For a fire to break out, it needs oxygen, combustible material and enough heat in the right proportions. Extinguishing requires an extinguishing agent, equipment, vehicles and a team. In addition, an operations management who gives the instructions and must always have an overview: What extinguishing agents, equipment, vehicles and emergency services are available? Where is there a fire and to what extent? Where are affected people? What particular dangers could the emergency services encounter? This can be quite complex if the situation is large. Previously, each of this information had to be discovered on your own or passed on to operations management via radio or telephone. Things are different today: the modern deployment site is digitalized.
Modern possibilities create modern problems
As a rule, operations managers today use operations control software. Ideally, this will no longer be fed with information manually, but will be fed automatically with live data from all operational resources and forces. Processes such as respiratory protection monitoring may already be automated. This means that operations management knows the situation at all times, even without constant radio status queries. Really makes work easier!
But in practice, a problem often arises: different interfaces can block data exchange; for example, it may happen that a mission control software can only manage vehicles from a specific manufacturer. Because today's market reality primarily consists of manufacturer-dependent isolated solutions.
Vision “IMBOS”
A group of five companies has set itself the goal of solving this problem. The name: IMBOS, short for “Information Management for BOS” (authorities and organizations with security tasks). It connects information that is crucial for a security and readiness assessment of a situation, effective operational command and the management of emergency forces, vehicles and equipment and makes it visible live.
The special feature: IMBOS should be open to products from all manufacturers. “We are firmly convinced that there is no need for another manufacturer-dependent system,” emphasizes Johannes Taglang (Ziegler).
IMBOS thus provides a comprehensive solution to the coexistence of numerous individual IM systems. The key word is “standardization”: Universal interfaces and software configurations that all interested manufacturers can integrate into their product portfolio ensure networkability. “IMBOS is supposed to be, so to speak, the Swiss army knife that works for all operational situations,” summarizes Peter Breuer. He is involved in the project with his companies MP-BOS and Prodico. The other project partners are Eurocommand GmbH, Albert Ziegler GmbH and ZF Friedrichshafen AG. We do not see ourselves as a closed group, but every manufacturer is invited to become part of IMBOS - this was announced by representatives of all five companies at Rettmobil in May 2023.
The “IMBOSready” label is awarded for compatible hardware and software solutions. It guarantees that the products marked with it meet the predefined standards for integration into the IMBOS cloud network.
Components of IMBOS
IMBOS currently contains components from management support, administration and remote services (e.g. for maintenance and diagnostics) as well as individual connectivity products:
IMBOS ID: Authentication
IMBOS Interface: Universal interface
IMBOS Dashboard: User interface
individual connectivity products, e.g. B. “Crew Tags”
Expert network
As an open platform for emergency services, IMBOS wants to become a Europe-wide network of experts. Therefore, the organizational form of a non-profit association was decided upon. The purpose of the association is to promote digitalization and IT security in the areas of security, fire brigade, rescue services and disaster control. The association has the following tasks in particular:
It provides a digital platform for the exchange and networking of aid organizations and authorities in Europe.
It defines standards to ensure this exchange of information is secure.
He develops a concept for maintaining data protection.
It creates a dialogue platform through working groups, specialist conferences and participation in trade fairs.
He participates in research and development.
He cooperates with trade associations, authorities and manufacturers and is involved in standardization work.
The association would like to provide an “IMBOS Taskforce” for major disaster situations, which can be requested as part of the Disaster Response Program (DRP).
Example: fire operation
What would the fire operation mentioned at the beginning look like if the operations management used IMBOS? On the way to the building fire, the incident commander receives information and data about the building via the mobile incident commander app (Eurocommand), such as:
