New PlantCML(R) Emergency Call System Bolsters 9-1-1 Capabilities for Public Safety Answering Points in Florida’s Escambia County

TEMECULA, Ca., April 21 /PRNewswire/ — A fully integrated 9-1-1 emergency call processing system has been implemented by PlantCML(R) for Florida’s Escambia County, creating a network of three highly responsive and redundant Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) that covers the state’s westernmost region.

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This modern system was developed through a partnership of PlantCML, an EADS North America company, along with Motorola and Shared Technologies, and involves PSAPs operated by the county’s Emergency Communications Center and the Pensacola Police Department as primary centers with the Escambia Sheriff’s Office serving as an alternate. Acquisition of the system was made using funds obtained through the state of Florida’s 9-1-1 grant program.

“The combined efforts of these three forward-looking PSAPs will help Escambia County better service its residents, and uniquely positions this area of Florida for future emergency call processing requirements,” said PlantCML Chief Executive Officer Tim Fuller.

All three call centers have been equipped with PlantCML’s VESTA(R) M-1 processing system, which provides voice communications, sophisticated call routing, automatic call distribution and fault-tolerant redundancy – all on a single workstation. The VESTA M-1 client/server architecture also supports integration with computer-aided dispatch, radios and other third-party technologies that include digital recording.

The PSAPs in Escambia County cover a geographical area of approximately 875 square miles, and process an estimated total of 730,000 emergency and non-emergency calls annually. Escambia County’s Emergency Communications Center incorporates eight positions and handles all calls from the county’s unincorporated areas. This facility manages 1,500 emergency and administrative calls daily, providing assistance, dispatching first responders, and handling emergency information. It also serves as the 24-hour contact point for Escambia County Emergency Management, Florida Emergency Management and the National Weather Service. The county’s Sheriff’s Office maintains 14 call-taking positions, while the Pensacola Police Department has eight.

“All of our PSAPs have had long-standing relationships with PlantCML and have found it’s systems to be virtually bullet-proof,” said Bob Boschen, the Escambia County communications division manager. “The need for leading-edge, fault-tolerant processing technology is greater than ever, and we fully expect the VESTA M-1 system to carry us into the next generation of public safety communications.”

PlantCML’s VESTA M-1 solution is a computer server-based full-featured IP/IP-hybrid PBX telephone exchange. Installed in many of North America’s most progressive call centers, VESTA M-1 combines PlantCML’s proven VESTA(R) computer telephony integration solution with Nortel’s Meridian 1 PBX and Communication Server 1000. Delivering world-class reliability, VESTA M-1 features architectural elements and extensive redundancy measures to ensure network uptime, including campus and geographic redundancy.

In addition to their application of the VESTA M-1 solution, the three Escambia County PSAPs also utilize PlantCML’s MagIC(TM) integrated data management solution, which provides comprehensive reporting capabilities. This application allows filtered data such as agent/console activity and Automatic Number/Location Identification (ANI/ALI) to be easily viewed, printed or presented in standard reports – providing quick and easy analysis of activity.

Future grant monies will be used to fund the addition of VESTA-View, PlantCML’s real-time management tool, at all three Escambia PSAPs. This solution will allow administrators to easily monitor, join, or take control of any call and provide notification to supervisors should an incoming call ring too long or an outgoing call exceed a certain threshold.

About PlantCML (www.plantcml.com)

PlantCML(R), an EADS North America company, is the industry’s leading provider of crisis communications and response technologies. Today, PlantCML is pioneering the next generation of E9-1-1 and secure network communications through Voice over IP-enabled applications, interoperable P25 radio systems and advanced emergency notification technologies. PlantCML’s solutions are resident in 14 of the top 20 most populous U.S. cities and largest first responder operations.

About EADS North America (www.eadsnorthamerica.com)

EADS North America is the North American operation of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world. As a leader in all sectors of defense and homeland security, EADS North America and its parent company, EADS, contribute over $10 billion to the U.S. economy annually and support more than 190,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers and services. Operating in 17 states, EADS North America offers a broad array of advanced solutions to its customers in the commercial, homeland security, aerospace and defense markets.

SOURCE PlantCML