Spring / Printemps 2017 11 resolution touch-screens and web browsers that can display standard and mobile-optimized web pages. These devices can be connected to a number of wire- less communication technolo- gies, e.g., 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. The number of smart mobile devices in the world has been steadily growing over the past decade [1]. Currently, there are more than 2.6 billion smart- phone subscriptions in the world, representing more than 35% of all mobile subscriptions. However, this ratio is much higher in developed countries. For instance, by the end of 2014, 66% of Canadians 18 years of age and older owned a smart- phone, which represents more than 82% of all mobile sub- scriptions in the country [2]. Furthermore, by the same time, 49% of Canadians 18 years of age and older owned a tablet, compared to 39% in 2013 [2]. A primary reason behind the ever-increasing number of smart mobile devices is mobile appli- cations. Smart mobile devices often come with a number of pre-installed applications, e.g. web browsers and email clients. However, most mobile appli- cations are available through distribution platforms called application stores, e.g., Google Play, which are operated by the owner of the mobile operating system. Mobile applications are available for free, fermium, or a premium. Combined, App Store and Google Play have more than 2 million applications that were downloaded more than 125 bil- lion times [3]. On average, a H H H H H Ho o o o ow w w w m mo o ob b b bi i i il l l le e e i i is s t tr r ra an ns sf fo or rm mi i in ng g g e e e e e e em m m m m m me e e e e e er r r r r rg g g g g g g ge e e e e en n n n nc c c cy y y y y s se e er rv v v vi i i ic c ce e es s s i in n T To or ro on nt to o Valentine’s Day was a heartbreaker this year for Toronto historians. The city’s venerable Badminton and Racquet Club went up in flames — a six-alarm fire that required the assistance of 120 fire- fighters, forced the evacuation of thou- sands of office workers and residents, and crippled public transportation in a densely-populated area of the city. While the building was destroyed, there were no serious injuries. But the outcome could have been different if fewer resour- ces had been available. Like emergency services across the coun- try and around the world, Toronto Fire Services and Toronto Police Service are looking at how technology can help to improve overall efficiencies and response times during emergency situations. While technology isn’t a panacea, it could help. But implementation is not easy. “Operational changes can be slow in a large organization,” says Frank Pappone, Division Chief with Toronto Fire Services (TFS), “but new technologies are defin- itely coming.” Firetrucks, for example, are already equipped with mobile data ter- minals, but TFS is in the process of rolling out 150 ruggedized, Windows-based tab- lets that will untether crew from vehicles. “With the direction we’re seeing fire ser- vices going—particularly in Toronto where we’re looking at transforming the traditional role of the firefighter, getting them more engaged in the community — we have to provide them with the toolsets to engage in a level that traditionally they haven’t done,” says Pappone. “We want to be able to leverage our biggest resource, which is our staff.” TFS is replicating its current system in a tablet format, but towards the second half of this year it will be looking at enhancing the functionality of front-line staff through mobile technology, such as providing data on buildings. “When you’re looking at fire emergency response, our target travel time is four minutes—we’ve got four minutes to digest information, at least for the first truck,” says Pappone. “We do have links in the backend with paramedic services; we don’t have that yet with police and 911, but we hope to make some progress this year.” That means, while some tech- nology is interconnected with paramedic services, we could see more integration between all emergency services in the future. First, though, that requires digital data. Currently, firefighters collect data with pen and paper, and then manually input that into a records management sys- tem. The challenge is not only col- lecting this information, but keeping it current. TFS has already started map- ping vulnerable occupancies, such as vacant buildings where there could be squatters, and multi-unit residential buildings. This information will help to classify risk and determine if firefight- ers should take a defensive or offensive approach during a fire. But having access to building information is only half of the equation. Firefighters need to know where all the critical com- ponents are, such as where hydrants are located and where the first line will be laid. And it’s one thing to understand the building; it’s another to understand build- ing construction and how they burn. Having that information at their fingertips could be transformative. “It really comes down to gathering infor- mation and distributing it when required I. Smart Mobile Devices Smartphones and tablets are mobile electronic devices that run a mobile operating system, e.g., Android or iOS, which have advanced computing and com- municating capabilities. Modern smart mobile devices are multi- use devices that support portable media players, have low-end com- pact digital cameras, and Global Positioning System (GPS) naviga- tion units. They also include high- These devices allow police officers to see incoming 9-1-1 calls, access the city’s databases, and access a number of sources of information (continued on Page 15) Toronto Police Service uses technology to be where needed most. Officers equipped with mobile technology can be more engaged with the public. By Vawn Himmelsbach Photo: Toronto Police Service