Live video from mobile device to control centre

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) is trialling ground-breaking new mobile phone technology that will allow it to stream live video from a mobile phone to its control centre using 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi.

Initially, it will be used to help GMFRS fire investigation and fire enforcement teams to collaborate quickly with their respective management teams and produce a detailed visual record of the scene to assist in the decision-making process.

The system, created by YRFree Technology, logs time, date and location using GPS, along with other smart data to create accurate records.

Damian Parkinson, director of ICT for GMFRS, said: “If the trial proves as successful as we hope, we see tremendous potential in the YRFree system. As well as enabling officers to collaborate more effectively, it has a number of sophisticated features which could help us to improve our operating procedures.

“For example, smart object recognition software could help us to identify the exact make and model of a vehicle involved in a road traffic accident, or assess the nature of a chemical hazard. For us, it is all about having the right information, in the right place at the right time.

“It will enable us to gather live data, in a manageable format, which will help us not only to improve our response today, but may help to reduce the incidence and severity of fires in the future.”

John Ridd, CEO of YRFree, said the platform was ideal for the emergency services as it enables them to improve communications between officers on the ground and their management teams, as well as allowing them to collect data in a way that wasn’t possible before.