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DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN

AUTOMATED DISPATCH SYSTEM FOR MEDICAL
AMBULANCES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page ………………………………………………………....................................... i

Certification………………………………………………………………………………..... ii

Dedication …………………………………………………………………………………...iii

Acknowledgement ………………………………………………………………………… iv

Table of contents ………………………………………………………………………….. v

List of tables ……………………………………………………………………………… viii

List of figures……………………………………………………………………………… ix

Abstract …………………………………………………………………………………….x

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background information ………………………………………………………………1

1.2 Statement of the problem……………………………………………………………. 2

1.3 Aim and objectives of the study………………………………………………………2

1.4 Research methodology………………………………………………………………. 3

1.5 Significance of study………………………………………………………………….. 4

1.6 Scope of the study……………………………………………………………………..5

1.7 Structure of the rest of the thesis…………………………………………………… 5

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

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2.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………6

2.1.2 Overview of Automated Dispatch System for Medical Ambulances ……………6

2.1.3 Cell Phone Emergency……………………………………………………………….7

2.1.4 The Operator…………………………………………………………………………..8

2.1.5 Optimization of Shortest Path by the Adma………………………………………..8
2.1.7 Database………………………………………………………………………………9

2.1.7.1 Types of Database……………………………………………………………..10

2.1.8 Mode of Electronic Data Processing………………………………………………14
2.2 Overview of Existing Methods of Dispatch………………………………………….16

2.2.1 Manual Method of Dispatching Ambulance……………………………………16

2.2.2 Computer Aided Dispatch System……………………………………………...17

2.3 Overview Existing Systems Similar To the Adma …………………………………20

2.3.1 The 911 System …………………………………………………………………20

2.3.2 The London Ambulance Service……………………………………………… 23

2.3.3 Emergency Medical System in South Africa………………………………….26

CHAPTER THREE: SYSTEM MODELLING

3.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………….28

3.2. The Uml Diagram of the System ……………………………………………….......28

3.2.1 The Use Case Diagram of the System……………………………………….. 28

3.2.2Use Case Narratives……………………………………………………………...30

3.2.2 Sequence Diagram……………………………………………………………….38

3.2.3 Activity Diagram…………………………………………………………………..39

3.2.4 State Chart Diagram……………………………………………………………..40

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3.3 Database Design………………………………………………………………………41

CHAPTER FOUR: SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION

4.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………46

4.2 System Requirement …………………………………………………………………46

4.3 Implementation………………………………………………………………………...47

4.4 Language Specification ………………………………………………………………47

4.4.1 Hypertext Mark-up Language …………………………………………………….48

4.4.2 Hyper Text Pre-Processor and MySQL………………………………………......48

4.4.3 Apache Server ………………………………………………………………………48

4.4.4 Easy Php……………………………………………………………………………..48

4.5 Modules of the Software………………………………………………………………49

4.5.1 Index Page ………………………………………………………………………49.

4.5.2 Login Page………………………………………………………………………50

4.5.3 Record Call Page………………………………………………………………51

4.5.4 Admin Centre Page …………………………………………………………….52

4.5.5 Assign Driver Page……………………………………………………………. 53

4.5.6 Deactivate Driver Page………………………………………………………. 54

4.5.7 Profile Management Page…………………………………………………… 55

4.5.8 Registration Page…………………………………………………………….. 56

4.6 Testing the Application………………………………………………………………..57

4.7 Data Security…………………………………………………………………………..57

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

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5.1. Summary……………………………………………………………………………... 58

5.3 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………….58

5.3. Scope for Future Works……………………………………………………………...59

References…………………………………………………………………………………60

List of Tables

Table 1.1 Research Methodology…………………………………………………………3

Table 3.1 Place Request Use Case………………………………………………………

30

Table 3.2 Gather Information Use

Case………………………………………………….31

Table 3.3 Logon Use

Case………………………………………………………………...32

Table 3.4 Locate Ambulance Use

Case………………………………………………….32

Table 3.5 Dispatch Ambulance Use Case………………………………………………33

Table 3.6 Deliver Patient Use Case………………………………………………………

35

Table 3.7 Deactivate Driver Case Use

Case…………………………………………….35

Table 3.8 Update Records Use

Case…………………………………………………….36

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Table 3.9 Admin_Info………………..…………………………………………………….41

