Are Mobile Command Centers the future of on-site emergency management?
Iain Hoey
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Kevin Ruef, Co-Founder and Director at 10-8 Systems, offers insights into how Mobile Command Centers are reshaping emergency response
In the public safety sector, being able to provide citizens with fast and effective emergency response services rests on the ability of first responders to execute accurate decision making and coordinated actions.
But this is hard to do without the right tools and resources at their disposal.
Mobile common centers (MCCs) are becoming more common around the country and are acting as a critical solution for providing on-site incident management – effectively reinventing how emergency responders approach crisis intervention.
MCCs are allowing for more adaptability when out in the field, providing the technology and communication necessary to ensure public safety through improved situational awareness and more efficient response capabilities.
What are Mobile Command Centers?
An MCC, or mobile command center, is a self-contained emergency response unit that can be deployed on-site in the event of various situations to support operations management procedures.
The units are highly sophisticated and have evolved from built-in basic trailers and vans to much more technically capable units housed in large buses or specially designed vehicles.
The primary use of an MCC is to facilitate the ability to bring critical infrastructure and communication capabilities right to the field where an emergency situation is occurring.
It then becomes the main hub where efforts are coordinated by individuals on the ground.
Modern MCCs have an array of tools and capabilities at their disposal to help improve the outcome of emergency situations.
This includes:
Advanced communication solutions: MCCs make use of direct satellite links as well as broad range networks to help them communicate clearly and efficiently with various first responders and supporting agencies.
MCCs can also be integrated with next-generation 911 (NG911) systems for even more accurate communication and data sharing during emergency situations.
Real-time data analysis: MCCs are capable of gathering and processing important information in the field, such as through sensor networks or drone footage that allows them to analyse situations and provide real-time data analysis to emergency response teams.
Intelligent video surveillance: Most MCCs are equipped with intelligent video surveillance systems, including support for aerial drones and body cameras to help monitor dangerous situations and help teams plan tactical strategies.
These systems can also be used for evidence collection and to greatly improve situational awareness for all parties.
Mapping and weather monitoring: Certain MCCs are designed to provide support during natural disasters.
These mobile solutions often come with the ability to report on real-time geographical information and weather data.
This can include high-resolution mapping, geospatial analysis, and weather forecasting capabilities.
Why are Mobile Command Centers beneficial to the public?
Mobile command centers can offer a number of different advantages that directly support various public safety solutions and benefit citizens.
Some of these benefits include:
Better communication capabilities: MCCs can significantly improve communication capabilities during emergency scenarios compared to traditional dispatch situations.
These on-site solutions allow seamless information sharing for all parties involved in a public safety issue, including first response teams, local law enforcement, and government agencies.
In addition to providing additional support when helping to address major issues, most MCCs are increasingly equipment to help drive next-generation 911 (NG911) systems.
These mobile units allow for the transmission of voice, text, data, and multimedia exchanges that provide emergency dispatch centers with a clear context of the issues on the ground and call in the appropriate support needed.
Data-driven decision making: Since MCCs have immediate access to advanced data analytics tools, they’re able to process a significant amount of information from multiple sources.
This data can then be utilised to identify important trends or patterns in emergency situations, allowing them to forecast certain types of risk in various areas around the city and make smarter decisions about the allocation of critical resources.
For example, during a wildfire situation, MCCs can use their onboard weather sensors and satellites to predict the path of spreading fire and its relative intensity.
This enables firefighters to be better prepared and placed strategically to help increase public safety.
Improve situational awareness for first responders: In various situations, it’s absolutely critical for ground responders to have as much information about ongoing issues as possible to protect both their safety and the public.
MCCs give first-response teams a comprehensive view of incidents taking place and help them make smarter decisions when resolving them.
By providing emergency response teams with a bird’s-eye view of buildings and neighbourhoods, they’re able to provide important information needed to carry out their duties in the most effective way possible.
Where and how can Mobile Command Centers be used?
MCCs are highly versatile, which means they’re able to be used in a wide range of scenarios – whether they were planned or not.
This includes:
Natural disasters: In the event of a hurricane, flood, wildfire, or any other major natural disaster, and MCC can quickly be deployed to any affected area while providing support directly at impacted sites.
MCCs can be a critical resource when helping to manage evacuations of certain areas or provide additional support to first responders in the area.
Large public events: During large events like concerts or festivals, there may be a number of security and logistical challenges that need more coordination and support.
In these cases, MCCs can become a helpful central hub that is used to manage crowd control procedures or be used as a quick resource in the event of an emerging security issue.
Major accidents or public threats: During major accidents or persistent threats to public safety, MCCs act as a critical command center for helping to coordinate response efforts.
These situations could be in the form of a major city accident, a hazardous materials spill, or police incidents.
Search and rescue operations: In the unfortunate situation where individuals go missing or become lost in more remote areas, an MCC helps to support local search and rescue operations.
They can be used to help provide satellite coverage of search areas while also coordinating the use of helicopters and other resources.
Improving public safety with advanced resource tools
Mobile command centers have become essential support tools for any number of predictable and unpredictable public safety events.
They allow emergency responders to act decisively while coordinating efforts with supporting agencies and the media.
Although there are still some challenges associated with their cost and the need for regular technological improvements, the benefits of MCCs far outweigh their drawbacks and will continue to be an invaluable asset used to ensure public safety.
