ResponseLink
2024
Emergency Services
UX Design, Visual Design
Project Details
FigJam
After Effects (Reel)
Blender (Reel)
Jonathan Rodriguez
Tejas Nagmoti
Bhavana Idnani
Khushali Parekh
Introduction
In my first hackathon experience at DubsTech Protothon 2024, I collaborated with a diverse team to develop ResponseLink, an app designed to optimize the dispatching process for the Seattle Fire Department. Over 28 hours, we conducted rapid research, ideation, and prototyping to create an application that streamlined incident management, integrated AI for dispatch efficiency, and provided data-driven insights to help improve resource planning and decision-making.
Skills Involved
Challenges
The 28-hour sprint required our team to quickly transition from research and ideation to prototyping and development, forcing us to make rapid decisions on features and design elements.
The Seattle Fire Department was managing a high volume of emergency responses, making it challenging for dispatchers to prioritize tasks effectively.
Solutions
We divided tasks according to each team member’s strengths and utilized time-blocking techniques to stay on schedule. This helped us maintain focus and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
We designed a dynamic dashboard featuring real-time mapping, color-coded priorities, and notifications to help dispatchers quickly identify urgent tasks and reduce response times.
The dashboard interface included intuitive visual cues to clearly communicate priorities, incident statuses, and critical information, allowing dispatchers to make decisions quickly and efficiently.
research
Challenges Faced by Seattle Fire Department
- Increased Call Volume: The department received over 111,000 responses in 2023, significantly outpacing the previous years.
- Time-Frames: An average delay of 30% in meeting required time frames for incident responses.
- Logistical Challenges: Verifying and confirming the locations of resources (e.g., EMT, Fire, Police) proved difficult during emergency incidents.
ideation
- Role: Dispatcher at the Seattle Fire Department, ensuring rapid and efficient deployment of resources during emergencies.
- Skills: Strong communication and teamwork, experienced under pressure.
- Prompt Dispatch: Ensure timely resource deployment.
- Support: Provide accurate, timely updates to field responders.
- Communication: Enhance communication among departments to improve operational efficiency.
- Pressure: Handling high-stress situations with limited information.
- Coordination: Managing multi-department communication and resource allocation.
- Resource Allocation: Balancing limited resources during peak emergencies.
end product flow
Dashboard
The ResponseLink dashboard was designed to display critical information that dispatchers need to manage emergencies effectively.
- Activity Graph: Displays past incidents and forecasts potential events based on historical data, helping dispatchers prepare resources.
- Map View: Shows incident locations, with hoverable pins for details and clickable pins to view specific incident data.
- Incident Overview: Lists ongoing emergencies, including Fire, Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support, Mutual Aid, and Explosions
Incident Management System
Access recent incidents quickly from the sidebar, or click Incidents for a detailed view. This feature functions like a file storage system, but for organizing incident data.
- Priority: Attention and Pending—incidents requiring immediate or expected response.
- In Progress: In-Progress, Under Control, and On Hold—incidents currently being handled.
- Closed: Cancelled and Resolved—completed cases, which can be reopened if necessary.
Incident Form & Sync Call
To save time on data entry, the Sync Call feature uses AI to transcribe dispatch calls and automatically fill in key details.
Key Information:
- Nature of the Emegency
- Instructions Given
- Background Given
Unit Dispatch and Personnel Management
After entering the necessary information, the system will automatically dispatch units and organize departments based on their proximity to the incident, ensuring quick and efficient response times.
- Smart Unit Dispatch: Units are automatically prioritized based on their distance from the incident, helping to reduce response time.
- Dynamic Personnel Adjustment: Easily increase or decrease the personnel assigned to each unit by adjusting the personnel slider or inputting the desired number.
Incident Management Dashboard
This all-in-one dashboard provides you with real-time oversight and control over incident response.
- Personnel Monitor: View and adjust personnel for each unit in real-time, ensuring optimal staffing.
- Timeline: Track key actions and events with a chronological timeline, complete with zoom options for detailed views.
- Incident Description: Access essential information like the incident type, location, time, and priority level.
- Chat with Personnel: Communicate live with units, with options to escalate to voice or video calls for urgent needs.
Lessons
Consistent Check-Ins
As the Visual Designer, I worked on the design system with my team, but consistency could have improved with more regular checks.
Defining Roles
We spent a brief time assessing the team's strengths at the start. Spending more time assessing would have increased efficiency within team.
Limiting The Scope
There were several moments where our focus drifted away from the user's journey, leading us to spend time on features dealing with less important tasks.
design system
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