Table 3.10 Admin_Login_Details…………………………………………………………42

Table 3.11 Ambulance_Info………………………………………………………………42

Table 3.12 Dispatch_Status………………………………………………………………42

Table3.13 Drivers_Info…………………………………………………………………….43

Table 3.14 Driver_Status………………………………………………………………….43

Table 3.15 E_ Request……………………………………………………………………44

Table 3.16 Route…………………………………………………………………………..44

Table 4.1 Software Requirements………………………………………………………..46

Table 4.2 Minimum Hardware Requirements…………………………………………...47

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 2.1 Architecture of a Data Warehouse…………………………………………11

Figure 2.2 Components of a Data Base………………………………………………..12

Figure 2.3 Distributed DBMS Architecture……………………………………………..13

Figure 2.4 Computer Aided Dispatch Resources and Components………………...19

Figure 2.5 The Interface Of 9-1-1 System……………………………………………...22

Figure 2.6 Operation of the London Ambulance Dispatch System…………………..25

Figure 2.7 The Dispatch Process Flowchart Of South Africa…………………………27

Figure 3.1 Use Case Diagram for ADMA……………………………………………….29

Figure 3.2 Sequence Diagram of the ADMA System………………………………….38

Figure 3.3 Activity Diagram of an ADMA Emergency Request……………………….39

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Figure 3.4 State Chart Diagram…………………………………………………………..40

Figure 3.5 Relationship between the Various Tables in the ADMA Database………45

Figure 4.1 Index Page……………………………………………………………………..49

Figure 4.2 The Log in Page…………………………………………………………........50

Figure 4.3 Record a Call Page……………………………………………………………51

Figure 4.4 Admin Centre Page…………………………………………………………...52

Figure 4.5 Assign Driver Page…………………………………………………………...53

Figure 4.6 Deactivate Driver Page………………………………………………………54

Figure 4.7 Profile Management Page…………………………………………………..55

Figure 4.8 Registration Page for Adding a New Administrator………………………56

ABSTRACT

An important marker of quality emergency medical care is measured by meeting the

required response time. The nature of some highly time sensitive medical situations
such as cardiac arrest and bleeding continues to impose a demand to improve the
response time of emergency medical care services. Automated dispatch system for
medical ambulances (ADMA). This is a system that is needed to help ensure that the
ambulance dispatching company meets all federal mandates about the speed at
which an ambulance is dispatched. In order to make this possible, the system greatly
decreases the amount of paperwork that must be filed. This system shall also ensure
that there is an adequate amount of ambulance for each of the service area by
enabling the management to track the status of each ambulance and a log of
ambulance activity. The system is a computer aided dispatch system (CAD) that
receives a phone call from a service provider, records the details of an emergency
incident including location, finds the next available ambulance and dispatches the
ambulance under three minutes.

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The system was developed using Hyper pre-processor(PHP), Hypertext mark-up

language(HTML),JavaScript and Mystructured Query language(MySQL) which was
used as the tool for creating the database in the system.

The design of the system was done using Sublime text and Easy PHP. The unified
modelling language will also be used to diagrams on how the system would work
and how information would be processed. This dispatch system for medical
ambulances has the plausibility to provide efficient and reliable information storage,
herby reducing the paper work and improving the rate of dispatching ambulances.

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background information

The Automated dispatch system for medical ambulance (ADMAN) is a web based

application that efficiently responds to a phone call from all networks concerning

medical emergencies and the finds an available ambulance to respond to the

emergency. It has the peculiar ability to locate the shortest route to the location of

emergency and contacting the nearest ambulance service on the route in other to

reach the emergency point as fast as possible. The traffic problems faced are

escaped with the use of the system[ CITATION jos12 \l 1033 ]. It also records the

details of an emergency and also the location of the emergency.

