TriTech releases CAD-to-CAD Interoperability Guide (CIG) to promote industry standards for computer-aided dispatch interoperability. The CIG offers any vendor a proven foundation for using off-the-shelf technology to integrate CAD systems using the industry-preferred XML protocol for data transfer.
Published after years of successful implementations, the CAD-to-CAD Interoperability Guide (CIG) is an Application Programming Interface (API) that enables multiple dispatch centers with disparate CAD systems to connect with each other and conduct "seamless dispatching." Using this common protocol, agencies can manage resources across wider geographical areas by sharing units, incidents and data. TriTech is offering the CAD-to-CAD Interoperability Guide (CIG) to all agencies and vendors in the hope that this will promote more rapid development of these systems at a reduced cost.
"TriTech is committed to establishing standards to achieve comprehensive data communications interoperability across all systems integrated with CAD. We feel it is important to publish our standard CAD-to-CAD Interface API and implementation methodology for multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional capabilities because it was in the industry's best interest. Frankly, the security and safety of our officers and citizens is too important for this technology to remain proprietary," said Chris Maloney, President and CEO of TriTech Software Systems.
The CIG offers any vendor a proven foundation for using off-the-shelf technology to integrate CAD systems. "The industry has suffered too long without standards and we feel we can't wait any longer. Our clients are demanding a solution to the challenging problem of multi-site dispatch interoperability. This is a meaningful step to solving what has traditionally been a complex and costly issue," said Maloney. It is TriTech's hope that the CIG will make an important step toward improved vendor collaboration and provide a framework for future development and discussion.
CAD-TO-CAD INTERFACE CAPABILITIES
The TriTech CIG API defines a deep set of features common to many CAD-to-CAD interfaces using the industry-preferred XML protocol for data transfer. The API defines a standard data model and a published data schema. Some of the functions defined in the CIG include:
- Incident/Data Transfer
- Call Synchronization
- Logging
- CAD-to-CAD Messaging
- Unit Sharing
- AVL Position Updates for Shared Units
- Unit Status Changes Updates
For years, TriTech has been developing and implementing both custom and standard off-the-shelf interfaces for clients utilizing mature engineering and development best practices. Over the past 15 years, TriTech has implemented more than 50 interfaces using a common application interface to several different CAD systems including Motorola, Tiburon, Intergraph, Zoll, and Interact. Some of the most notable CAD-to-CAD implementations include Clark County, NV Combined Communications Center; El Paso/Teller County, CO 911 Authority; City of Fort Worth, TX; American Medical Response; City of San Diego, CA, Fire/EMS; Ministry of Health, Ontario CAN - (Seamless) across 19 different communications centers.
