Hardware Components
The FAST platform hardware components are installed in the Fire, EMS or Police Station
and at a minimum consist of a FAST computer server and one large LCD monitor. Larger stations
will likely be interested in installing more than one LCD monitor and FAST is built to
support as many as you need. In addition, FAST supports connecting one or more large
LED signs to be installed throughout the station. The FAST server will be connected to the
station's network and will need access to the public Internet. If you choose to implement
our Relay Control Feature, we will install one or more Relays on your local network and
we will configure FAST to associate each Relay output to a specific piece of equipment
apparatus in your station. The FAST server is not intended to be used interactively and
therefore will not have a mouse, keyboard or local monitor connected.
CAD System Integration
Emergency alerts are typically sent by a dispatcher located in a 911 Emergency
Operations Center (EOC). Most 911 EOCs today use Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) software
to enter, track and dispatch alerts. CAD systems that are in use in EOCs range from
in-house proprietary systems to very expensive systems offered by the big industry
players. One of our objectives in developing the FAST platform was to provide very
easy integration options with the many CAD systems out there. Basically, the FAST
platform needs to be able to get emergency alert information from the CAD system. Our
preferred method for receiving alert information is direct TCP/IP communications though
we also support receiving alerts by means of emulating a printer, direct database
queries or other messaging delivery such as email. The bottom line is that if you have
emergency alert data we can find a way to get it to the FAST platform.
Alerting Details
Once the emergency alert information is received by FAST it is sent by all available
means to appropriate personnel in or out of the station. Whatever is currently being
displayed on the LCD monitors in the station will be overwritten with a large bright
textual message spelling out the critical alert elements, typically Incident Type,
Location, and any nearby cross-streets. All elements of the alert are customizable
in terms of which elements are required, in what order, colors, fonts, size, time
to display, etc. If you provide us with area maps that your station is responsible for
and area data is made available as part of the alert information sent to FAST, then we
will also display the specific area map along side the incident details. Alternatively,
you can take advantage of our Dynamic mapping feature which will dynamically generate
a map and center and zoom in on the incident location and place a marker. In addition,
the dynamic map will also display markers for all surrounding road closures, traffic,
hydrants and other water supplies. At the same time that the alert information is
displayed on the LCD monitor an audible MP3 track is played and heard from the LCD
speakers. It typically takes less than 1 second from the time that FAST receives
the alert until it is displayed and heard on the monitors. At the same time that the
alert information is sent to the LCD monitors it is also sent to the LED signs if they
are part of your solution. If your installation includes any Relays, then FAST will also
inspect the equipment apparatus due on the incident call and automatically close all
associated Relays which in turn can be used to activate different controls within your
station's alerting system. And lastly, FAST is capable of sending alert information via
email, text messaging and pagers to all desired personnel. After the pre-determined time
period to display alerts has expired, the LCD monitors and LED signs will return to
whatever they were displaying prior to the alert.
FASTweb Emergency Incident Alert Reporting
A web-based tool will be provided allowing station personnel to login and review all the
details of prior emergency incident alerts sent to the FAST system including call times
and response times if that data is made available to FAST.