The application of computer technology would go a long way in making activities a

lot easier. This system is developed in order to locate an available ambulance near

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the location of the incident and dispatch them according to requirement. The benefit

of using computer surpasses that of the manual method. As particularly computer

technology, the dispatching of emergency medical resources took a new dimension

and requires new skill sets. The process of dispatching was supported by computers

and moved in many locates to a paperless system that require above average

computer skills.

The ambulance dispatch system will monitor the locations and status of response

resources, thereby making response recommendations to the human dispatchers.

Human dispatchers get to view the physical movement of their resources across a

computerized map.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The rising increase in the number of emergency recorded by the federal road safety

has increased due to the inefficiency of the manual method of dispatching

ambulances in Lagos[CITATION ATU12 \l 1033 ]. Most times individuals having

medical emergencies get stranded after some hours get attended to by the medical

team. This is because individuals do not have access to contact an ambulance and

due to their illness or injury they have transportation to a hospital as a major

problem[ CITATION ade12 \l 1033 ]. During the occurrence of a road accident people

get badly injured and due to the late arrival of an emergency response team lots of

lives are lost[CITATION ATU121 \l 1033 ]. The emergency response team or

ambulance get to the site of accident or the location of the individual in medical crisis

late because of the fact that there is absence of communication between the person

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in crisis and the firms or hospitals rendering the ambulance service.[ CITATION

pet08 \l 1033 ]

The use of the existing method used by the ambulance dispatcher has caused a lot

of problems which includes the delay of dispatching ambulance, it was very

complicated to observe the location of any dispatch ambulance. There is no tracking

facility in underperformance of the existing method being used in the dispatching of

medical ambulances the manual method. It was very difficult to keep record of

ambulance available and ambulance on duty[CITATION ATU121 \l 1033 ].

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of this research is to build a dispatch system that will help to increase the

speed rate of dispatching ambulance in order to attend to an emergency in the

society.

The objectives of the study include:

(I) To do an extensive literature review on existing methods and systems in

dispatching medical ambulances

(II) To design and implement an automated ambulance dispatch system for

medical ambulances.

(III) To test the developed automated dispatch system.

1.4 Research Methodology

The research methodology describes the various steps and procedures that is to be

used to develop the project. This shows how the research methodology would be

used to achieve the objectives of the study.

Table 1.1: Research Methodology

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S/N OBJECTIVE METHODOLOGY TO BE USED

1 To do an extensive Study of articles and analyzing of Journal articles,

literature review on statistics from journals, books, past projects,

existing methods newspapers, reports, past newspapers,

and systems in projects and websites. Which are Reports, Google

dispatching provided by the library and scholar

medical internet facilities.

ambulances
2 To design and To achieve this objective UML MySQL, Hypertext

implement an diagrams would be used to show Preprocessor

automated the interaction and relationship (PHP), HTML,

ambulance between the actors in the JavaScript, Apache

dispatch system for software and the flow of server. Microsoft

medical information or actions carried out office Visio

ambulances by the software. A database

would be used to store the

emergency details and locations

on immediate test and also the

organizations or hospitals and

there locations rendering

ambulance service would be

stored here
3 To test the To achieve this objective the A phone, internet

developed system would be deployed, a connection, a

automated dispatch hospital would be linked and a browser.

system call would be made. To check if

the system would correctly

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identify a hospital close to the

caller and Identify an available

ambulance that would get there

fast

1.5 Significance of the Study

Since death rate is at an increase in the society because of late medical care. The

significance of this project is to introduce software that will speed up the rate of

dispatching ambulance to people in critical emergency conditions. It would help as a

communication between the caller or patient and the hospital. The project would help

in recording all callers’ information, location and type of medical challenge for future

references. The project would also help the company to be able to track the status

of each ambulance and also enable ambulance avoid traffic to get to caller on time

using the shortest path algorithm implemented in choosing the nearest available

ambulance center to respond to the distress call.

1.6 Scope of the Study

This project focuses on ambulance dispatch system using federal road safety,

Lagos.

