Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) to Intterra Data Center (DC) Shipping Application (DSA) Integration Overview
During our many years of integrating with client Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) data systems, we have noted that most CAD installations are set up in very similar environments because of the similarities in security requirements specified by the Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) for CAD operations. The most common operational environment maintains a highly secure network for the CAD system that updates a CAD Reporting Database in a more general network area to provide data access for other CAD data-dependent third-party applications like some RMS data systems, PulsePoint, FirstWatch, etc., to query, process, and export the relevant CAD data elements to these applications. Intterra has developed its own application, the Data Shipping App (DSA) to provide a simple and lightweight method for querying the CAD replicated database and forward the results to the Intterra Data Center (DC) without the need to develop and implement a difficult and expensive CAD data interface.
The DSA application has helped us to successfully integrate with larger “regional dispatch centers” or “emergency communication centers” down to simple single agency dispatch systems using replicated or even client-built custom databases. The following documentation provides an overview of the efforts required to enable the data integration using the DSA.
An Intterra ‘Operations’ module integration requires data query and export access from the CAD reporting data system used to manage the Intterra client agency or agencies. The diagram below is a simplified representation of a typical CAD to Intterra data integration. Environments similar to what is depicted allow Intterra to implement a like integration with a minimal amount of effort by the CAD comm center technical resources.
The primary work effort required for implementation is centered around the installation of the Intterra Data Shipping Application (DSA) on a client-designated host system, providing access to the CAD Reporting database, and creating incident and unit data queries, which are specific to each client organization and CAD system.
The work effort usually revolves around one or more video conference calls using desktop sharing where Intterra and client IT staff work together to complete the required tasks. This integration model places full control of the DSA application and the data queries into the hands of the client for optimal data control and security. There is no need for any direct network or database connectivity or remote access for Intterra employees if it is possible to connect via a desktop sharing call where an IT staff member can provide and monitor desktop access to the DSA application, and the database management tools.
The CAD integration implementation process follows the below sequence and can often be achieved within a few hours, providing there are no unforeseen environmental constraints and knowledgeable CAD IT personnel are made available to provide the needed access to the data and assist in the development of the data queries.
- IT staff identifies a suitable host system for the Intterra DSA.
- IT staff creates a read-only user account in the Reporting Database to provide read-only access for the DSA application.
- IT staff creates Firewall rules to provide access from the host system to the Reporting System database and the Intterra API. These may already be in place.
- The DSA is installed on the identified host system.
- Configure and connect the DSA to the CAD Reporting Database and the Intterra API.
- The CAD incident and unit data queries are created and tested using the appropriate database management tools (this is the most time-consuming task of the implementation but can be done on any system where the database management tools are installed and does not have to be the DSA host system). Intterra has worked with many different CAD’s and we have established default data queries to speed up the query development efforts.
- Optionally, a database can be set up on a client database server with access to the Reporting Database to host the created data queries as views.
- The DSA is configured with the data queries or to query the views set up in the optional database.
- A Windows-scheduled task is created on the DSA host system to trigger the DSA query and export process at the desired update intervals, usually between 10 and 30 seconds.
- If any updates to the data queries are required afterward the client can manage the data queries directly or Intterra is happy to support with another joint desktop sharing call.
The scheduled task then executes at the specified intervals, queries the current operational status from the database, and sends the results to the Intterra API without any further intervention.
The Intterra data system monitors every client’s data update messages to ensure continued reliable information updates and if any interruption in the data update process is detected, Intterra staff will reach out to the IT staff of the agency hosting the DSA application to make them aware of the interruption and offer their assistance with troubleshooting the DSA operation.