing to expand the testing and data exchange of alarm information.

Top of Page

Focus Group Two DTC FG2

Telematics Service Providers – This new source of emergency call data has relied upon voice transfer to PSAPs (Public Safety Answering Points) in the past; today this Focus Group has identified the basic elements of data to enhance the processing of such calls that rise to the definition of emergency calls for service. The data set for basic dispatch of such calls ahs been defined by the Focus Group, however the testing of this data transfer remains a pending element of this effort.

The Focus Group also realizes that additional specific event data is available form the TSP and may have particular applicability to responding agencies as well as local medical care facilities, especially trauma level facilities.

As of mid October,2004 three PSAPs have offered to test the basic data transfer and seek means to provide access to the additional data for use by associated public safety and service entities.

For related information, please see Telematics Committee

Top of Page

Focus Group Three DTC FG3

CAD to CAD Data Transfer has become the newest subgroup activity of this APCO Committee. The Committee will, using the standard data set, identify those data elements that can assist working PSAPs manage the resources necessary to effectively respond to those emergency events that require a joint response along jurisdictional lines, impact public safety and service activities between independent entities, and/or involve a joint jurisdictional response in the interest of rapid mitigation of threat and risk.

The work of this important APCO, International Committee will lead to reduced call processing time, better informed responders, improved safety and security for all participating users as well as allow for an exchange of data to allow clear closure of the event for the providers.

APCO, International understands the importance of effective data exchange between public and private call centers, as well as public safety entities as well as the traditional and non traditional public service entities, which translates into better service for all the parties involved.

GOALS & OBJECTIVES

Top of Page