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The Authority's System Status Management approach depends on generating and analyzing massive amounts of data to predict when and where emergency calls will occur. To help visualize this and other information, the Authority uses two powerful software systems—CAD and ArcView.
The computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system captures all information obtained through the 911 emergency phone lines and assigns geographic coordinates to response locations. ArcView is a technologically advanced geographical information systems (GIS) program that processes all the data received and assigns it geographical attributes. ArcView allows the Authority to merge information from multiple sources and plot that data on a map—a technique called spatial representation—which makes it easier to view and analyze data.
Using spatial representation, the Authority is often able to see patterns that would not ordinarily be noticed by simply viewing data in tables and
graphs. For example, information concerning cardiac arrest responses can be plotted on a map of the city. When viewing the map, it may become obvious that some sections or neighborhoods in the City are more likely to need an EMS response
for cardiac arrest than others, and strategies can be developed to meet these special challenges ahead of time. Beneath the points on ArcView maps are databases containing information related to each EMS response and patient transport. By
pointing and clicking, these databases open to tell the real story behind the dots. It is possible
to "zoom" in on any area of the City—even to individual addresses—to retrieve and analyze EMS data. Researchers from the University of
Bonn, Germany introduced the Authority to ArcView, trained Authority staff and have collaborated with Richmond on several EMS-related
international projects. ArcView-related research from the Authority has been presented at national
meetings of EMS physicians and will be appearing soon in scientific journals. Additionally, the Authority is using ArcView data and spatial analysis to assist in prioritizing
resources for community pediatric injury prevention programs, to participate in cardiac arrest research, and to provide public health data to the City of Richmond.
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