The Use of a Mobile Data Terminal in Firefighting

The Use of a Mobile Data Terminal in Firefighting

The use of a mobile data terminal (MDT) in firefighting has become more commonplace, and many departments are taking advantage of the latest technologies to improve their response times.mobile data terminal in firefighting The MDT is becoming an indispensable part of fire and rescue operations in Australia, and has cut radio communications by up to 80 per cent in some areas. In fact, the Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) CIO, Robert Hilditch, says that this new technology is making the job of firefighters easier and safer.

The benefits of a Mobile Data Terminal are clear: it can give firefighting crews important information in the field, such as the location of hydrants, building entrances and exits, and Knox boxes. It can also aid in search and rescue operations. Furthermore, it provides detailed information on the incident site, which can help responders make informed decisions. It also has an embedded RFID reader for secure authentication.

MDTs are widely used by firefighters in New South Wales, where they have become so popular that officials are considering temporarily putting them out of service. There are hundreds of rugged tablets in use throughout the state, and at least one device is installed in every fire station. These tablets provide firefighters with vital information, such as details about a triple-zero call, hydrant locations, utility locations, weather, maps, and turn-by-turn directions to a site. The MDT is also used for training and information sharing.

In the early days of CAD, most MDTs were custom devices. Some were even specialized point-to-point radios, like those used in the case of police dispatchers. Today, however, most CAD systems are based on ruggedized laptops with Wide-Area Wireless IP communications and private IP networks.

Tags:mobile data terminal tablet | handheld terminal | in-vehicle terminal