Central Island Firecomm Emergency Communications Centre
NG9-1-1 Readiness Assessment
The City of Nanaimo hired BH Group Inc. to perform a complete assessment of existing hardware, systems, and services in preparation for the national migration to NG9-1-1.
The Challenge
The Central Island FireComm Emergency Communication Centre (CI911 FireComm) faced challenges. Tools used in the centre for 9-1-1 and emergency call processing were aging and new CRTC requirements for next Generation 9-1-1 service were not compatible with existing equipment.
The Solution
BH Group Inc. was asked to conduct the study, investigate the existing systems and make recommendations in preparation to move forward. An assessment of the existing 9-1-1 phone systems was conducted and interviews were held with numerous stakeholders including employees, management, other agencies, and municipal representatives. A needs assessment was prepared, an evaluation of current operational status, a gap analysis, and a final report detailing several operational alternatives with budgetary figures. An action plan and detailed task list for improving performance and interoperability was also provided in the deliverables.
The Result
Several recommendations for moving forward were presented including; options for restructuring the 9-1-1 service delivery model; development of a sustainable funding mechanism for NG9-1-1 systems, services, training, and personnel; and a detailed roadmap, implementation plan, and summary of capital and operating costs for migration.