Providing enhanced citizen safety via a 100% available alarm monitoring system
Business challenge
React to first-responder rescue emergencies as quickly as possible by ensuring the availability of the central life-critical message handling system while reducing costs.
Solution
Unisys developed and implemented an IP-based signal transport system message handling system deployed across a distributed operations environment; other solutions include system testing, staff training and workshops, 24/7 support, and maintenance of application software and hardware platforms.
Results and benefits
- Improved fire alarm response standards with the ability to manage ~40,000 message transactions per day in real-time
- Managed huge spikes in fire-related and alarm error messages with no loss of performance, as evidenced during the Christchurch 6.3 magnitude earthquake of 2011
- Achieved the ability to prioritize multiple events better, improve understanding of emergencies and check discrepancies with local and regional information via regional polling reports
- Forced commercial alarm providers to meet stringent government-mandated standards to minimize ad hoc alarm alerts
- Reduced maintenance costs with maximum system availability and resiliency
The signal transport system message handling system is an extremely fast, reliable and highly available message transaction system that enables us to respond to fires as quickly as possible to help save citizens. We are now able to meet our response service level requirements and significantly reduce the costs of maintaining a national automatic fire alarm system without affecting our alarm response.
Stuart Waring
ICT Manager – Data and Intelligence,
Fire and Emergency New Zealand