Firebrigade Wettingen

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Experience BT-Q1000eX

Fire brigade wins time

Name: Thomas Renold

Nation: Switzerland

Project purpose: Emergency situations are time critical. How can fire brigade-teams win seconds or minutes, using the special equipment with more efficiency? The BT-Q1000eX with the 5 Hz mode allowed deep going analysis of rescue operations and training sessions in the fire brigade daily work.

Working as editor and journalist of a Swiss Truck&Bus Magazin I used since many years portable Bluetooth GPS-Receivers in combination with Pocket PC’s and Laptops for performance tests with heavy vehicles on normal roads. The BT-Q1000eX with the 5-Hz-mode opens a new horizon for collecting and comparing data. One example: The 5-Hz-log makes it possible to see the difference between the gear-changing efficiency of manually and automatic shifted powertrain-systems. The BT-Q1000eX offers also good results for comparing the same truck with different horsepower engines from 420 hp up to 620 hp running on a test track with strong hills.

As member of the fire brigade headquarter in Wettingen/Switzerland I was involved in the evaluation of a control and measurement system for analyzing the rescue operations and the training modules. In the focus was the handling of a new 32-meter-hydraulic platform, based on 3-axle-truck. We start tracking the operations with the BT-Q1000eX and get amazing results.

With the BT-Q1000eX we got a exactly image of the complete emergency operation from the first to the last second. The driver of the 26-ton-truck can follow his route trough the city traffic, learning which driving stile needs less time. Much more interesting is the log file with the platform track. The BT-Q1000eX produces five time per seconds a fix point with exactly data about height, speed, direction and time. It is possible, to calculate with this data a 3D-graph of every lift up and down. In training sessions it is normal, to do the same movement with the platform several times. On the 3D-graph you can see, which turn was the fastest and where you lose time.