A digital interface that provides task-orientated user guidance for the fire departments operations coordinators to ensure reliable and efficient coordination and documentation of operations.
Why?
How?
Operations coordinator
Operational coordinators are based at the fire station and have a crucial role in planning and monitoring operations. They receive emergency calls and coordinate resources, such as firefighters and vehicles. Coordinators gather information about the incident site, analyse the situation, and make initial decisions about the operation's course. They communicate with the commanders on-site and assist them in carrying out rescue operations. Despite operating in the background, they help to ensure that the firefighters can fulfil their tasks efficiently and safely.
Work environment of an operation coordinator
During our research, we visited the Schwäbisch Gmünd fire station. The working environment and programs used there make efficient coordination difficult for the coordinators. The coordinator's workplace consists of 10 screens displaying various monitoring and management programs, as well as numerous analogue lists on the walls. These lists contain vital information, including the order of vehicle deployment, details on public buildings in the city, and instructions for responding to any further alerts.
Research key insights
User flow
To start, we developed a simplified overview of the process that outlines the essential tasks of the coordinator from beginning to end. The process is mainly linear and can be divided into three phases: Alerting, Coordination, and Documentation. A cyclical process occurs during the 'Coordination' phase. Continuous monitoring of resources is necessary to respond to any changes in the situation and, if necessary, to alert additional emergency services.
The solution
We required an use case to address specific user problems and as a foundation for design choices. After observing fire incidents and analyzing known processes, we selected an exemplary fire operation with the code name BR6 as a use case. BR denotes a fire and the number 6 indicates its severity. Therefore, this refers to a significant fire in a building with a post-alarm system.
Final app concept