The rollout of Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) equipment has the promise to revolutionise bushfire fighting in South Australia this summer according to the Minister for Emergency Services, Vincent Tarzia.
Mr Tarzia said Netstar Australia was the tender winner for AVL which is the game-changing track-and-trace technology that enhances fireground safety and intelligence during emergencies.
He said that over the coming months, AVL would be installed in more than 1,400 vehicles for the Country Fire Service, Metropolitan Fire Service, State Emergency Service, ForestrySA and the Department for Environment and Water for operations across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia.
“AVL is a crucial tool that provides real-time truck and vehicle tracking, ensuring firefighters and assets can be accounted for at any and every second during bushfires,” Mr Tarzia said.
He said Netstar’s AVL solution had been trialled between January and February this year and could withstand high demand in some of the State’s most remote locations, like parts of Kangaroo Island, where phone connectivity was non-existent.
Mr Tarzia said AVL must be faultless in situations where cellular coverage was limited and the capability switched to satellite dependence.
He said other trials took place in the Mount Lofty Ranges, on the West Coast, Yorke Peninsula, Far North, South East, Lucindale and Cherry Gardens.
“This is a significant step forward in terms of safety for our emergency services volunteers and personnel,” Mr Tarzia said.