1.7 Structure of the rest of the thesis

The research project has been arranged in the following order. Chapter one contains

the introduction, theoretical background, definition of terms, the aim and objectives of

the project and also the scope of the study. Chapter two focused on the relevant

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literature review on the project subject matter. Chapter three is concerned with the

system design, which emphasis on system design and flow chart. It also expands the

development of the new information.

Chapter four is the system implementation which gives the direction of system and

analysis of modules. Chapter five summarizes, shows the limitation of the study,

conclude the project work and offers some useful recommendation.

CHAPTER TWO

Literature Review

2.1 Introduction

Dispatch is a method for allocating workers, specialists or vehicles to clients.

Businesses that dispatch incorporate taxicabs, messengers, crisis administrations,

and home and business administrations, for example, cleaning specialist services,

plumbing, nuisance control and electricians. Emergency Medical Dispatch is a

system that improves the services provided by emergency medical teams such as

municipal emergency services dispatchers. It does so by allowing the call taker to

quickly narrow down the caller's type of medical situation, so as to improve

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emergency dispatch services, and provide quality instructions to the caller before

help arrives. As technology and particularly computer technology evolved, the

dispatching of Emergency Medical Services resources took on an entirely new

dimension and required completely new skill sets. The process of dispatching was

supported by computers and moved in many locates to a paperless system that

require above average computer skills.

2.1.2 Overview of Automated Dispatch System for Medical Ambulances

(ADMA)

Automated dispatch system for medical ambulance (ADMA). The ADMA would be

designed towards accepting calls from the user, gets the users location and

thereafter optimizes the shortest path of which an ambulance can get to the user

swiftly by avoiding various constraint such as traffic and distance from the hospital to

the location of the caller. ADMA would be a web based system that would be to

acquire the location of the caller and be able to get a satellite road network to be

aware of the road network situations on the routes to the caller for the purpose of

efficiency. An operator/dispatcher is in control of the system and also responsible for

taking calls from the caller for processing.

2.1.3 Cell phone emergency

Cell phone and mobile phone have become a necessity for many people throughout

the world. The ability to keep in touch with family, business associates, and access to

e-mail are only a few of the reasons for the increasing importance of cell phones.

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Today’s technically advanced cell phones are capable of not only receiving and

placing phone calls, but storing data, taking pictures, and can even be used as

walkie talkies, to name just a few of the available options. Cell phones are the

perfect way to stay connected with others and provide the user with a sense of

security. In the event of emergency, having a cell phone can allow help to reach

patients quickly and could possibly save lives. However, the importance of cell

phones goes way beyond personal safety. Modern cell phones are capable of

internet access, sending and receiving photos and files, and some cell phone are

equipped with GPS technology allowing for use in most locations, around the world

and allowing the cell phone to be found or the user located in the event of loss or

emergency.

The importance of cell phone has increased the competition in the wireless service

provider industry making cell phone very affordable and very easy to use cell phone

and mobile phone have become almost a status symbol in addition to the

convenience and security that comes from owing them. [ CITATION sam \l 1033 ].

This system provides an added level of help to people with medical emergencies.

The program lends victims free cell phone calls at times of emergency. All phones

are pre-programmed to dial emergency services. Victims of medical emergencies

that have phones must be aware of the function of the emergency lines in place.

[ CITATION SCH06 \l 1033 ]

2.1.4 The operator

The operator is the user of the system who is also called a “dispatcher” which is

responsible for receiving calls from the caller and sending reliable information about

the caller to various units responsible for attending to the caller’s situation. The

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dispatcher can be seen as the “conductor” of the process of administering help to the

caller and is responsible for all the units within this process. The dispatchers are the

first point of contact between the caller/patient and the ambulance services.

Dispatchers work with telephones, radios and computers on a regular basis. Various

dispatchers work together so that the system can be in operation for 24hours

service. Dispatchers monitor locations of callers, availability of ambulances, traffic

patterns and other outside activities. The ADMA would be used by the dispatcher to

interact directly with hospitals and ambulance drivers to coordinate their activities.

