ISSN 1744-1986 Technical Report N O 2006/ 25 The use of computing technology in a challenging environment: an investigation in the emergency services in Northern Ireland Patricia Wilson 30 September, 2006 Department of Computing Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Technology The Open University Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA United Kingdom http://computing.open.ac.uk Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 The use of computing technology in a challenging environment: an investigation in the emergency services in Northern Ireland (M801 Open University) A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Open University’s Master of Science Degree in Computing for Commerce and Industry Patricia Elizabeth McDowell Wilson (U3374350) 1 March 2007 Word Count: 15,089 Page 1 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 Preface I would like to first thank my supervisor, Dr. David Butts. I would also like to thank my tutor from the Open University course, M873, Dr TJ Lydiard, for encouraging my interest in computing technologies outside the desktop. I would like to thank the staff at Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. In particular I would like to show my appreciation for the passion and expertize of Mr. Robin Bigger. I would like to thank Mr. William Gregge and White Watch Lisburn for sharing their many years of experience as firefighters on the front line. This research could not have been possible without their commitment. I would like to thank the staff at Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. In particular I would like to thank Mr. Kevin Devine, Control Manager and Training Officer in the Regional Emergency Medical Dispatch Centre in Knockbracken Belfast. I would like to thank Mr. Norman Wotherspoon, duty control managers in the Regional Emergency Medical Dispatch Centre in Knockbracken Belfast for sharing his expertize gained on the front line as a paramedic. I would like to thank Dräger Safety UK in Newcastle upon Tyne and in particular Mr. Michael Dowson, head of Research and Development, and Mr Marcus Berney-Smith, chief engineer on DrägerMan PSS® Merlin® Breathing Apparatus as described in AppendixF, Example Equipment. Special thanks to my family for their support and inspiration throughout this period of study in assisting me achieve my goal. Page 2 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 Table of Contents Preface 2 Table of Contents 3 List of Tables 8 List of Figures 9 List of Statements 11 Abstract 12 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................. 14 1.1 The research question 14 1.2 The problem domain 14 1.2.1 Emergency Services............................................................................................................ 14 1.2.2 Northern Ireland.................................................................................................................. 15 1.2.3 Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS).............................................................. 18 1.2.4 Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS)..................................................................... 18 1.3 Technology 19 1.4 Aims of the research project 20 1.5 Objectives of the research project 21 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................... 23 2.1 Public Services 26 2.1.1 Fire and Rescue Services .................................................................................................... 26 2.1.2 Ambulance Service............................................................................................................. 26 2.1.3 Joint Operations.................................................................................................................. 27 2.1.4 Summary............................................................................................................................. 28 2.2 Environment Information 28 2.2.1 Summary............................................................................................................................. 29 2.3 Technology 30 Page 3 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 2.3.1 Wearable Technology......................................................................................................... 30 2.3.2 Sensor Technology ............................................................................................................. 31 2.3.3 Pervasive Computing.......................................................................................................... 32 2.3.4 Robotics Technology .......................................................................................................... 32 2.3.5 Spoken Dialogue Technology............................................................................................. 33 2.3.6 Navigation Technology....................................................................................................... 33 2.3.7 Communication Technology............................................................................................... 34 2.3.8 Summary............................................................................................................................. 35 2.4 Summary of Literature Review 35 CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHOD......................................................... 37 3.1 Survey – Interviews 38 3.2 Commerce/industry data analysis – Document Studies 40 3.3 Focus Group 42 3.4 Interaction of Selected Research Methods 42 3.5 Analysis of Data 43 3.5.1 Understanding the Domain ................................................................................................. 43 3.5.2 Task Classification.............................................................................................................. 45 3.6 Testing the Results 46 3.7 Summary 47 CHAPTER 4 DATA COLLECTION........................................................... 48 4.1 Process and Data Sources 48 4.1.1 Interviewing Emergency Crews.......................................................................................... 48 4.1.2 Interviewing IT Staff .......................................................................................................... 50 4.1.3 Interviewing Other Staff ..................................................................................................... 51 4.1.4 Document Studies............................................................................................................... 51 4.2 Weighting of Information 52 4.3 Preliminary Analysis 52 4.4 Summary 53 Page 4 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 CHAPTER 5 RESULTS ............................................................................ 54 5.1 Task Analysis 54 5.1.1 Scenario1-Chest Pain–NIAS............................................................................................... 56 5.1.2 Scenario2-Car Crash-NIAS ................................................................................................ 59 5.1.3 Scenario3-Firefighters Trapped-NIFRS.............................................................................. 61 5.1.4 Scenario4-Car Crash–NIFRS.............................................................................................. 64 5.1.5 Scenario5–House Fire Persons Reported–NIFRS............................................................... 66 5.1.6 Scenario6-Bombs on Premise-NIFRS ................................................................................ 69 5.1.7 Scenario7–Confined Space Rescue–NIFRS ....................................................................... 72 5.1.8 Scenario8–High Rise Building-NIFRS............................................................................... 74 5.1.9 Scenario9–Fuel Laundry Plant–Joint Operations................................................................ 77 5.2 Task Categorization 80 5.2.1 Dräger (Telemetry) ............................................................................................................. 82 5.2.2 Modus System .................................................................................................................... 83 5.2.3 TetraSystem ........................................................................................................................ 84 5.2.4 Thermal Imaging Camera ................................................................................................... 85 5.2.5 CCTV.................................................................................................................................. 85 5.2.6 Mobile Phones .................................................................................................................... 85 5.2.7 Command and Support Unit ............................................................................................... 86 5.3 Filling the Gaps with Computing Technology 87 5.3.1 Tracking and Locating........................................................................................................ 89 5.3.2 Mobile Data ........................................................................................................................ 93 5.3.3 Sensor Applications ............................................................................................................ 98 5.3.4 Information Collection...................................................................................................... 102 5.3.5 Security............................................................................................................................