Frankfurt Fire Brigade to Modernise its Operations Centre with an IT Solution by Steria

Frankfurt Fire Brigade to Modernise its Operations Centre with an IT Solution by Steria Steria has been called on to implement the IGNIS command and control system at the Frankfurt fire brigade's new operations centre. Designed by Steria, this system will enable the fire brigade to ensure very short response times even during peak periods of up to 2000 operations a day. This project follows the implementation of a similar, highly secure system for the Berlin fire brigade. The Frankfurt fire brigade operates seven fire stations and a number of field stations in which more than 900 firefighters work daily. In addition to these are 28 voluntary fire brigades, the Frankfurt airport brigade and four additional brigades located on industrial sites. The Frankfurt fire brigade chose the IGNIS command and control system to ensure full operational readiness of technical equipment, staff and vehicles. IGNIS is a hardware and software system designed by Steria, which also ensures system maintenance on a perennial basis. This system will enable the Frankfurt fire brigade to integrate all of the operation centre's basic processes into one standard system. Moreover, this system determines the number of teams and vehicles required for a specific operation, thus optimising resources while guaranteeing very short response times. "We decided to implement this major modernisation tool in conjunction with Steria, not only because of its excellent price/performance ratio but also because it has already been successfully implemented at Berlin fire stations," says Reinhard Ries, Frankfurt Chief Fire Officer. High availability and security IGNIS acts as an interface for external systems (emergency services, fire alarm systems and security service alarm systems in particular) thus, integrating all relevant information in a geographically complete information system. Cable and radio communication systems are also connected to IGNIS, enabling full interconnection of data and communications technology. The basic system also includes standard operating systems, a database and administration software. In addition to ensuring high availability and data security, this solution can be adapted to future organisational changes within the Frankfurt fire brigade. Steria has many years of experience in the development and integration of operations centres and process control solutions. In addition to the Berlin fire brigade, the company has implemented other solutions throughout Europe including systems for the Lausanne fire brigade in Switzerland and the Swedish police force, as well as for Wiltshire emergency services and Cambridgeshire police force in the UK. -xxx- About Steria (www.steria.com) With 2002 revenue of ?1.018bn and more than 8,000 employees, Steria is one of the top ten IT services companies in Europe. Present in 12 countries worldwide, the Group is positioned as an end-to-end IT services partner thanks to the mastery of its three core businesses: consulting, systems integration and managed services. Its acknowledged expertise in managing large-scale projects and its range of industrialised solutions in Europe enable Steria to offer its customers a reliable service with commitment to cost and risk control. The Group has strong sector-based expertise in the Public Services, Banking and Insurance, Manufacturing-Utilities-Transport and Telecommunications markets. Created in 1969, the Steria group is a pioneer in employee shareholding, with nearly 30% of its capital held by its employees. Steria is listed on the Premier Marché of the Paris Stock Exchange and in the SBF 120 index. Steria Groupe Press Office Antoine Pernod Tel. : +33 1 34 88 94 95 e-mail : antoine.pernod@steria.com Actus PR Laurent Meggs Tel. : +33 1 53 67 36 39 e-mail : lmeggs@actus.fr ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/10/09/20031009BIT01530/wkr0001.pdf