2.1.5 Optimization of shortest path by the ADMA

During the course of the project that might be encountered in the development of the

ADMA would be the ability of the system to be able to analyze the various routes

leading to a patient at a particular time and therefore communicate to a hospital with

an available ambulance that would get to the patient fastest. The major constraints

in this case are the traffic, time and distance constraints. For instance a hospital

might be close to a patient but the route on which the ambulance would take to get to

the patient may be experiencing bad traffic conditions. Thereby an ambulance in a

more distant location but with a freer route has a higher possibility of getting to the

patient faster than an ambulance that is close by but stuck in traffic. To fix this sort of

problem the ADMA is to have a database of the hospitals that offer ambulance

service, real time traffic and travel data, and also a navigation system would be

linked to the system in other to monitor the routes leading to a particular patient.

But before all this is done the ADMA has the ability to categorize patient’s situation

so that the most critical patient is being attend to. If this shortest path problem faced

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by so many emergency medical services can be tackled by the ADMA. [ CITATION

ali03 \l 1033 ]

2.1.7 Database

The ADMA won’t be complete without the availability of a database for storage and

processing of important data. A database can described as a repository for data. This

makes It known that building databases is really a continuation of a human activity

that has existed since writing began.[ CITATION Rob94 \l 1033 ] A database

management system (DBMS) is an aggregate of data, hardware, software, and

users that helps an organization manage its functional data. The main purpose of a

DBMS is to provide efficient and reliable methods of data retrieval to many

users[ CITATION jos07 \l 1033 ]. Various individuals are involved with a database

management system such as: systems analysts, database designers, database

administrators, application developer’s users as shown in figure 2.2

below[ CITATION adr10 \l 1033 ]. Database software tools are used for storing,

modifying, extracting, and searching for information within a database. Database

software is used in any industry - from bookkeeping on task, compiling client lists to

running online Web site.

2.1.7.1 Types of database

There are various types of database which have been categorized according to their

operations or functions. Some of the famous and important types of database are

discussed below:

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Relational database: A relational database that contains two or more related

tables. “Relational Database Management System – a database system made up of

files with data elements in two-dimensional array (rows and columns). This database

management system has the capability to recombine data elements to form different

relations resulting in a great flexibility of data usage” [CITATION jma76 \l 2057 ].

Each table has a key field which is used to connect to other tables. Therefore all the

tables are related to each other through various key fields. These databases are

often used in industries and is very popular in the IT department[ CITATION ana03 \l

1033 ].

Examples of relational databases are Oracle, Sybase and Microsoft SQL Server and

they are very important parts in software development processes.

Operational database: Operational database management systems are used to

manage dynamic data in real-time. This type of database allows operations more

than simply viewing stored data. Operational databases allows for modification of

data such as add, change or delete data[ CITATION adr10 \l 1033 ]. An operational

database is very important to Organizations as it includes the customer database,

personal database and inventory database.[ CITATION sus09 \l 1033 ].

Data Warehouses

A data warehouse is a relational database that is designed for query and analysis

instead of transaction processing. It contains data gotten from transaction data and

also includes data from other sources. It separates analysis workload from

transaction workload and enables an organization to consolidate data from several

sources[ CITATION sur97 \l 1033 ]. The figure 2.3 below explains the architecture of

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the database warehouse Development of a data warehouse includes development of

systems to take data from operating systems and installation of a database

warehouse system that provides managers access to the data.[ CITATION ofo11 \l

1033 ]

Figure 2.1: Architecture of a Data warehouse [ CITATION Ora02 \l 1033 ]

The figure shows the architecture of the structure of a data ware house .it shows the various systems involved

and the link between the users, data sources and the data ware house its self.

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Fig 2.2 Components of a Data Base

Figure 2.2 shows components of a database [ CITATION Rob94 \l 1033 ]. The figure describes the various

components that make up a database system and the interaction between various components of the database

system.

