Crimes, emergencies, and disasters span jurisdictional borders. Your communication technology should too.

Unfortunately, many agencies struggle to coordinate with each other effectively in the middle of a crisis. Every responder may be following protocol perfectly, but without integrated technology solutions, disparate systems and equipment limit emergency communication and response.

In other words, emergency response systems often lack interoperability.

Imagine being able to share data and resources with other 9-1-1 communication centers, public safety agencies and community organizations. Or being able to dispatch the best and closest resource to every call. Imagine being able to launch a coordinated response that saves lives. All this, and more, is possible with true interoperability.

What is Interoperability?

You may get different answers depending on who you ask. To better understand public safety’s perception of interoperability, CentralSquare conducted a study with over 100 public safety professionals. 

Participants were asked to define interoperability, identify reasons for its lack of pervasiveness, and pinpoint common challenges of implementing it. Responses varied between participants, based on their level of experience, role and responsibilities.

Of course, there is an objectively correct definition of interoperability.

Interoperability is the ability to share mission-critical information in real time between separate public safety agencies. More specifically, it is the ability of computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems to communicate across various agencies and jurisdictions. Interoperability is achieved with CAD-to-CAD systems, which allow organizations to share data, updates, and resources regardless of the different software platforms they operate on. There are also levels of interoperability, determined by the platform and degree of integration between CADs.

Despite the answer variance in the survey, respondents cited several reasons for the importance of interoperability.

The Importance of Interoperability for Public Safety

Let’s explore the importance of interoperability according to 100+ public safety professionals.

Cross-Communication

Many survey responses highlighted the importance of seamless communication across different jurisdictions, agencies and systems (CAD, radio, phone). They pointed out the need for integrated technology like radio systems, shared data platforms, and the ability to operate across different equipment and protocols.

Technical and Operational Integration

Several public safety professionals divided interoperability into technical and operational elements. Technical elements include the use of standard safety protocols (NEMSIS/NIBRS) and common data formats (XML, APIs), while operational aspects focus on practical measures like patching radio channels and CAD-to-CAD policies.

On the operational side, agencies can leverage shared technologies and data to reduce redundant emergency response systems and processes. This saves money by simplifying training and maintenance. For example, updates to operational protocols or mission-critical data can be shared across all connected systems at once, helping agencies operate with the most current info.

Data Sharing and Response Times

The ability to share real-time information was important to public safety pros as well, especially the timely and efficient exchange of data in emergency situations. This includes sharing voice, text, and files across devices so agencies can communicate in real time.

With the data sharing and communications of a CAD-to-CAD system, information about an incident reaches all relevant parties simultaneously, eliminating delays that occur when agencies operate in isolation. This means responders are briefed and en route quicker, potentially saving lives and reducing the severity of incidents.

Cross-Agency Collaboration

Many survey participants underscored the importance of working with other departments and agencies to improve coordinated responses. This includes mutual aid arrangements and coordination during crises. 

Of course, cross-agency collaboration requires approaching agency-to-agency relationships with understanding and patience. It requires trusting that sharing knowledge and resources will help both parties achieve their common goals.

Once implemented, interoperability can have a positive impact on both responders and citizens. It can help law enforcement, emergency services, and other agencies collaborate across state lines, which is important for addressing incidents that span multiple jurisdictions.

Resource Management

During incidents where multiple services are needed, a CAD-to-CAD system allows agencies to see the bigger picture. This visibility helps prevent the overuse of resources in one area while another is under-served. It also facilitates strategic planning, as agencies can anticipate needs and shift resources proactively based on real-time data from the field.

Common Challenges to Interoperability

Despite its importance, public safety professionals face many challenges when trying to improve or implement interoperability. In our survey, they ranged from technical and financial issues to cultural and organizational barriers. Have you faced any of these challenges in your agency? 

Disparate Systems

Disparities in data management and CAD systems stand as barriers to interoperability. Not only is there a lack of standardized technology in public safety, but many agencies have built custom solutions around their unique needs. 

Financial Constraints 

Many agencies have budget constraints preventing them from investing in necessary technology and training. And beyond the cost of implementing a CAD-to-CAD system, they may worry about the cost of maintaining the system over time.

Privacy and Security Concerns

By definition, interoperability includes data sharing. So naturally, some agencies have privacy and security concerns. How secure will sensitive data be, such as police records and personal identifying information (PII)? Does interoperability make data leaks more likely?

Legal and Compliance Issues

While there are standards that all agencies must adhere to (CJIS, HIPAA, etc.), agencies still hold themselves to varying standards. Some survey respondents were hesitant to trust other agencies to handle sensitive information securely and responsibly.

Resistance to Change

It often feels easier to stick to the status quo, but what does stagnation cost you? In our survey, public safety professionals noted an aversion to change, including reluctance to deviate from established protocols or technology that works “well enough.” This attitude limits an agency’s ability to grow and serve its community.

Solutions for Interoperability

There are many challenges to achieving interoperability. Maybe you’ve experienced some of them at your agency. Fortunately, most of the challenges above have solutions.

No CAD-to-CAD system can help with resistance to change or mistrust of other agencies. But the right technology can address other key concerns like system disparity, cost and data security.

Data Security

The right CAD-to-CAD system will allow you to choose what data you share with other 911 centers, agencies or community partners. And many solutions are cloud-based, using advanced security measures like encryption, intrusion detection, compliance programs, and regular security updates to protect sensitive information against cyber threats.

Pricing Plans

Concerned about cost? Cloud-based solutions often provide different tiers of service and pricing based on your unique needs. That includes CentralSquare Unify, which allows subscribers to choose between three different levels of services: Unify, Notify and Aware.

True Interoperability

With the right technology solution, system disparities shouldn’t be an issue. Your technology should work with any agency’s CAD system, regardless of their vendor.

Many CAD-to-CAD solutions simply provide basic situational awareness. They provide a picture of activity within your region, not true integration between all coordinating agencies. 

In contrast, CentralSquare Unify is fully-integrated for true interoperability. Our industry-leading tech allows disparate systems to communicate with a familiar code set. Our solution is not proprietary to a specific CAD and is currently being used with more than 30 non-CentralSquare CAD systems.

Unify lets 911 comms centers integrate their emergency response systems with other PSAPs, coordinating agencies and a variety of community organizations – all while controlling data sharing. This empowers agencies to dispatch the most appropriate unit across jurisdictional boundaries with resource and asset sharing. And with the ability to share mission-critical data to mobile devices, responders can arrive on the scene as prepared as possible.

Schedule a discovery call today to learn how our CAD-to-CAD system can help you create agency and community partnerships that will save lives and improve response times.