NEWS RELEASE
June 4, 2008

RURAL/METRO JOINS KNOX COUNTY AND TDOT TO UPGRADE HIGHWAY MONITORING SYSTEM AT E-911 CENTER

Emergency dispatchers in Knox County now have a view of every major roadway in the area at their fingertips thanks to a partnership between Rural/Metro, Knox County and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).

The county’s E-911 center became the first in the state to link to TDOT’s SmartWay monitoring system a year ago. It features 70 cameras stationed along Knox County roadways. But until recently, dispatchers could only watch the cameras on a rotating basis with no way to pick the best view. Now thanks to new computer software, dispatchers can choose to view one or more of the video streams on a 46-inch monitor provided by Rural/Metro.

“We need to be able to reroute traffic and our emergency vehicles as quickly as possible as conditions change,” said Gary Morris, communications manager for Rural/Metro. “This software allows us to get the best view of every major roadway. It’s a big improvement.”

Agencies from the city of Knoxville, Knox County and Rural/Metro all share space and facilities at the E-911 center. The new system went online at the center the week before the busy Memorial Day weekend.

"Now dispatchers will know exactly what the traffic conditions are on the interstates and can advise emergency responders,” said Fred Corum, TDOT Region One director. “This information is extremely important in a business where every second counts."

The public can also access these same video feeds via the TDOT Web site, but can’t choose which camera to view. The feeds rotate every four seconds.

TDOT has been using the SmartWay monitoring system since 2005, but discussions over how to best route emergency vehicles during the SmartFix 40 construction led to the system upgrade.

“We thought it would be great to have direct access to all the cameras, and TDOT allowed us to make that happen,” said Bob Coker, executive director of the Knox County E-911 Center. “It’s just one more way we can make sure our crews get from one point to another with less worry about what may be happening around the next turn.”

The new upgraded system also includes a “push to talk” cellular link between TDOT and the E-911 center so that road crews can instantly communicate with emergency dispatchers.

“Technology has opened up all kinds of tools, and we are still exploring the possibilities,” Morris said.

Rural/Metro of Tennessee is the largest emergency service provider in East Tennessee, with a combined work force of more than 500 firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, telecommunicators and other support personnel.

Rural/Metro Ambulance Service is the only accredited provider in the state, with contracts for 911 service in Knox, Blount, Loudon and Franklin counties. Rural/Metro Corporation provides emergency and non-emergency medical transportation, fire protection, and other safety services in 22 states and approximately 365 communities throughout the United States.

# # #

BACK