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Distributed database

A single logical database that is spread physically across computers in multiple

locations that are connected by a data communication link. A distributed database

(DDB) is a collection of multiple, related databases distributed over a computer

network. A distributed database management system (D–DBMS) is the software that

manages the DDB and provides access tools that makes this distribution clear to the

users[ CITATION Tra02 \l 1033 ]

Figure 2.3 Distributed DBMS architecture [ CITATION bel92 \l

1033 ].

The figure shows the structure of the distributed management system, consists of the various databases,

programs and the client systems. The relationship of all these components are shown in the figure.

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2.1.8 Mode of Electronic Data Processing

Data processing existed before the invention of computers through the use of a

manual data processor (the ABACUS) and also in a mechanical way through the

vintage cash registers. Electronic data processing is when a computer is used to

process raw data into useful information. The electronic data processing has various

advantages over the old manual methods is that it is faster, more reliable, more

economical and high level of accuracy. There are various electronic data processing

systems existing like the stock control system, the mailing list, the payroll system the

electronic fund system along others.

There have been various effects in the introduction of computers in the data

processing systems. Some of the effects have been good and some bad effects too

have been noted .the positive effects counted to the fact that the use of computers in

data processing has been able to save time money and also it has been able to

deliver staffs from some routine work. It also enables better control over an

organization and better customer services.

There are 2 types of electronic data processing models the batch processing and the

online processing methods.

(i) Batch Processing:

In the batch processing program or the data is collected together in batches

before processing. Each batch is called a Job. A job queue is the number of

jobs waiting to be processed. Batch processing is often used where large

amount of data has to be processed. Batch process is most economical and

efficient for large and very large organization.

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(ii)Online Processing

Online processing is used when the devices are directly under the control of Central

Processing Unit (CPU). In online processing one uses the device directly connected

to the CPU for either entry or for enquiry purposes. This method has been developed

to address the deficiencies of batch processing. The online processing method can

be in different types. This types are examined below:

 Real Time Processing

A real time processing is one in which the data is processed without any significant

delay. The computer waits for the input and as soon as the data is received it is

processed and the result can be produced quickly.

 Multi-Programming

In multi-programming several programs are executed on a single computer under the

control of an overall system program. The purpose of multi-programming is to make

good use of the processor, storage device and peripherals[ CITATION Eds68 \l

1033 ].

 Multi- Processing

In multi-processing the CPU of the computer are linked together or the CPU of a

single computer is provided with more than one arithmetic unit. These CPU or

arithmetic unit operate in parallel allowing simultaneously execution of several

programs.[ CITATION bae76 \l 1033 ]

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2.2 Overview of Existing Methods of Dispatch

2.2.1 Manual Method of Dispatching Ambulance

Before the computer based dispatch system was implemented there was the manual

method which involved a call to paper process . The manual system is a phone paper

based system that is outdated and unorganized. When the dispatcher receives an

emergency call he then communicates to a hospital to see if there is any available

ambulance to attend to the emergency. If they are not available he must continue to

track down an ambulance that is available. Once finding an available ambulance he

then communicates to the medical team the location of the emergency and status of

the team. This information is recorded by hand by the non-driving emergency

medical team. Once finished at the scene the emergency team must then

communicate with nearby hospitals to ensure that the hospital can accommodate

their patient. Once dropping the patient off at the hospital, the medical team must

then notify the dispatcher about the details of the patient’s condition and other

important information about the case. The dispatcher records this information by

hand and then records the necessary paperwork. [ CITATION all99 \l 1033 ]

This manual system leaves a paper that is difficult to follow later if necessary. Also

valuable time is lost as the dispatcher attempts to locate available ambulances and

hospitals. The lost time could be the difference between life and death for the patient.

The proposed ADMA system architecture will address these issues by allowing the

dispatcher to always have available a time list of available ambulances and

hospitals. The system architecture will also electronically send all necessary

information to the ambulance along with a GPS map of the emergency location. This

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will both remove the unnecessary paper trail and allow the emergency medical team

to focus on tackling the emergency.

2.2.2 Computer aided dispatch system

Computer aided dispatch systems (CAD) also called computer-assisted dispatch, is

a method of dispatching taxicabs, field workers or emergency services assisted by

computer. It can either be used to send messages to the dispatcher via a mobile or

used to store and retrieve data. Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system is easy to

use and very helpful in dispatching activities for Law Enforcement, Fire and EMS. It’s

fully integrated with GPS Mapping, Mobile Computing, CAD provides the

information and communication important to increasing and improving emergency

response. The CAD assist in reducing response time because it includes features

like automatic address location.[ CITATION Pow89 \l 1033 ] Real time GPS unit

locations. It also assist in reducing the stress of paper trails. . A computer aided

dispatch (CAD) system provides more primary functions like call taking, accepting

and verifying incident details including location, resource identification, determining

which ambulance to send, resource mobilization, communicating details of the

incident to the appropriate ambulance to be dispatched, ambulance resource

management, primarily the positioning of suitably equipped and staffed vehicles to

minimize response times. A CAD system provide management information in

assessment of performance and help in medium and long term resource

management and planning.

A CAD system consists of a combination of:

a) CAD software;

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b) CAD hardware;

c) Gazetteer and mapping software;

d) Communication interface (RIFS);

e) Radio system;

f) Mobile data terminals (MDTs);

g) Automatic vehicle location system (AVLS). [ CITATION Ant951 \l 1033 ]

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Figure 2.4 showing computer aided dispatch resources and components

[ CITATION Dis13 \l 1033 ].

The figure simply shows the various components that form the CAD, the link between the users, databases and various other

components.

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2.3 Overview existing systems similar to the ADMA

There are quite a couple of systems that perform some similar functions of that of the

ADMA but there is no system in our scope of study which is Lagos. The most famous

system that has similar characteristics with the ADMA is the “911” system used in the

United States. Also there is the “London Ambulance Service (LAS)” and then the

emergency medical system in South Africa is also reviewed.

2.3.1 The 911 system

The 911 is the emergency number developed for the people of the United States.

This three digit number has been termed the “ultimate emergency number “for the

people of the united states. The line is basically used for emergency purposes only.

The dialing of this number links the caller to any emergency dispatch unit which

processes the emergency and handles it. This system was formed in 1967 by the

president of the law enforcement and administration of justice in the United States. It

is although noted that the number is strictly for emergency and any individual who

calls the number as a form of prank would face criminal judgment.[ CITATION

HAN05 \l 1033 ]

Therefore the 9-1-1 dispatchers although do not use the manual method of dispatch

but rather a computerized system of dispatch to record emergencies and also

sends the information through either radio or messages on a pager to the dispatched

who goes to attend to the emergency. The advantage of this system however is that

it also tracks and collects a caller phone number to the location at which the person

is being situated so as to make the dispatcher able to view the status of all available

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emergency units and also effectively respond to calls effectively. The 911 system is

widely spread across various types of emergencies it’s not only limited to medical

emergencies but to security, fire and all other types of emergencies and issues. The

911 system works in such a way that when the caller calls , the phone being used

determines which 9-1-1 center receives the call in other to provide assistance to the

caller .Phone calls are being handled differently even though there are some

similarities. Personnel’s are also trained to work with relay services, and are able to

handle the request. If the caller does not speak English, the operator or the

dispatcher contacts the Language Line to provide an interpreter. It is usually helpful if

the caller tells the operator the language he or she speaks[ CITATION HAN05 \l 1033

] .

However in this system there are certain flaws which are related to the system. The

major problem faced with the system is the overload approximately 240 million

people call the line each year which causes overload. Hereby making people not

being able to reach the line at certain periods. So the overload experienced by the

911 system is a major problem to the system[ CITATION ind11 \l 1033 ]. Another

problem faced with the 9-1-1 system is that since most of the emergency calls are

made with cell phones .cell telephone numbers are not assigned any address, which

makes it difficult in locating an emergency. The 9-1-1 operator taking the call will

need detailed location information in order to send help to an emergency.[ CITATION

dav07 \l 1033 ]

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Figure 2.5 The interface of 9-1-1 system [ CITATION Arc10 \l 1033 ]. The figure
shows the interface of a 9-1-1 system. Shows the way various details about the caller are being taken

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