Automatic Vehicle Location Collects Datafor Policy Decision Making

Information from automatic vehicle locationsystems, when combined with computer-aided dispatch software, can provide a richsource of data for analyzing emergencyvehicle operations and evaluating agencyperformance.

”The capabilities of AVL are extensive. Wehave a wonderful visual reference for ourdispatch, and hopefully, in the future, we canuse it for more things. Our city council isprogressive and has consistently supportedupgrades in our communications systems.”—Captain Cliff Johnson, Technical ServicesDivision Commander, Schaumburg,IL Police Department

Officials need to see that equipping emer-gency vehicles with cutting edge communi-cations systems is critical for saving lives.

“Demonstrating AVL systems in emergencyvehicles shows city officials how the benefits ofthe system’s adaptability and its ability tosave lives far outweigh the initial costs.”—Jim Arbagey, Fire Division Chief,Deployment Services, Phoenix FireDepartment

INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

U.S. Department of TransportationRoom 3422, HVH-1400 7th Street, SW

Washington, DC 20590Phone: (202) 366-0722

Facsimile: (202) 366-3302Or visit our web site at www.its.dot.gov

Automatic Vehicle LocationAccommodates a Range of EmergencySituations

With automatic vehicle location, sendingassistance to resolve a variety of crises, frommedical emergencies and man-madedisasters to hazardous weather conditions, isoccurring with increased accuracy andspeed.

“When a state trooper reports an icy area,dispatch can locate the maintenance trucksworking the area via AVL and directly contactthe truck that is best positioned to provideservice. At the same time they are arrangingthis service, they are communicating thosearrangements to the trooper. This hasimproved response time to incidents, and inmany cases, maintenance forces are able tobe proactive rather than reactive, servicingthe areas before accidents happen. Beingproactive has reduced accidents, improvingboth safety and efficiency overall.”—Richard Maddern, ITS Coordinator,Minnesota Department of Transportation

“When looking at the benefits of AVLtechnology, cost is certainly a factor, and weare certainly concerned about it, but our realmeasure of benefits is what it means to thecitizens of Dallas.”—Ron Kirk, Mayor of Dallas

“The highest rate of return for an investmentis when lives are saved. We know our AVL andvehicle preemption systems have saved lives.”—John Nelson, Phoenix City Councilman FHWA-JPO-99-003

Bringing Emergency Vehicles toIncidents Quickly and Efficiently

“We know where all our emergency serviceunits are at any given time. The system doesnot assume a truck is sitting in the fire station,but it actually dispatches the nearest truckbased on where the trucks are at the time ofthe call.”—Jim Arbagey, Fire Division Chief,Deployment Services, Phoenix FireDepartment

Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) systemsrelay the positions of emergency vehicles to acentral location, allowing dispatchers to:• Quickly find the closest available unit to

repond to a call• View all vehicles as they travel emergency

routes and evaluate the route’s efficiency• Adjust directions to accommodate traffic

conditions

Automatic Vehicle Location Has ManyPossible Applications To BenefitEmergency Vehicles and theirDispatchers

Combining automatic vehicle locationsystems with technologies for displayinginformation, automating routing, andcommunicating between dispatch and thevehicles, greatly expands the uses of thesystem for all users.

Depending on presently available resources,installing a working automatic vehiclelocation system can be as sophisticated asinstalling a complete computer-aideddispatch system with geographic informationsystem software. It can also be as basic aspurchasing individual transponders for eachvehicle, which can then be used ascomponents to an existing system, possiblyowned by other public agencies.

With Automatic Vehicle Location,Emergency Responders Reach PreciseLocations Despite ChallengingConditions

Automatic vehicle location uses globalpositioning systems to pinpoint the preciselocation of emergency vehicles. This satellitebased technology provides real-timelocation, latitude and longitude coordinates,and direction of traveling vehicles.

“A trooper—just three days after having theAVL system installed in his vehicle—used itto give coordinates to an Airlife helicopter.The coordinates helped reduce the time ofarrival at the scene of a major accident byabout six minutes.”—Jim Stewart, Sergeant, Texas HighwayPatrol

Automatic Vehicle Location MaximizesEmergency Resources and Response

With the increased coordination automaticvehicle location provides, emergencyagencies are:• Expanding their service area and setting

up links with other agencies• Increasing operating efficiency of

existing vehicles and staff• Quickly addressing and resolving

emergency situations

“AVL in our Highway Helper trucks is aninvaluable enhancement to the two-wayradio we use. From the dispatcherperspective it makes our job much easier.When we are alerted to a problem, we cansee where the trucks are and send the closestone to help.”—Melanie Braun, Traveler InformationSupervisor, Minnesota Department ofTransportation

Because automatic vehicle location enablesdispatchers to track the location of vehicleswith greater accuracy, they can moreeffectively coordinate emergency effortswith other agencies.

“With the old system, you could park a firetruck across the street from an incident anda truck from a fire station two miles awaywould be sent to respond. We didn’t havethe technology to know there was a truckacross the street.”—Jim Arbagey, Fire Division Chief,Deployment Services, Phoenix FireDepartment

An automatic vehicle location system alsohelped the Red Cross reach victims after atornado devastated Jarrell, Texas, in June1998.

“We knew where the community was, but allthe street signs had been blown down.Without our AVL tracking system, we mightnever have found them.”—George Snell, Director of DisasterServices for the San Antonio Area RedCross

Automatic Vehicle Location Collects Datafor Policy Decision Making

Information from automatic vehicle locationsystems, when combined with computer-aided dispatch software, can provide a richsource of data for analyzing emergencyvehicle operations and evaluating agencyperformance.

”The capabilities of AVL are extensive. Wehave a wonderful visual reference for ourdispatch, and hopefully, in the future, we canuse it for more things. Our city council isprogressive and has consistently supportedupgrades in our communications systems.”—Captain Cliff Johnson, Technical ServicesDivision Commander, Schaumburg,IL Police Department

Officials need to see that equipping emer-gency vehicles with cutting edge communi-cations systems is critical for saving lives.

“Demonstrating AVL systems in emergencyvehicles shows city officials how the benefits ofthe system’s adaptability and its ability tosave lives far outweigh the initial costs.”—Jim Arbagey, Fire Division Chief,Deployment Services, Phoenix FireDepartment

INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

U.S. Department of TransportationRoom 3401, HOIT-1400 7th Street, SW

Washington, DC 20590Phone: (202) 366-0722

Facsimile: (202) 366-3302Or visit our web site at www.its.dot.gov

Automatic Vehicle LocationAccommodates a Range of EmergencySituations

With automatic vehicle location, sendingassistance to resolve a variety of crises, frommedical emergencies and man-madedisasters to hazardous weather conditions, isoccurring with increased accuracy andspeed.

“When a state trooper reports an icy area,dispatch can locate the maintenance trucksworking the area via AVL and directly contactthe truck that is best positioned to provideservice. At the same time they are arrangingthis service, they are communicating thosearrangements to the trooper. This hasimproved response time to incidents, and inmany cases, maintenance forces are able tobe proactive rather than reactive, servicingthe areas before accidents happen. Beingproactive has reduced accidents, improvingboth safety and efficiency overall.”—Richard Maddern, ITS Coordinator,Minnesota Department of Transportation

“When looking at the benefits of AVLtechnology, cost is certainly a factor, and weare certainly concerned about it, but our realmeasure of benefits is what it means to thecitizens of Dallas.”—Ron Kirk, Mayor of Dallas

“The highest rate of return for an investmentis when lives are saved. We know our AVL andvehicle preemption systems have saved lives.”—John Nelson, Phoenix City Councilman FHWA-JPO-99-003